A computer application to help disaster management officials monitor relief supplies in real time was among the exhibits at the annual National Science Fair organised by the Ministry of Education.
The application allows shelter managers, warehouse managers and other senior NEMO officials to manage relief supplies in real time to ensure that they are accounted for and that the supplies are delivered to the intended recipients.
Another exhibit of interest was the development of a wearable sweat patch that allows users to monitor the loss of body fluids.
Other exhibits included the extraction of scents from flowers to make perfume and an experiment on soapmaking.
Exhibitors from the Grenadines also showed how to farm sustainably, while other groups showed how to purify water using natural materials.
In the area of robotics, a group of students designed a motorised vacuum-cleaning device with proximity sensors.
There were also displays showing how satellite communications work, and for the health-conscious, a display on the use of traditional medicines, including herbs in the control of hypertension.
This year’s fair was held under the theme “Bridging Science and Society”, and ran over three days.
A prize-giving ceremony was held on Thursday at the Methodist Town Hall in Kingstown.
On the first day, the students’ work was displayed and judged, while the following day was open to the public, with people being able to ask the students about the origins of their projects.
The National Science Fair is coordinated by Juanita King and a team of science teachers, who said they were pleased with the diversity and quantity of exhibits.
“I’m particularly pleased with the turnout from the Secondary schools on mainland [St. Vincent] and the support from the Southern Grenadines schools”, King said, adding that there was excellent work and participation from all levels.
This year, 17 primary schools and 12 secondary schools participated in the National Science Fair, including exhibits from all the Grenadine islands.