In early 2024, the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The University of the West Indies, Mona launched the FiWi Science Initiative, alongside a suite of associated tasks. Two years on, the programme remains to be gathering steam. The school is now inviting “interested individuals and organisations to support this effort by providing sponsorship in cash and kind, information and sharing about the initiative”.
“This initiative is aimed at addressing some of the information challenges reducing the likelihood of students pursuing science, technology, engineering, medicine (STEM) studies at the tertiary level,” stated Dr Susan Otuokon, strategic improvement officer within the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Science and Technology.
“STEM refers to those skills commonly used across all fields in pure and applied science. These skills, for example, critical thinking, problem-solving and computer literacy are very useful in the modern workforce and emerging industries. A lack of adequately educated and trained personnel in STEM will have a negative impact on a country’s economy and development,” she added.
The drawback is just not uniquely Jamaican. “Globally, interest in pursuing STEM subjects at the tertiary level is declining and it has been found that from entering secondary school, interest in pursuing STEM subjects and careers begins to decline,” Otuokon famous. “This has become worse since the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction in practical sessions. The reasons are complex, but it is not simply because STEM subjects are ‘too hard’ as 52 per cent of the sample of US adults surveyed in a Pew Centre Survey stated, but these are some reasons.”
Against that backdrop, the FiWi Science Initiative has set itself an bold cultural process. “Thus, the goal is to popularise the study of science and technology at the tertiary level, among older children (10 to 14 years old), and youths (15 to 24 years old) by using art and technology to increase visibility and accessibility to information on scientists, what they do and their relevance to our lives and also, Jamaica’s science heritage.”
That purpose is being pursued via a number of strands, notably the FiWi Science Murals and the FiWi Science Portal. The murals are to be put in on distinguished partitions throughout the Faculty of Science, starting on the essential entrances, and collectively forming a ‘Heritage Trail of Scientists & Science’. Each work will function QR codes linking to the FiWi Science Portal, with augmented-reality parts designed to deepen engagement and spark curiosity.
“The murals will be viewed by thousands of students passing through the FST annually, including primary and secondary students visiting for maths and physics olympiads, science festival, etc. The muralist, Yanque Yip, with his concept was chosen for the mural production,” Otuokon stated.
Permission has been secured and funds raised for the primary part: a mural on the Ring Road, going through the Inter-Faculty Lecture Theatre (IFLT). It will depict Francis Williams, an African-Jamaican scientist who achieved worldwide recognition within the first half of the 18th century, however whose contributions have been virtually erased from the historic report. Interest in Williams was revived solely not too long ago, after his portrait resurfaced in a British museum. A second part, nevertheless, stays unfunded. Roughly $3.3 million remains to be required to produce a mural spanning about 60 ft of wall house on the IFLT, celebrating scientists of the twentieth and twenty first centuries.
Running alongside the visible programme is the FiWi Science Portal, a rising on-line repository. “The FiWi Science Portal provides a database of scientists generally with a short bio on each scientist, what they do/did, its relevance, and where possible, a bit of their personal background to create a connection with the reader,” Otuokon defined. “Each bio includes a small photograph and links to websites with more information including newspaper articles and videos where possible. There is a game to introduce users to exploring the site and information on science special days and events. The plan is that the site will become the ‘place to go’ to link with scientists for commercial purposes and related fees will help cover maintenance costs.”
The portal was launched on January 30 final yr with just below 100 scientists. That quantity has since doubled and continues to develop steadily as new materials is added. According to Google Analytics, new customers now vary from 500 to 1,000 month-to-month, with peak site visitors recorded in October 2025.