The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) successfully concluded its fourth annual Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO) with a virtual Medal Awards and Closing Ceremony on January 18, 2026. This prestigious competition brought together brilliant young minds from seven Caribbean nations—Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago—who competed across three disciplines: Mathematics, Computer Coding, and Robotics & Electronics Systems.
The 2026 Olympiads witnessed unprecedented participation with 270 students initially registering from nine Caribbean countries, culminating in 90 finalists competing across 42 teams. The competition was structured into three age categories: Level I (13-15 years), Level II (16-18 years), and Level III (19-21 years), with many students demonstrating remarkable versatility by participating in multiple Olympiads.
Jamaica emerged as the dominant force in the medal tally, securing an impressive 10 medals across categories. Trinidad and Tobago followed with 5 medals, while Belize earned 3 medals. Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines each claimed 2 medals, with Saint Kitts and Nevis rounding out the winners with 1 medal.
The competition showcased extraordinary innovation with projects specifically designed to address pressing Caribbean challenges. Belize’s Bridget Pineda earned the sole platinum medal of the competition for her groundbreaking ‘OxyFlow’ portable automated medical ventilation device. Trinidad and Tobago’s Joseann Boneo developed the ‘Inter Regional Movement Planner,’ a web-based platform facilitating legal workforce movement between CARICOM nations.
Other notable innovations included Jamaica’s ‘SPACIS’ solar-powered irrigation system, Saint Kitts and Nevis’s ‘ASPIRE’ financial education platform simulating real-time stock markets, and Saint Lucia’s ‘The Path to Wellness’ interactive game educating about non-communicable diseases.
Professor Cardinal Warde, Interim Executive Director of the CSF, commended the participants while maintaining high expectations: “The Level III Math Olympiad proved particularly challenging this year, but we will not lower our standards. I want students to rise to the challenge, and I believe they will.”
Medal winners received both certificates and substantial cash prizes ranging from $200 for bronze to $500 for platinum medals. The CSF further incentivized participation by offering Amazon gift cards worth up to $150 for early registrants in the Robotics & Electronics Systems category.
The event not only recognized academic excellence but also fostered a growing STEM community across the Caribbean, with participants expressing gratitude for the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and innovative solutions to regional problems.