Innovative ideas to resolve Environmental Challenges

Students contribute with their innovative ideas to resolve Environmental Challenges

Creativity, ingenuity, passion for research and science are just some elements to describe the talent and scientific skills of students from the College of The Servants of the Sacred Heart Jesus, located in Panama City. They recently launched their Expo- Science Fair in the school auditorium in September, 2010.

The Fair took place over three days at the educational community of the school where students from the earliest grades to high school seniors gathered to showcase their scientific projects. The participants, all with energy and enthusiasm, presented their innovative ideas to find solutions to many of the problems currently affecting society with great clarity and knowledge of the subject.

Arriving at this stage full of bright ideas and highlighting the role of science as a cornerstone for development was not an easy or quick task. Behind all this, there was a process in which teachers and students worked tirelessly during and after hours of classes to develop and validate their projects, as required by all scientific methods. Two people leading this process were teachers Martha Carrazana de Manso and Gretta Bernal, professor of chemistry and biology respectively, who together with their colleagues from the Department of Science made this Science Fair a reality.

Alternative energy projects using resources such as wind and water, conservation of the environment, developing water filters, cell biology and fruit wines are just some examples of projects exhibited by students during the Fair.

Ana B. Santamaría, high school senior said:

"With the completion of the project Development of Fruit Wines, presented at the expo-fair of the school, put into practice knowledge of different subjects such as chemistry and computer science. I improved my research methods which I consider extremely important and I also learned that I should always work in order, with a lot of responsibility, working with the other members of the group in harmony. The fair has left me a very positive experience and I thank my teachers and my school for this opportunity. "

The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) is an international nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS), in order to increase the programs and activities that develop leadership skills and entrepreneurship in the youth of the Americas. To learn more about the YABT and / or wishes to support its programs and activities, visit: www.yabt.net.

For more information, contact: Edgar Maestre  YABT Panama, Director

Young Americas Business Trust   E-mail: emaestre@myybiz.net

From Student to Entrepreneur

Three engineering students from Lima, Peru, decided to use their knowledge to improve the security of their own country. They came up with a new innovative service called Taximart that allows people to order taxis either online or with cell phones. These taxis are registered and provide their clients with different prices and time slots. This way, they resolved the problem of how to get home safely.

One of their main difficulties was to convince investors about the real benefits of this new innovative service. Nevertheless, the students had already started their enterprise named Devosinc when their university informed them about the Talent and Innovation Competition (TIC) of the Americas. Participating in TIC Americas 2010 gave them the necessary structure and management tools to bring their business to the next level. They knew that if they won the competition, it would not only give them credibility and exposure, it would also attract a lot of press leading to new investors and clients- and this is exactly what happened.

TIC Americas allowed the team to share their ideas, experiences, visions, and dreams with other young entrepreneurs. Gaining international exposure brought them new ideas and concepts which permitted them to further improve their services. The Competition gave them the opportunity to translate theory to practice.

According to Hernan Quintana one of the founders of Devosinc “the most important thing in pursuing an enterprise it trying and never being discouraged.” They believed in their service and overcame the prejudice that entrepreneurship may not lead to as much stability and financial remuneration as being employed.

Today, Devosinc is growing and currently has 7 employees. They are further expanding their business, providing new services to other business. In the end, it really came down to two things, overcoming the fear of failure and having faith! 

MORE INFORMATION: 

Young Americas Business Trust 

http://www.myybiz.net