ONCE again a four-member software design team from Northern Caribbean University is making strides in the Microsoft-sponsored Imagine Cup Competition.

The 2008 team of Romaine Carter, Carlos Grant, Orlando Knight and Krishna Maragh has placed first in round one of the competition, staving off competition from other local universities to emerge on top at the national level.

Members of Northern Caribbean University's (NCU's) 2008 Imagine Cup team (from left) Carlos Grant, Romaine Carter, Krishna Maragh and Orlando Knight.

"Under the leadership of project advisor, Mr Halzen Smith, the team members submitted a proposal for designing software geared towards promoting environmental sustainability and engendering responsibility for the environment among people in Jamaica and the rest of the world," said a release from the university to Career & Education. "The programme was developed in accordance with the theme of this year's competition, "Imagine a World Where Technology Enables a Sustainable Environment".

The team is dubbed eQuest, with reference to their pursuit of environmental sustainability. According to Smith, who is also acting coordinator for the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at NCU, the team is not only knowledgeable but is also very enthusiastic.

"With one member, Romaine Carter, having been a part of two previous Imagine Cup teams, and the inclusion of a Geography major, Orlando Knight, to bring his expertise in the area of focus, great things are expected of the team in this year's competition," said the university.

The team is also benefitting from the guidance of last year's team members, who placed a historic third in the world.

Having won the Jamaica leg of the competition, the 2008 team will go on to represent Jamaica in the semi-final round, where they will face off against countries in the Central America and Caribbean region.

This segment of the competition will take place in the first week of May, when the competing teams will be required to present their software to the judges. Success at the regional level will guarantee the team a place in the grand finals, which will take place in France later this year.

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