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Adventures in STEM For Caribbean Students Professor Cardinal Warde MIT Photonic Systems Group Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Executive Director, Caribbean Science Foundation and warde.csf@gmail.com 27 July 2016 MIT Photonic Systems Group Outline PART I • My Background • My Academic Career • My Entrepreneurial Career PART II • Why the focus on STEM and STEAM?
• Developing STEM interests outside the classroom • Your secondary school STEM preparation • Caribbean STEM Opportunities • Avenues for studying STEM at the tertiary level • STEM majors to consider • Career possibilities in the STEM disciplines • Entrepreneurship and STEM • Summarizing Remarks MIT Photonic Systems Group About Me • Early Days • My Academic Career • As an Entrepreneur • Summarizing Remarks MIT Photonic Systems Group MIT Photonic Systems Group Beach Nearby MIT Photonic Systems Group High School Sport MIT Photonic Systems Group University Sport MIT Photonic Systems Group Just For Fun Now MIT Photonic Systems Group Graduate school (Yale) Physics Research MIT Photonic Systems Group Assistant Prof (MIT) – 1984 Lecture in China MIT Photonic Systems Group My Primary Research Program Compact Optoelectronic Integrated Neural Co-processor Neurons in the brain are highly interconnected Input layer Output Layer Hidden Layer MIT Photonic Systems Group COIN Co-Processor Architecture of Neural-network co-processor showing a modular cascade of OEIC/holographic interconnection layers under electronic microprocesor control MIT Photonic Systems Group Potential Applications of COIN Co-Processor  Probabilistic Reasoning, Guessing, Estimation, Extrapolation and Interpolation.
 Pattern Recognition from Noisy and Fragmented Images  Image Segmentation for Medical Applications  Multimedia Processing, Symbolic Processing and Encryption Breaking  Sensor Fusion (e.g., Multispectral-multipolarization Images for Contrast Enhancement; Robotic Guidance and Control)  Adaptive Optical Wavefront Phase Computation MIT Photonic Systems Group MIT Photonic Systems Group Strategic Markets for Microdisplays -- Telecommunications • Cellular phones, Internet, e-mail – View finders • Digital cameras, video cameras – Display eyeglasses with body- worn computers • Hands-free industrial maintenance • 3-D CAD • Medical • Virtual reality for training, simulations – Projectors • Large screen projectors, light-weight desktop monitors MIT Photonic Systems Group Medical Application: Remote Surgery?
MIT Photonic Systems Group Honors and Awards MIT Photonic Systems Group One of my past hobbies MIT Photonic Systems Group Science and Engineering for Economic Growth and Diversification Science and engineering based entrepreneurship New technology companies Science and engineering based innovation Exports Tourism STEM-based education Economic Growth and Diversification MIT Photonic Systems Group CADSTI-CSF Model UK US-Southeast US-New England Canada US-Silicon Valley US-NY&NJ US-Mid Atlantic Technical Expertise Collaboration Business Expertise Funding NGOs & Found.’s Individuals Diaspora Gov.’s Regional Gov.’s B B B RI RI RI A A A C C C F F F B E AN B E AN B E AN SC SC SC I I I E E E N N N C C C E E E O O O UNDA T I O N UNDA T I O N UNDA T I O N SEED Funding Mentorship Educational Programs Advisory Role Only Entrepreneurs SPISE, SVC, STEM-Teacher-Train MIT Photonic Systems Group Regional Gov.’s Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) CSF: The Implementation arm of CADSTI (Non-profit, non-governmental, Diaspora driven) http://caribbeanscience.org MISSION: Same as CADSTI - Assist with the diversification of Caribbean economies by harnessing science and technology for economic development GOALS: • Assist with STEM-based education reform • Stimulate technology-based entrepreneurship by funding S&T projects in new and existing small enterprises on a competitive basis.
MIT Photonic Systems Group CSF Key Activities To-Date A.

Educational Projects (grooming the next-generation of Caribbean science and engineering leaders) 1.

Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE) 2.

Summer internships for SPISE graduates at technology companies in the US and the Region 3.

Sagicor Visionaries Challenge (STEM high school project competition) 4.
Junior Robotics Camps (for 9-12 year olds in Barbados) C. STEM Teacher Training Workshops (in collaboration with Caribbean Academy of Sciences) D. Stimulation of Technology Entrepreneurship • Assembling SEED funds to ignite small business development MIT Photonic Systems Group Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE) Four weeks of total immersion for our STEM superstars in university-level • Calculus • Physics • Biochemistry • Entrepreneurship • Mandarin • Computer Programming • Humanities (Caribbean Unity) • Under-water Robotics (MIT inspired) • Electronics (renewable energy) Rote learning discouraged.
Critical, logical and analytical thinking encouraged.

Focus not on grades.

Focus on understanding and applying the fundamentals, and on mastery of the material.
23 Developing Your STEM Interests • Naturally curious • Curious about the biological world around you • Curious about the universe and our place in it • Curious about the technology we use every day • Do not take technology for granted • Ask how and why and look for logical answers • Watch educational TV channels and YouTube videos on science and engineering on your own • Do you have the urge to discover and create something of your own?

If so, go for it.
If so, go for it.

MIT Photonic Systems Group Your Secondary School STEM Preparation • Need well-trained teachers with exceptional competency • Adopt inquiry-based methods of teaching and learning • Reject rote learning.

Focus on understanding the fundamentals.
Practice logical and analytical approaches to problem solving • Teachers should sharpen your creative mind with more project- based assignments that incorporate a strong design component • Appreciate the power of teamwork in projects • Take an entrepreneurship course (should be mandatory in secondary and tertiary education) • Seek proficiency in one foreign language mandatory in secondary and tertiary education MIT Photonic Systems Group Examples of Caribbean Opportunities • NIHERST summer programs • Science Fairs • Sagicor Visionaries Challenge • Robotics Camps • Coding Camps • Junior Astronomy Clubs • Science Clubs • Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE) – http://caribbeanscience.org • Math Olympiads • Hackathons • Watch Educational TV channels on your own, find and watch You-tube videos on science and engineering MIT Photonic Systems Group Studying STEM at Tertiary Level • Stellar high school performance in at least one STEM discipline is the first prerequisite • Superb letters of recommendation from HS teachers • Solid written and oral communication skills • Get good advice from knowledgeable professionals who have the global university perspective • Apply to both top and mid-tier science and engineering universities (including UWI) • Do not apply to universities that have a track record of not providing financial to foreign students • Do not be afraid of taking on some debt • Explore all financial aid opportunities (US universities considered) • Do study for and take the SATs (general exam and Level 2 subjects) MIT Photonic Systems Group Advising STEM students on career options Aeronautics/Astronautics Biology Computer Science Bioengineering Chemistry Software Engineering Environmental Engineering Physics Financial Engineering Electrical Engineering Mathematics Robotics Mechanical Engineering Biochemistry Brain & Cognitive Sciences Chemical Engineering Biophysics Computational Biology Nuclear Engineering Neuroscience Civil Engineering Genetic Engineering Telecomm.
Engineering Materials Science Earth/Planetary Sciences MIT Photonic Systems Group What Can You Do With a STEM Degree?
Degree (BS, MS, PhD) • Mathematician • Biostatistician Math Chemistry • Chemist • Food Processing Researcher • Beverage Processing Researcher • Drug Discovery – Synthetic Chemist • Drug Development – Analytical Chemist, Manufacturing • Patent Lawyer* • Technical Writer Physics (Astro, Nuclear, Geo) Computer Science • Nuclear Physicist • Astrophysicist • Geophysicist • Meterologist • Semiconductor Physicist • Programmer • Software Design/ Developer • Hardware Design/Developer • Database Administrator • Network Systems Analyst MIT Photonic Systems Group 29 What Can You Do With a STEM Degree?
Degree (BS, MS, PhD) Life Sciences Biology Biochemistry Biophysics Engineering Electrical, Aeronautical Environmental Chemical, Civil, Bio • Electrical Engineer • Telecomm Engineer • Semiconductor Engineer • Aeronautical Engineer • Nuclear Plant Engineer • Biomedical Engineer • Chemical Engineer • Railway Design Engineer • Automotive Design Engineer • Robotics Engineer • Environmental Engineer • Energy Production Engineer • Petroleum Engineer • Water Management Engineer • Waste Management Engineer • Patent Lawyer* • Technical Writer • Biologist • Physician • Health Educator • Veterinarian • Marine Biologist • Zoologist • Animal Breeder • Pathologist • Pharmacist • Drug Discovery • Drug Development • Bio-informatician • Epidemiologist • Genetic Counselor • Genetics Testing Researcher • Patent Lawyer* • Medical Writer MIT Photonic Systems Group 30 Entrepreneurship and STEM • Standard business rules apply • Learn business fundamentals • Offer a competitive product or service • Accessing capital in Region very difficult • Tendency to re-invent the wheel.
Do diligence on trends in the developed world • Choose projects for execution very carefully • Market study strongly recommended • Teaming with Diaspora can be very beneficial for access to funding, technical expertise, and markets • Finding the technical staff in the Region may be challenging MIT Photonic Systems Group Summarizing Words on Career Success • In addition to knowledge and expertise, the single most important element that affects career success is determination and smart, hard work.
• You must be able to recognize opportunities, seize and exploit them.

• If you truly believe you can achieve your goal, then being dedicated and proactive will optimize your chances of success.

• Luck, of course, plays a role too, but do not rely entirely on luck!

32 Closing Remarks … the next “Google” can start in the Caribbean!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - warde.csf@gmail.com 1-617-699-1281 http://caribbeanscience.org http://cadsti.org