News Releases

First-ever UWI Chemistry Festivals for Deaf Students Help Bridge the Accessibility Gap

For Release Upon Receipt - February 7, 2024

St. Augustine


The Team of volunteers from the Department of Chemistry, The UWI St. Augustine Campus

St. Augustine, Feb 7, 2023 –   Deaf individuals face unique challenges in accessing science education, with a significant global statistic indicating that only 1 in 10 Deaf students has access to quality education (source: World Federation of the Deaf, 2017). In doing its part to close this gap, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, made history by hosting two Chemistry Festivals at the Cascade School for the Deaf (Port of Spain) on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and at the Audrey Jeffers School for the Deaf (Marabella) on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

 In an attempt to bridge educational gaps, these events were organized by the Department of Chemistry of The Faculty of Science and Technology under the theme "Chemistry H.A.N.D.S - Chemistry Helping And Nurturing Deaf Students,". These were the first Chemistry Festivals for the Deaf Community in the Caribbean and highlighted the power of inclusive education.

 Under the leadership of Dr. Petrea Facey, Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, the festivals provided a platform for Deaf students to explore the wonders of chemistry through hands-on experiments. The students were decked out in personal protective equipment as they eagerly participated in activities carefully crafted to promote active learning and critical thinking.

 From determining the acidity or basicity of non-hazardous household reagents to investigating the effectiveness of lotions as sunscreens, the students experienced the excitement of scientific exploration and discovery. The highlight was the exploration of the super absorbent diaper polymer, sodium polyacrylate which fascinated the students.  The novelty of learning of the scientific principles behind products found in their everyday spaces was an unexpected pleasure.  

 The festivals not only impacted the Deaf students but also inspired the UWI staff and student volunteers from the Department of Chemistry. For many, it was their first interaction with Deaf students and they embraced the opportunity to be part of history and part of this community. Witnessing the students' joy and engagement reinforced the importance of making education inclusive and accessible.

 Dr. Facey, reflecting on the success of the festivals, shared, "This is just the start of a much larger vision to make chemistry more inclusive in the Caribbean. We hope to garner additional funding both locally and internationally so that this becomes an annual event." Both schools received chemistry kits and teaching aids sponsored by the American Chemical Society, promoting capacity building and encouraging students to envision themselves as future scientists.

 “The students were definitely interested from the onset and attended to their tasks with dedication,” said Ms. Francisca Monsegue, Acting Principal of the Cascade school for the Deaf. “Indeed, more schools should be privy to Chemistry Festivals.”  Ms. Veronica John, Principal of the Audrey Jeffers School of the Deaf stated that the Chemistry Festival was a huge success. “The students enjoyed being scientists for the day. They learnt a lot and were competently guided through each experiment.” She also noted the heart-warming moment that transcended mere words when some of the UWI student volunteers used sign language to communicate with the students. For the students, this act of using their ‘language’ signified that they were valued, their world was recognised and their education mattered.

 The Department of Chemistry of The Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI St. Augustine Campus through the Chemistry Festivals aimed to go beyond traditional educational boundaries, creating an environment where Deaf students could actively engage in chemistry activities using everyday household items. These festivals not only opened doors to education but also hearts, fostering a deeper appreciation for the power of learning, irrespective of abilities.

UWI student volunteer, Kimberly Birju and Dr. Wilson Sue-Chee Ming of The UWI St. Augustine Campus Department of Chemistry prep for an experiment with students from the Cascade School for the Deaf 

 Students from Audrey Jeffers School for the Deaf along with their teacher Ms. Amanda Hosein and UWI volunteers have fun with chemistry 

Students from Audrey Jeffers School for the Deaf perform Magic Milk Experiment. Dr. Rachael Wyse-Mason(R) and class teacher Ms. Renelle Paul looks on

Students from the Cascade School for the Deaf perform chromatography experiments with UWI student volunteer, Shane Mannette, Teacher Ms. Lindi Loubon looks on.

 Student from Audrey Jeffers School for the Deaf testing water’s skin

UWI student volunteer Britney Gajadhar demonstrates experiment to students of the Cascade School, Assistant Teacher Ms. Trisha Walker looks on 

About the American Chemical Society

 The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News.

 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

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