Imagine waking up before 6am during the July/August vacation, catching a bus at your primary school in Rio Claro and journeying to the Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI St Augustine for the very first time for a Natural History Tour.
Once there, your group is mesmerised by the collections that present a mere snapshot of Trinidad and Tobago’s rich biodiversity. Your group is captivated by stories about majestic sea turtles that nest on the shores of our islands, the beautiful butterflies that inhabit the forests, and the numerous marine organisms that take refuge in our precious coral reefs.
This was the experience of one of several groups of children that visited the Department of Life Sciences over the course of five days in the months of July and August 2023.
Natural History Tours 2023, hosted in collaboration with NIHERST, was an event geared towards children between the ages of 6 and 13. Its purpose was to spark interest in local biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago.
On tour days, groups were taken to the The UWI Zoology Museum, the Land Arthropod Collection, the Coastal and Marine Exhibit, the Butterfly Habitat, and the Natural Science Conference Room, where there was a display by the National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago and the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago. At every location, there were interactive group discussions about our local biodiversity.
The tours also included hands-on learning activities designed for attendees to engage in specimen preservation and preparation, observe specimens under the stereo microscope, interact with live marine organisms, use equipment such as binoculars to observe organisms in the field, and experience a walk through a butterfly habitat.
Visitors had the opportunity to observe the skeletons and preserved specimens of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. Some of the iconic specimens they viewed included the Banwari remains (oldest known human fossils in Trinidad and Tobago), the Butterfly and Moth Collection, the pilot whale skeleton (marine mammal stranded on the east coast of Trinidad), sea turtle shells, live butterflies in a simulated forest habitat and, and a local flora display.
“The series of stops bundled together under the Natural History Tours recognise the educational value of these resources developed and maintained by the Department of Life Sciences,” stated Dr Brian Cockburn, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology.
“The resources have been routinely used by researchers from around the globe, so it is a welcome pleasure to share them with a young generation, and to stoke the sense of wonder and passion for science. We look forward to sustaining and expanding this initiative.”
The event was planned and executed by a multidisciplinary team that included technicians (Rajindra Mahabir, Anton Manoo, Vijai Ramdhan, Judy Ramsoondar), lecturers (La Daana Kanhai, Zaheer Hosein), associate professionals (Jacob Whiby, Sarah Mathura), postgraduate students (Ato Mendoza, Cyran Benjamin, Andrew Dhanoo), recent graduates (Raeis Mohammed, Krysten Paul, Jo-Marie Westmaas, Andrew Mohammed), current undergraduate students (Zion Thomas, Alisha Mohammed, Wesley Goorachan), office staff (Cherelle Wilkinson-Sirjhu, Leisha Joseph), and several volunteers (Dan Jaggernauth and others).
Professor Judith Gobin, Head of the Department of Life Sciences, commented, “This is the first time we have had this age group of students visit the department. Based on the feedback received from the students, their teachers and their parents, this was truly an adventure not to be missed.” She added, “We have no doubt that we will be seeing some of these very youngsters here at the Department of Life Sciences and UWI within the next 12 to 13 years. We have succeeded in stirring up their excitement and enthusiasm for science!”
