KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The deadline for the Scientific Research Council’s (SRC) Science and Technology Month competitions has been extended to November 4, 2016.

Coordinator for the Science and Technology Unit at the SRC, Amanda McKenzie, told JIS News that the aim of the competitions is to “increase students’ awareness, understanding and appreciation for science and technology.”

The competitions encourage the youth to depict Science and Technology in creative ways.

Competitions include essay and oratory for primary and secondary level students; an essay competition as well as a performing arts competition, which includes song, poem and drama. There is also a poster competition.

“The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) is paying close attention to the art component of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics,” Miss McKenzie pointed out, in reference to the competitions focusing on Literary, Visual and Performing Arts.

She explained that with the competition, “we want to explore the question of how do we use technology to complement the indigenous knowledge to propel economic growth.”

Prizes for the competitions include book vouchers, smart phones, gift baskets, hotel day passes and trophies.

Entries must be submitted using guidelines and registration form, which can be found at www.src-jamaica.org and should be sent to the Scientific Research Council, c/o the Science and Technology Unit, P O.Box 350, Hope Gardens Complex, Kingston 6.

Science and Technology Month is being observed in November under the theme: ‘Science, Technology and Innovation: Stimulus for Health, Wealth and Wellness’.

Activities for the month are spearheaded by the SRC and The National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST) under the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology.