Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Michael Stern (left), presents the winner's trophy to Duvoy Melbourne and Anique Warren of deCarteret College, whose display 'Self-Sustaining Energy Source' took the winner's title at the Mandeville leg of the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd Science and Technology Expo 2008. Sharing in the presentation is their science teacher who supervised the project, Astley Fletcher (right). - Contributed

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Science and Technology Expo 2008, the only one of its kind in the island, covering primary to tertiary institutions, turned up some exciting innovations at the Mandeville leg - the first of the three regional expos to be held in the country.

The event, held in collaboration with the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica (ASTJ), took place at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, and included schools from the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth.

Innovative displays, including making electricity from plastic, manufacturing ethanol from cassava and operating egg hatcheries with black sand as a heating component, were presented, among others. But it was the team from deCarteret College that ran away with the winner's trophy and cash prize along with two sectional awards.

Winning project

Grade nine students from deCarteret College, Duvoy Melbourne and Anique Warren, under the guidance of their science teacher Astley Fletcher, set out to construct an energy source which would generate the energy it needs to sustain itself, while supplying additional power for other devices, such as household appliances.

The resulting project entitled 'Self Sustaining Energy Source' earned for the team the winner's trophy, plaque for best male presenter, microscope for best grade 7-9, scientific kit for best illustration of energy use and $170,000 for the school and members of the team.

deCarteret College's project made use of a car battery, alternator, inverter, and electric motor. The students claim the system is clean, does not release carbon dioxide, and is cost effective.

Other big winners at the Mandeville JPS Science and Technology Expo, were second-place winners, Kilsyth Primary School, from Clarendon, with it's display 'Cocoa - Husk, Hear this! It's a Must' and third-place winners, Brown's Town High, with their 'Mobile Garden, Clean, Cheap and Organic'.

Remaining regional expos

City Venue Date

Montego Wexford April 10

Bay Hotel

Kingston Knutsford April 30

Court

National Jamaica May 19

finals Pegasus

hotel