Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, (right) greets Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Audia Barnett, on her arrival at King’s House on Oct 31, for the ceremony officially declaring November as Science and Technology Month. In the background, is Sir Kenneth’s Aide-de-Camp, Captain Delando Coriah. The proclamation for Science and Technology Month was read by the Governor General.
In making the declaration, the Governor-General said that science and technology has proven to be critical to development, environmental sustainability, social harmony, and the eradication of poverty.
“Science and technology, especially modern advances as bio-technology informatics, properly executed within businesses, civil society, public institutions, as well as education, health, and other Government agencies, go a long way to ensuring the generation of meaningful knowledge, workplace productivity and innovation, meaningful occupation, participatory governance, and enhanced quality of life,” he stated.
Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Audia Barnett, said science and technology “is changing the way we live, and developing countries, such as ours, will have to look to science and technology, more and more, and innovation, in terms of transforming our societies.”
“We (SRC) are trying to transform people’s lives through science and technology, looking particularly at small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the youth, and we plan to ensure that during the month, we touch all aspects of our society,” she added.
The SRC, which is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, is Jamaica’s principal public sector body, responsible for the co-ordination and fostering of scientific research and the promotion of its application.
Most of the Council’s projects support the growth and development of the agro-industrial sector in Jamaica, through research, adaptation of available technologies, creation of new and appropriate technologies, and the provision of training and technical assistance.