Voices Magazine Vol2-Issue-6

9 February - March 2019 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica D r. Angela Samuels Harris, retired mathematics educator and former principal of the Montego Bay Community College delivered the University of Technology, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Distinguished Public Lecture on the topic “Mathematics ‘Head-ucation’ – Preventing Math Phobia” on January 24, 2019 at the University’s Western Campus, Montego Bay. In an informative lecture, Dr. Samuels Harris demystified many of the perceived complexities of Mathematics, while emphasising that math phobia and math anxiety can be overcome by shifting one’s thinking and approaches to the teaching and learning of the subject. Throughout her engaging talk, the Mathematics educator shared on her vast experiences as a Math educator at different levels in the education system in Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and North America. She highlighted a number of occasions where she was able to transform student failure in mathematics to high achievement in the subject. P rofessor Buchanan took the audience on an easy to follow, exciting talk in which he demonstrated the crucial role played by Tribology (the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion) in making many of the products we depend on in our daily lives, from shoes that don’t slip, to the brakes in every form of transport. His lecture also gave the attentive audience of engineering students, educators and members of the engineering fraternity, a stimulating look at Biomimetics which looks to nature (animals, birds, insects, fish, plants, etc,) for inspiration to develop sustainable human technologies and to provide solutions to modern problems. Professor Buchanan gave examples of biotribological inspired solutions and inventions made from nature’s blueprint, such as Velcro which mimics the properties of a burr plant; adhesive tapes designed using the “gecko effect,” referencing the way creatures such as flies, spiders and lizards attach themselves easily to vertical surfaces without falling off. Professor Buchanan also shared with the captivated audience that “we can now look forward to the day when people will be able to walk up vertical surfaces and across ceilings with the help of a gecko-inspired invention.” Tribology Research and its application is ongoing at UTech, Jamaica. This includes research done for the sugar cane industry on the sugar cane milling process to extract the juice from cane plants. 60 th Anniversary Distinguished Lectures Mathematics “Head-ucation” Nature’s Design in Solving Engineering Problems Dr. Angela Samuels Harris, retired mathematics educator and former Principal of the Montego Bay Community College delivering the University of Technology, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture on January 24, 2019 at the UTech, Jamaica Western Campus, Montego Bay. An appreciative audience applauds Professor Vernon Buchanan, Professor of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, University of Technology, Jamaica, during his UTech, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Distinguished Public Lecture hosted by the University on February 19, 2019 at the Papine Campus.