A BETA (Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement) Camp student tests aids and bases in the lab during a previous summer camp. Registration for the five-day summer camp, to be hosted July 4-9 at The College of The Bahamas, is now open. (Photo: File)

The young Bahamian engineers and professionals of Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) Group have again partnered with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to bring back their engineering and technology summer camp for teenagers for its third year.

Registration is now open at www.wearebeta.co/apply/ for the five-day summer camp, to be hosted July 4-9 at The College of The Bahamas.

Inspired by the unifying relief efforts after Hurricane Joaquin, the camp will have the theme “Prediction, Preparedness, Provision: STEM tools to Sustain our Bahamaland,” and will focus on using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to create solutions for disaster management, especially hurricanes.

The camp intends to sponsor students from the affected islands to attend the camp as part of its Family Island outreach. In past years, the camp has had 20 percent Family Island enrolment, with members of corporate Bahamas stepping forward to sponsor travel and accommodations for the students. Companies wanting to sponsor a child can visit the site at www.wearebeta.co or email the BETA board at info@wearebeta.co.

“Every year we look to present a problem of national significance in order to engage our students beyond lessons by making them a part of the solution. We hope to stimulate their minds to think, create and ultimately become those solutions,” said Trenicka Rolle, BETA president. “Hurricanes threaten and impose grave danger to our islands every year and we know that we can use STEM tools to mitigate the damaging effects of these storms.”

BETA vice-president D’Andre Wilson Ihejirika said they were grateful to sponsors like the Lyford Cay Foundation whose contribution would allow them to invite Family Island students who have been affected by Hurricane Joaquin to this year’s camp.

“These students will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how they can be a part of the STEM solution, thanks to the support of all of our contributors,” she said.

At the camp, attending students will choose between seven STEM streams — biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil/environmental engineering, computer science/web development, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and industrial engineering. Each stream is taught by professional engineers and technologists with assistance from qualified university student volunteers. Students also have the opportunity to participate in supervised field tours of engineering sites.

Throughout the week, camp attendees will be challenged with a multidisciplinary group project aimed at solving a real problem connected to disaster preparedness and relief. The camp will include an opening panel and presentation on Monday, July 4 sponsored by the United States Embassy in Nassau. This year’s panel, open to the public, will feature Dr. Pamela McCauley an industrial engineering professor and expert on human factors in disaster management.

This year promises to be a landmark year for the BETA organization. With a strategic focus on progression through partnership, BETA will be expanding its event calendar. BETA is teaming up with internationally acclaimed “hackathon” planner WearHacks to host a “hackathon” for Bahamian teens in October. BETA is also working with We Speak Science to host a STEM conference in November, bringing professors from top university across the globe to present research and participate in think-tank sessions.

For more information on how to register, donate or volunteer with BETA Camp or how to be involved in BETA’s other events, visit the site at www.wearebeta.co or email the board at info@wearebeta.co.

About BETA: Co-founded by engineers Trenicka Rolle and D’André Wilson-Ihejirika in March 2014, Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) is the work of a consortium of Bahamian engineers, scientists and technologists. These highly skilled professionals share a passion for using the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills they have learned in their successful careers to help re-energize The Bahamas and provide opportunities for Bahamian youth.

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