SCIENCE, RESEARCH NEEDED TO HELP DEVELOP JAMAICA — GAYLE
Dump emotional and gut feelings and turn to science and research. That was the exhortation of Dr Herbert Gayle, social anthropologist and senior lecturer at the UWI, to students at The Moneague College, St Ann on Thursday, April 18.
Dr. Gayle who is also a commentator was giving the feature lecture at the plenary session on Research and Open Day at the College in St Ann.
(Dr Herbert Gayle delivering the feature lecture)
The theme for the day was “Transforming Lives and Creating Sustainable Development Through Partnership and Research.”
Dr. Gayle advocated for the increased use of research and science to deal with the issues in Jamaica to help the country develop.
He used an interactive approach in his lecture at the plenary session, moving from the podium to walk among and engage the students in the audience.
(Adrick Perry and Dwania Duhaney Millen, lecturers, outline details of the Entrepreneurial segment of the Research and Open Day)
Dozens of students from other tertiary institutions as well as from secondary and primary schools were in attendance at the lecture by Dr. Gayle.
(A slice of the audience at the launch)
He gave the students basic pointers and definitions about research, facts, and truth as well as the merits of using science.
He said people who had “gut feelings” should go to the toilet rather than make decisions based on those feelings. Elaborating on the disadvantage of using gut feeling over science he said: “[That’s why] Third World countries suffer so much. Their politicians are in the toilet… every day they have a gut feeling.” He said Third-World countries like Jamaica needed to make decisions and act on science and research. “We are not scientifically driven,” he said.
See earlier story on some of the schools and presenters at the Research and Open Day
MONEAGUE COLLEGE PUTS ON RESEARCH & OPEN DAY
He referred to several matters discussed or decided on in Jamaica where there was a failure to use available science and research.
Dr Gayle said he often felt hurt by people making arguments on no scientific basis when the facts from the research were available. He said some people did not want to promote what science said in some circumstances because of who might be hurt. However, he said research does not care about how people feel. The social anthropologist said, “That’s why science is so hard sometimes; it’s painful to know the facts.”
Dr Gayle said, “The basis for development has to do with science…and research.”
The day’s events included an Entrepreneurship Launch in which several groups of students from the second year of the Associate Degree programmes presented their business ideas. They had booths set up around the Gloria Johnson Multi-Purpose Hall displaying their companies’ diverse products and services from unique beverages, exotic gifts and nutritious treats to self-care kits and accessories
(Booth offering icy treats — all student effort)
(They were into laser craft –personalising items using laser)
Additional research topics were discussed in various sessions throughout the day in the college’s Aubrey Phillips Lecture Theatre and other designated rooms. These topics ranged from Artificial Intelligence to the role of Social Agriculture & Eco-Social Work in Food Security, as well as innovative pedagogical strategies. The day also featured a STEM Workshop led by Kavelle Hylton from STEM Builders Learning Hub. These were alongside displays from The Moneague College extension campuses in Galina, St Mary and Linstead, St Catherine, and academic departments from the main campus.
(Dr Paul Bourne, discussing his research findings about social media)
Highlights included the Faculty of Education’s Learning Centres, the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s International Cuisine Buffet presentation and Live Cooking, a Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Seminar, the School of Humanities’ Love Language Testing Centre, a Crime Scene Re-enactment, and a Counseling Lounge, the Mathematics Department’s STEAM Station, and the Natural & Applied Sciences’ launch of the Solar Fruit Dryer and Climate-Smart Agro-Processing Food Display.
The day also featured a lunch-hour concert where the college band showcased the talents of several students. Entertainment was also provided by Liberty Learning Centre drummers who shared with the audience one of their gold medal pieces in the recent St Mary JCDC music competition.
Several companies with offices in St. Ann and St. Catherine including sponsor, TIP Friendly Society, other financial institutions, North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) and others, displayed their products and services.
(Shamalia Thompson talking about products for the mind at her Safe Haven booth)
Head of the Planning Committee for the Kenneth Anderson Research and Open Day, Kenene Senior, a Senior Lecturer and Research Officer, stated that the day served as a platform for partnership, research, and showcasing the work being done by the college. She said it was a “Platform for faculty and staff to showcase the work we have been engaged in. It is research in all its varying forms.”
The first research day was held in 2022 but was not a face-to-face event.
