STREAM Education

Carnival, the steel pan, video games, and even sports like football and cricket, all involve the use of STEM subjects and thinking. Almost everything about the world we live in has a STEM foundation. STEM is not just a group of subjects, it is a methodology that encourages us to think critically when solving problems and use innovation and creativity to do so. The ability to think critically and challenge ideas is at the root of innovation, a critical component of economic growth. Innovative and disruptive thinkers are the ones that have the potential to change the world.
 
Shell couldn’t do business without STEM employees and that’s one reason why we are proud to support STEM education. Our support will not only benefit Shell, but will contribute to building a pool of highly-skilled STEM employees for Trinidad and Tobago.
 
Through our STEM programme, Shell Trinidad and Tobago aims to inspire young people to pursue STEM related careers, by creating effective learning environments where they develop important critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We see this is as an investment in future generations who will lead our industry, as well as a contribution to national economic diversification.

The STEM flagship programme began in 2014 as a pilot programme focussed on two educational districts in our fenceline communities. It was designed to offer access to academic support and technical skills training to secondary school students, while exposing them to science and career fairs. In addition to student support, teachers received training in STEM pedagogy and curriculum development, a critical role in the programme’s sustainability as teachers could take the new methods back to their classrooms. Secondary schools identified in the programme were also provided with Science Lab upgrades to further support the delivery of STEM in the classroom.
 
By the end of 2019, more than 19,000 students were exposed to the world of STEM and school administrators were reporting improved student performance academically and socially.
 
Another critical component that has contributed to the success of the programme is our OWN employees. We are proud of our employees, our very own STEM ambassadors, who have volunteered hours of their own time to mentor students and volunteer at events like the STEM Technology Fair and the First Lego League, to name a few. We’ve logged more than 560 employee contact hours on our STEM activities.

In STTL, we are making the move from STEM to STREAM. What does that mean? We are committed to supporting the arts just as much as Sciences and Mathematics, as we are of the belief that a well-rounded education is the key to successful, creative, dynamic youth in Trinidad.

In 2020, we partnered with Niherst to deliver our new STREAM programme to Trinidad and Tobago. To find out more about our Shell STREAM programme and Shell NXPlorers, visit their website

 now.

STEM – Where Are They Now?

Shell’s STEM Bursary Programme created opportunity for students from Fenceline communities to realize their true potential, and they are now moving forward to become tomorrow’s leaders in thought and action. We at Shell Trinidad and Tobago are so proud of our STEM students, and would like to use this space to showcase their talent and achievement.

Ariel Saunders:

Ariel graduated from the University of the West Indies in 2018 with a BSc in Political Science and a minor in International Relations and Public Sector Management. He is now employed with the On the Job Training Programme as a Student Aide at Cowen Hamilton Secondary School.

Shazara Bassarath:

Shazara completed her undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2018, graduating from the University of the West Indies. She now works full-time as a Junior E&I Maintenance Engineer at Perenco Trinidad and Tobago and has also provided support as a volunteer Staff Member for Shell’s STEM Programme in the past.

Tevin Achong:

Tevin graduated with a BSc in Computer Science and in 2019 was selected for NASA’s International Internship Project. We are proud to announce that in January 2021, Tevin joined the Shell Trinidad and Tobago team as a Data Engineer.

Our other STEM students include:

• Joseph Small, a final year Sociology student at the University of the West Indies
• Ryan Seepersad, final year BSc in Accounting
• Kurlon Jointe, a third year Actuarial Science undergraduate student
• Tuliette Lendor, a second-year student pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts.
• Shantel Bobcombe, a second-year student studying Environmental Science and Sustainable Technology

 

This international competition challenges primary and secondary school students to explore their ingenuity and innovation through science and robotics and using LEGO kits.

Students of the STEM programme developed school-based projects that were displayed at the first Shell STEM fair. They also got the opportunity to present their projects to their peers (over 800 students). The fair also exposed all participants to various STEM careers as there were exhibition booths from various industries and departments from local Universities.

How do we get oil and gas out of the earth? What does a subsurface engineer do? These were just some of questions that were answered by our Shell employee volunteers and industry partners when we hosted more than 1000 secondary school and university students at our Technology Fair.