Saint Lucia’s educational landscape witnessed an extraordinary display of youthful ingenuity as the National Schools’ Science and Technology Fair concluded with remarkable projects spanning environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and scientific discovery. Under the thematic banner “Igniting Young Minds to Power the Future,” the event showcased groundbreaking student-led initiatives that demonstrated practical applications of scientific principles across multiple disciplines.
Ciceron Secondary School emerged as the fair’s most decorated institution, capturing the prestigious Best Overall Project award for their “Mathematics Disaster Management Online Program.” This comprehensive digital solution additionally secured top honors in the Secondary School Science and Technology category while earning both the Award for Innovation Excellence and the Motiellal Singh Award for Best Science and Technology Project.
The competition revealed exceptional talent across all educational levels. At the primary division, Aux Lyons Combined School achieved dual recognition, winning both the Science and Technology category and Best Primary Project for their innovative “Crystal Palace: Glue Berry Hair Gel.” Environmental category distinctions went to Saint Lucia Sports Academy for their greywater sustainability research at the secondary level, while Bouton RC Combined School claimed top environmental honors among primary schools with their ornithological study “Birds of Bouton,” which also received the Outstanding Research Award.
Post-secondary participants demonstrated advanced technological prowess with Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School dominating their category by securing both first and second places. Their projects included “Biocup Seaweed” and a sophisticated “Hand Gesture Controlled Wheelchair” system.
Special recognition awards highlighted diverse scientific applications, with Micoud Secondary School winning the Food Science Award for their “Ripe Banana Gummies” and Lady Gordon Opportunity Center receiving commendation for their kombucha-based “Jupiter’s Drink.” Additional honors included Grand Riviere Primary School’s Outstanding Experiment Award for “Uniform Rescue” and Aux Lyons Combined School’s Allan Gabriel Award for Best Environmental Project.
Chief Education Officer Beverly Dieudonne characterized the exhibition as profoundly uplifting, noting that participants from infant to post-secondary levels demonstrated exceptional ability to apply scientific thinking to real-world challenges. She emphasized that the fair represented more than symbolic aspiration but rather a tangible demonstration of student capability, stating: “This fair has truly demonstrated that the future is already in capable hands.” Dieudonne praised the students’ resilience and innovative spirit, declaring all participants champions while encouraging continued boundary-pushing experimentation.