A model hurricane and earthquake-resistant house that is environmentally friendly and energy efficient, and a mobile OSH inspection app to guide users through a thorough and accurate inspection of their workplaces among the top inventions at this year's Prime Minister's Awards for Scientific Ingenuity. At the awards ceremony, held on 4 January at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, 65 Trinidad and Tobago nationals from all walks of life were recognised for their creativity using scientific knowledge and the application of technology to innovate, invent and solve problems.

In his feature address, Dr. the Hon. Rupert Griffith, Minister of Science and Technology, spoke of the importance of the awards scheme in advancing national development goals in science and technology. He was impressed by the zeal and achievements of the awardees and expressed confidence in the capacity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago to fully participate in the global knowledge economy, particularly in highly specialised niche markets. He stressed that "We must design, produce and sell our own technology. We must create our own solutions, as opposed to searching for answers beyond our country's borders. Science and technology are two of the main pillars required for the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago to a highly diversified, knowledge-based economy. We must take charge of our ability to create, innovate and be entrepreneurial. Our focus needs to be on re-imagining our future."

NIHERST's President, Mrs. Maureen Manchouck, endorsed the Minister's message, reminding the gathering that, "In this interconnected age, the power of a good idea can spread so quickly, that scale can happen at an unprecedented pace. There is no monopoly on ideas, and new innovations and solutions can come from our soil and our people - whether they are our trained scientists or just 'citizen innovators' - and easily have global reach and impact today. "She said it was that kind of thinking that NIHERST sought to inculcate in the population through all its initiatives, and particularly those targeting children and young people, whose future will depend even more on the application of scientific ingenuity."

The awards were offered on the basis of the Scientific Innovation & Invention Competition, which assessed the prototypes of clever ideas, based on their governing concept, design, implementation and commercial potential, and the Scientific Creative Solutions Competition in which conceptualised solutions toe everyday problems had to be well designed to meet the needs of end users, while keeping in harmony with the environment and the norms of society. For each competition, there were two age categories - Seniors (over 18) and Juniors (ages 13-18).

Scientific Creative Solutions Competition Results

Junior Category

  • 1st Place
  • Deemarie Gordon
  • Safe Oil & Water Paint Remover
  • 2nd Place
  • Brittany Cochrane
  • Music CD Learning Tool for CXC Students
  • 3rd Place
  • Makida Alexander
  • Smartphone Application for finding lost Keys

Senior Category

  • 1st Place
  • Dominic Gordon
  • Ruel Elis
  • Mobile Osh Inspection App
  • 2nd Place
  • Natasha Ramroop Singh
  • BioCatalyst for the Removal of Green House Gases
  • 3rd Place
  • Chade Gabriel
  • Drinking Straw Holder

Scientific Innovation & Invention Competition

Junior Category

  • 1st Place
  • Esther Crystal Njonge
  • Eco-light
  • 2nd Place
  • Kesheanne Francis
  • Giatri Kavita Lalla
  • Alissa Sophia Adams
  • Aleema Persad
  • Can-o-The Crusher
  • 3rd Place
  • Nishala Rampersad
  • Coconut Opener

Senior Category

  • 1st Place
  • Richard Patrick Clarke
  • Sustainable Hurricane and Earthquake Resistant house.
  • 2nd Place
  • Maurice Peter Vidale
  • Mounted reciprocal Trailing Tracking Guide for portable powered machine tools
  • 3rd Place
  • John Simon
  • Machine for Cutting of Masonry Wood and Other Materials