intellectual-magazine-issueSTEM

JANUARY 2018 

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STEM Carib Conference 2017 

SPECIAL EDITION 

EUREKA! 

intellectual-magazine-issueSTEM2.indd 1 

2/7/2018 9:40:37 PM

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CONTENTS 

Message From The University 

College Of The Cayman Islands 

President 

Message From The Harrisburg 

University President 

Pulling Off Humankind’s Greatest 

Engineering Achievements 

Benefits Of Obtaining A Career Of 

Passion 

08 

Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

22 

12 8 Forensic Investigation 

13 

14 

15 

16 

Charlito’s Greenhouse 

UCCI Weather Station 

The Science Behind Warp 

Drives & Teleportation 

Coral Restoration Techniques 

8 

9 

10 

11 

Dr William Hrudey - Passion For 

Science 

Earthquake Resistant Buildings 

Biotechnology Revolution 

17 8 Teaching With Games 

18 

Future Homes - A Response to 

Global Warming 

STEM Carib Conference Pictures 

26 

Cover Photo 

“The island of Grand Cayman, a British dependency that 

covers 76 square miles (197 square kilometers) in the 

northwest Caribbean Sea, is visible in this near-vertical 

photograph. Geologically similar to The Bahamas, 

Grand Cayman is a low-lying, limestone island located 

on top of a submarine ridge. The city of George Town, 

the capital and chief port of the Cayman Islands, can be 

seen at the southwest end of the island. Grand Cayman 

was discovered in 1503 by Christopher Columbus but 

was never occupied by Spain. The island was settled in 

1734 by English colonists from the island of Jamaica, 

approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) to the southeast. 

The word "Cayman" is derived from the Carib Indian word 

for alligator, apparently because early British visitors saw 

large lizards (probably iguanas), which they mistook for 

alligators. Grand Cayman's 7-mile beach can be seen on 

the western side of the island. With exotic coral reefs off 

its shores, Grand Cayman is a mecca for divers. Today, 

tourism is the major industry of the island.” - (via nasa.gov) 

26 

16 

20 

21 

Crypto Currencies 

The Ride To Conquer Cancer, What’s New? 

22 8 A History Of Reverse Osmosis Desalination 

23 Chemistry Of Paint 

24 OTEC Cayman - A Game Changer 

Life In The Universe - The Multidisciplinary Approach To Discovery 

What is STEM? 

S - Science 

T - Technology 

E - Engineering 

M - Mathematics 

27 8 A New Kind Of Artificial Intelligence With Smart Date 

28 Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) For Modern Map Making 

29 Medical Applications Of 3D Printing 

30 Forensic Entomology 

31 8 About UCCI 

30 

32 Meet The Intellectuals 

STEM is a term that has become increasingly 

popular in education when referring to this group 

of topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, 

Mathematics). A solid STEM foundation is not only 

a foot in the door of the world’s fastest growing 

job market, but has become crucial for the future 

success of all students. 


2/7/2018 9:41:24 PM

From The Editor 

Greetings, Fellow Intellectuals 

The blue iguana, also known as the Grand Cayman iguana, Grand 

Cayman blue iguana or Cayman Island blue iguana, is an endangered 

species of lizard endemic to the island of Grand Cayman. 

E D I T O R I A L T E A M 

Dr. Shirin Haque, PhD 

Editor-in-Chief 

Yuddhistra Sharma 

Layout & Design 

Deva Sharma 

Consultant 

Sharmin Haque 

Chicago Office, Illinois, USA 

The Intellectual Magazine 

Tel: 1-868-353-8755 

E-mail: the.intellectual.magazine@gmail.com 

Website: http://www.the-intellectual-magazine.com 

FOLLOW US: 

The opinions in the articles in The Intellectual reflect the authors’ 

points of view. Total or partial reproduction of the contents of 

this magazine without the express authorization of the editor is 

prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the contents of the 

advertisements published in this magazine. 

This is a publication of 

Deva Sharma Architect and 

Associates 

Copyright 2018 Deva Sharma Architects and Associates. All rights reserved. 

c 

R 

It was an absolute pleasure for The Intellectual 

Magazine when the University College of Cayman 

Islands (UCCI) indicated that they would like this 

magazine to be the official magazine for the STEM 

Carib conferences. It is with this background 

that we are proud to present this second special 

edition of the STEM Carib Conference. We are now 

living in a world where “fake news” has become an 

official terminology, where the dangers of social 

media have become evident, where the boundaries 

between truth and fabrication have become blurred. 

We are living in a time, when one has to come to 

the defense of Science – a notion unimaginable just 

recently. In 2017, the first ever conference of Flat 

Earthers (http://fe2017.com/) was held in the USA 

with about 500 participants. Ancient Greeks and 

Indian Scholars had proved the world was round 

and even determined the circumference well before 

Christopher Columbus ever sailed on his voyage to 

find India traveling Westwards. This is disturbing 

indeed. 

With such trends, it is important more than ever, 

that all who can speak for Science must. STEM 

Carib is needed more than ever at times like this. 

We therefore invite you to indulge in the range of 

topics and presentations at STEM Carib 2017, in 

this issue. This was the first year that Harrisburg 

University from the United States partnered 

with UCCI to make the conference an amazing 

success. They carried forward the dream, vision 

and legacy of the founding father of the STEM 

Carib conference – Dr. William “Bill” Hrudey. It 

is therefore a well deserved honour that he was the 

recipient of the Association of the Presidents’ award 

for contribution to Science and Education in the 

Cayman Islands. Dr. Hrudey has gone on to receive 

the award of the MBE (Member of the British 

Empire) for his continuing contributions to the 

region and Science. 

It is the effort of single individuals that propel 

initiatives forward in the Caribbean region, and 

such would not be possible without the effort and 

support of presidents of UCCI, Mr. Roy Bodden and 

Harrisburg University, Dr. Eric Darr respectively 

and of course Dr. Hrudey. This bumper issue will 

give you a sense of the amazing science impacting 

all our lives happening regionally in the Caribbean 

and internationally. 

Cogito, ergo sum. 

Dr. Shirin Haque, 

Editor-in-Chief 


2/7/2018 9:41:39 PM

Message From The 

University College of the 

Cayman Islands President 

It is my pleasure to welcome you 

to this, the 2017 STEM Carib Conference. 

This year’s Conference takes on added 

significance since it heralds UCCI’s joint 

participation with Harrisburg University 

of Science & Technology. There has 

been an obvious growing interest in this 

Conference since its inception, and interest 

is anticipated to grow more with our 

partnership with Harrisburg University. 

This partnership further enlarges 

the platform for discussion, debate, and 

performance in the STEM areas. It is 

an attraction for high caliber presenters 

both local and international. It is also a 

clear indication that here at UCCI we 

are dedicated to the idea that learning 

is a public good… and we have put this 

principle into practice in a number of ways. 

Our various public programmes, including 

this event, are exemplary. They are 

exemplary in many respects, not least of 

which these programmes reflect the value 

the institution places on introducing 

our students to evidence-based data and 

reasoned debate. 

In a Cayman Islands saturated 

by personal opinion … it seems to me 

that public institutions have a special 

responsibility to foster reasoned debate 

… whatever the topic may be. Our public 

programmes, however, emphasize the 

more obvious; that is, our commitment 

to making fundamental contributions to 

problems of pressing public concerns. 

J.A. Roy Bodden, JP 

President, University College of the Cayman Islands 

It would be remiss of me if I failed to acknowledge the unstinting efforts of Dr. “Bill” Hrudey to STEM development at 

UCCI. From his gift of a 12.5” Newtonian telescope has sprung not only a world-class observatory, but a university-wide interest in 

STEM. Today, the University College has a growing cadre of students who are not only interested in STEM but who are demonstrating 

capabilities of future leaders in this area. It is my single honour to recognize Dr. Bill Hrudey at this conference and to assure him that 

his leadership … his energy and his dedication to STEM at UCCI will always remain a point of interest … and a model for those who 

follow him. 

University College of the Cayman Islands 

www.ucci.edu.ky 

(345) 623-8224 

ACCREDITED 

2015-2019 

Follow us: 

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2/7/2018 9:41:44 PM

Message From The 

Harrisburg University 

President 

I would like to personally 

welcome each of you to the STEM Carib 

2017 Conference presented by Harrisburg 

University of Science and Technology 

and the University College of the Cayman 

Islands. 

Harrisburg University is proud 

to team with the University College 

of the Cayman Islands to co-present 

the conference, which brings together 

individuals with scientific habits of 

curiosity, skepticism, critical thinking, 

honesty, ethical reasoning, teamwork, 

communication, and persistence – 

individuals who understand that the STEM 

fields shape our daily existence, and are 

vital to our children’s futures. 

Dr. Eric Darr 

President, Harrisburg University College of Science and Technology 

I am sure you will find the 

presentations, networking and breakout 

sessions scheduled during the next few 

days both informative and rewarding. 

Presentations led by experts from both 

Universities will focus on anything 

from Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and 

Forensic Science, to Gaming, Engineering, 

employment opportunities in the STEM 

fields and more. There will be roundtable 

discussions, STEM Camp projects and 

sessions on Food Science, Developments 

in Oncology and Geospatial Technology. 

I also hope you take the time to attend 

the Family Fun Afternoon that will wind 

out the conference. Here you will find 3D 

Printing demonstrations, Drones, Robots 

and much, much more. 

Before I close, I’d like to thank each of you for attending our conference and bringing your insight, curiosity, and expertise to 

the event. 

Throughout the conference, I encourage you to get involved. Stay engaged, attend as many sessions as possible and let’s shape 

the future of STEM together. 

My thanks to all of you. 

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology 

www.harrisburgu.edu. 

(717) 901-5100 

Follow us: 

www.the-intellectual-magazine.com 

5 


2/7/2018 9:41:46 PM

Pulling off Humankind's Greatest 

Engineering Achievement 

Francis French 

Francis French is a regular 

presence on PBS, The Discovery 

Channel, History Channel 

and Science Channel, sharing 

spaceflight and astronomy 

discoveries with a global public. He 

is the co-author of four bestselling 

space history books, including “In 

The Shadow of the Moon” and 

“Falling To Earth,” with Apollo 

astronaut Al Worden. He is the 

Director of Education at the San 

Diego Air & Space Museum, and 

the former Director of Events for 

Sally Ride Science, working for 

America’s first woman in space. 

When asked to give an opening Keynote, I thought about other educational events I had been 

to. Often, the inspirational message given is quite similar – follow your dreams, reach for your 

goals, never give up. I wondered what I could discuss that would be different. 

I decided to come at giving career advice from a different angle. There are many people 

throughout history who have been positively irksome – asking inconvenient questions, not 

taking no for an answer – not because they were bad team members, but because they were the 

only correct person in the room. One such example was John Houbolt. 

In 1961, NASA was given the impossible-sounding task of landing people on the moon by the 

end of the decade. America had fifteen minutes of human spaceflight experience at the time. 

Engineers were overwhelmed by what needed to be done, including rendezvousing spacecraft 

in Earth orbit. Imagine two rifle bullets having to very gently meet and touch while being fired 

in midair: the problem of spacecraft rendezvous is similar. It would be a huge step. 

It would take either a near-impossibly massive rocket, or two enormous rockets, to launch 

everything needed to the moon and land using the plans NASA was looking at. However, a 

relatively lowly NASA engineer named John Houbolt realized something intriguing; there was 

another way, one that could use one large rocket. 

It would require a large leap of faith. Instead of docking and undocking in Earth orbit, about 100 

miles up, NASA would have to do it three days and a quarter of a million miles away – around 

the moon. 

Leading engineers thought that Houbolt’s numbers did not add up. Besides, the idea terrified 

them. If anything went awry, astronauts couldn’t speedily drop out of Earth orbit – they’d be 

days away. Houbolt was turned down. 

In a move that could easily have got him fired, Houbolt chose to go around his bosses and write 

directly to NASA’s deputy administrator, Bob Seamans. Instead of dismissing him, Seamans 

and other experts took a look at his ideas anew. They were not so bureaucratically rigid to not 

consider an idea that came through unconventional channels. When they saw that Houbolt was 

in fact correct, they were also not too proud to upend all of their existing plans. Houbolt’s ideas 

quickly became official NASA policy, and it is believed that NASA may not have landed on the 

moon without them. Certainly, they saved billions of dollars. 

The story exemplifies two things: first, if you are sure you are right, and it’s going to be costly or 

wasteful to go down another path – it can be okay to make a fuss. Eventually, you’ll be thanked 

for it. And if you are the boss – listen to your people, however unorthodox their ideas. Because 

ideas are much more important than formalities. I hope these are ideas the students will consider 

as they go on to their own bright futures. 

************************************************************************************************************************************* 

In the 1960s, two superpowers were engaged in a titanic battle to land the first human on the moon. Why did America get there first? And why was 

Neil Armstrong chosen as the person to make that first step? What can students now draw from these historical moments for their own future careers? 

There are many colorful personalities and risky decisions that led up to the historic moment of the first moon landing. It was a time of bold new 

technology, and international jousting on the final frontier. But it was also a time of human drama, of moments less public but no less dramatic in the 

lives of those who made the golden age of space flight happen. The space race was an endeavor equally endowed with personal meaning and political 

significance. These are the moments and the lives that I tried to share, through the stories of the men and women, American and Russian, who made the 

space race their own and gave the era its compelling character. 

From the questions I had from the students at the end, I could see they were well on their way to exciting adventures of their own: I wondered if the first 

astronaut from Grand Cayman was in the room, and years from now I’ll see them on television working in space. 



2/7/2018 9:41:51 PM

BENEFITS OF 

OBTAINING 

A CAREER OF 

PASSION 

Orane Barrett 

MASTER & MONETIZE YOUR PASSION 

KOOL NERD CLUB OVERVIEW 

Passion is the driver of every Nerd, as a Nerd is person that is passionate about a certain 

subject. And “Kool” people don’t conform. In combination a Kool Nerd is a person that pursues 

their passion without conforming. It’s their ability to find creative ways to pursue, master and 

monetize their passion that makes them the highlight of society and pop-culture. 

Our discussion [not speech] is to inspire people, primarily our young scholars, to 

become future Kool Nerds by mastering and monetizing their passion; to apply the required hard 

work to master and monetize their passion. We present research information on professionals 

[Millionaires] that pursued career opportunities based on the money versus those that pursued 

career opportunities based on passion. We also inspire our young scholars to “become a brand”, 

based on my experience of building Kool Nerd Club. In today’s society people can become brands 

that are well sought after. We inspire them to become a brand that colleges and or companies 

seek. In our closing, we discuss the benefits of applying their passion to the “biggest job demand 

field”, STEM. We discuss and give examples of how today’s jobs are being replaced by technology 

and how they need to be prepared for the jobs of the future. 

KNC is a social-brand that uses popculture 

that’s relative [app + apparel] 

to inspire children in communities with 

high unemployment to pursue careers 

in high job demand fields - Science, 

Technology, Engineering, Arts, and 

Math [S.T.E.A.M / S.T.E.M]. Why 

are we doing this? Unfortunately, 

unemployment in lower-income 

communities is 3-times the national 

average [4.7% vs 13%] while 500,000+ 

S.T.E.M. jobs are currently unstaffed. 

KNC is here to close that gap! 

• As a social movement, we aim to inspire inner-city children to master and 

monetize their passion, primarily in the areas of S.T.E.A.M., through our Kool 

Nerd Movement [Speaking Engagements + College Readiness Workshop] 

• As a fashion brand, ONE product sold unlocks ONE hour of mentoring/ 

tutoring from a College student to a Middle-School or High-School student in 

the areas of S.T.E.A.M., at a partnered Boys & Girls Club. Our goal is to generate 

one-million mentoring [tutoring] hours in S.T.E.A.M. subjects by 2023. 

www.koolnerdclub.com 


7 


2/7/2018 9:41:55 PM

The models of famous Caymanian ships were built by Dr. Hrudey and, donated to the Governor's 

residence and office for display to preserve the rich and colorful maritime history of the Cayman Islands 

Dr william Hrudey 

Passion for Science 

Dr. William Hrudey is a retired 

surgeon from Canada who 

moved to Grand Cayman in 

1997 after a successful medical 

career as a surgeon. With a lifelong interest 

in science and, as an amateur astronomer 

in his teens, Dr. Hrudey now had the time 

to build his "dream" telescope. Though 

hurricane Ivan destroyed most of the first 

version in 2004, it was rebuilt and offered 

to the University College of Cayman 

Islands (UCCI). It is housed along with a 

fleet of smaller telescopes at the UCCI Dr. 

William Hrudey Observatory, located on 

the campus. These are Dr. Hrudey’s toys and 

eyes to the Universe. 

Dr. Hrudey is the Observatory 

Director and has incorporated a variety 

of technical gadgets in the Observatory, 

rendering it capable of both solar and night 

sky CCD imaging. Hundreds of school 

students have toured the Observatory in 

order to inspire them towards science. The 

observatory was to serve as a catalyst for 

many Astronomy and thereafter STEM 

related activities. Dr. Hrudey has been 

involved heavily in the Rotary Science 

Fairs but truly, his landmark effort came 

with the STEM Carib conferences that are 

his brainchild. The first one was held in 

2012 and it has been held annually since 

growing from strength to strength. So, it 

is no surprise when at STEM Carib 2017 

Dr. Hrudey was presented with the Faculty 

Award 2017 bestowed by The International 

Association of University Presidents in 

recognition of his contribution with the 

building of the observatory, the running 

of Astronomy courses and notably the 

STEM Carib conferences – the first of its 

kind in the Grand Cayman. For the first 

time students had an opportunity to meet 

scientists from around the world and listen 

to cutting edge talks on science. 

The icing on the cake was 

yet to come – and this came with the 

announcement from her Royal Highness 

the Queen who bestowed upon Dr. 

William Hrudey, the Most Excellent Order 

of the British Empire, M.B.E, for services 

for promoting Science Education in the 

Cayman Islands. This speaks volumes for 

the contribution that Dr. Hrudey has made 

to his second home, through his vision, his 

foresight, and tireless efforts to make the 

world a scientifically better educated place. 

He shared the perspective of Carl Sagan 

below and decided to do something about 

it – and he changed the trajectory of many 

many lives he touched. 

We live in a society 

exquisitely dependent on 

science and technology, 

in which hardly anyone 

knows anything about 

science and technology. 

Carl Sagan 

Bill’s Awards 


“ 

Member of the British Empire 

Civil Division DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND OVERSEAS LIST 

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood 

St. James’s Palace, London SW1 

30 December 2017 

THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following 

promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: 

M.B.E. 

To be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order: 

Dr.WILLIAM HRUDEY 

Observatory Director, University College of the Cayman Islands 

For services to promoting science education in the Cayman Islands. 

“ 


2/7/2018 9:42:06 PM

Earthquake 

Resistant 

Buildings 

Kathleen Spencer 

Justin Spencer began research for his Science Fair topic, 

looking for a way to help people stay safe during natural 

disasters and reduce death. Learning that people die during 

earthquakes due to buildings collapsing, he decided to study 

methods used by architects and builders that would help buildings 

be earthquake resistant. 

Justin found 2 techniques used in real buildings that work 

well, Base Isolation and Tuned Mass Damper. He then created 

models of each technique and built a shake table to test them. 

Base Isolation places a shock absorber between the 

building and the ground. Some builders use giant springs, like 

in the NORAD complex in the USA. Others use a straddling 

pendulum technology, such as Base Isolation of Alaska. Justin 

built a working model of the straddling pendulum technology 

out of cardboard. Testing this on the shake table, he used 

heavy books to simulate the weight of the building. He placed 

a container of colored water on top of two structures - one 

with and one without the base isolation - to help illustrate the 

concept. The difference was significant. 

Tuned Mass Damper acts like a giant 

pendulum, helping to stabilize the building 

when it sways too far in any direction. Best 

used in tall buildings, it can be seen up 

close in Taipei 101 located in Taiwan. Using 

Engino pieces for the structure and making 

his Tuned Mass Damper with a large eyebolt, 

washers, and a nut, Justin created a working 

model that showed a marked difference 

between using Tuned Mass Damper and not. 

Justin Spencer receives his award from science fair officials 

Justin concluded that while no 

building can be fully earthquake proof, these 

two designs can help absorb some of the 

earthquake shake, helping delay a collapse, 

giving people more time to exit the building. 

Tuned Mass Dampers are best used in tall 

buildings. Base Isolation works well in low 

and wide buildings. If these designs were 

incorporated into more buildings in earthquake 

zones, there should be less fatalities. 

***This experiment can be seen on Justin’s family YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/c/quadsquad. 

It is titled “Earthquake Proof Buildings? Science Fair Project with Justin”. 


9 


2/7/2018 9:42:12 PM

Biotechnology Revolution 

Better Life, Better Jobs! 

Mrunalini Pattarkine 

Ever since I could remember, I have always been fascinated with science! Whether it was 

high-school or my undergrad days, I jumped on every opportunity to get into the labs, 

get my hands wet, and learn. During my MS, I started appreciating the complex interplay 

between biological structures and the immense intelligence nature has encoded in the 

way these systems function. Biotechnology is an applied field of science that deals with 

commercialization of the knowledge of biological structures and their cellular functions. 

After more than a 30 year-stint with this fascinating field of structure-function relationship 

in living systems, teaching Biotechnology has been a very humbling experience! 

Biotechnology is fittingly called 

‘The Science of The Millennium’! 

Biotechnology applications span several fields such 

as medicine, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, 

environment, and bio-energy to name a few. Products 

such as bread, pro-biotic yogurt, beer, and cheese are 

food biotechnology products! Insulin, vaccines, antibiotics are 

examples of biotechnology helping improve human healthcare. 

Every human life is impacted because of biotechnology. Moreover, 

it is a perfect example of a STEM field! 

However, when one looks at the generic academic 

landscape in the K-12 space, biotechnology is not offered as 

widely as it needs to! This lack of academic awareness impedes 

students’ ability to pursue higher education as well as careers in 

this field. Capital Area Biotechnology Partnership, CABP (http:// 

harrisburgu.edu/the-capital-area-biotechnology-partnershipsupporting-central-pas-innovation-economy/) 

is a workforce 

leadership initiative in Biotechnology at Harrisburg University. 

CABP offers a wide range of activities for teachers as well as 

students to push Biotechnology education in the K-16 space. 

At the Caribbean STEM 2017 event, two biotechnology 

sections were offered - a breakout session for students on ‘Medical 

Biotechnology’ enabling then to be aware of how biotechnology has 

and continues to support development and innovation in medical 

field. They learnt about application of DNA manipulation for 

commercial production of insulin to the cutting edge applications 

of 3D printing in medical field. 

The second section was dedicated to teachers. To address 

lack of awareness for biotechnology education in K-12 space is 

to be addressed, there is tremendous need for easy-access and 

cost-effective educator resources to demonstrate biotechnology 

concepts and applications. This section focused on successful 

strategies that can be implemented on a ‘shoestring budget’. 

Several short, hands-on activities with a $10-20 budget were 

demonstrated. These resources and several others are developed 

by CABP and are available to academic institutions partnering 

with CABP at no cost. If interested, please contact CABP Director 

at lpattarkine@harrisburgu.edu. 



2/7/2018 9:42:15 PM

FUTURE HOMES 

A RESPONSE TO GLOBAL 

WARMING 

Graham Morse 

Global warming is the most serious 

challenge facing the scientific community 

today. Whatever your view about how 

serious global warming is, we can all see 

that climate change is happening. It seems 

that every week we hear about new natural 

disasters from all over the world. It is 

happening now, but it will only get worse. 

In his article in the New York magazine on 

9 July 2017, journalist David Wallace-Wells 

lays out a truly frightening future. 

Rising sea levels of 4-10 feet will 

cause flooding, making many low 

lying areas uninhabitable. Death 

from heat waves will increase. 

Wild fires will become more frequent and 

widespread. Drought might be an even 

bigger problem than heat with some of 

the world’s most arable land turned into 

desert, causing starvation for millions. Air 

pollution has become an increasing health 

problem, causing millions of premature 

deaths as we breathe more carbon dioxide. 

It is only too easy to shrug our shoulders 

and say, “What can I do?” Eleanor 

Roosevelt said, “It is better to light a candle 

than curse the darkness.” There is plenty 

any of us can do. We can decide what type 

of home we want to live in and what kind 

of car we drive. 

When Janet and I sailed to remote 

islands in the South Pacific we became 

very aware of the natural beauty and 

fragile nature of our planet. We decided 

to design and build a home that was as 

environmentally friendly and energy 

efficient as we could make it. Back then 


in 2008 there were no local resources in 

Cayman. Architects and construction 

companies had no idea what we were 

talking about, so we did all our own 

research. 

The home we built has been fully 

insulated. It has a 48 panel Photo Voltaic 

(PV) solar array connected to the CUC 

Core program. We have geothermal airconditioning 

and garden irrigation comes 

from a salt water reverse osmosis plant 

supplemented by rain water collection. 

In 2011 Sea Grape House won 

the Governor’s Award for Design and 

Construction Excellence. The judges said, 

“Sea Grape House is a sustainable home 

using state-of-the- art renewable energy 

technologies. Designed by architect 

John Doak, Sea Grape House, reflects 

the heritage of the Cayman Island in a 

natural environment that has been largely 

preserved.” 

Since then there has been 

encouraging progress in bringing 

renewable energy to the Cayman Islands. 

A commercial developer is building an $80 

million energy efficient community with 

LEED certification at Grand Harbour. Over 

200 homes now have a PV solar system. 

Battery technology like Tesla Power Wall 

will encourage homes to become selfsufficient. 

New technologies like OTEC 

(Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) are 

just round the corner. We have a National 

Energy Policy with a goal of 70% of our 

energy coming from renewables by 2035. 

CUC are rethinking their business model. 

The way we design 

and build homes in the 

next decade will be 

substantially influenced 

by global warming. 

The question is, 

“How quickly can it 

change?” 

11 


2/7/2018 9:42:26 PM

Forensic Investigation 

Eustache Placide 

With the increase of internet users and the affordability of smart devices, 

digital crimes have surged at an increasing rate; hence the need for 

computer forensics becomes vital. 

In spite of the use of preventive authenticated control measures such as username and passwords and Intrusion Detection System 

(IDS) to detect an intrusion as it occurs and to execute countermeasures when discovered, the threat still exists. Computer forensics 

used as an investigative tool is efficient in bringing to justice individuals who orchestrate or are responsible for a computer system 

or a network intrusion. A forensic investigation spearheaded by a skilled forensic investigator usually follows a computer system 

breach. The investigator must be aware of the laws and is expected to follow the laws when conducting an investigation. Moreover, the 

investigator needs to have skills in many areas such as Computer Science, Information Systems and Social Science. To investigate a digital 

crime, the investigator must know the two most common operating systems UNIX and Windows and be equipped with an array of 

forensic software. This paper aims to examine digital forensics, and the process of forensic investigation. It further demonstrates a variety 

of forensic software used in conducting an investigation. 

Computer Forensics 

Investigation 

Information Technology and the 

growth of the Internet contribute to the 

rise of digital crimes. Computer forensics 

is an emerging area which applies forensic 

investigation and analysis tools and 

techniques to help detect these crimes. 

Investigators gather pertinent evidence, 

often for litigation purposes to bring to 

justice those responsible for leading the 

attacks. The computers examined will 

typically be either those used to commit 

the crime or those that are the targets of 

the crime. According to Ramesh (2015), 

“THE STUDY OF 

FORENSICS AS A 

WHOLE IS USING 

ANY PHYSICAL 

SCIENCES TO FIND 

AND PROVE THE 

TRUTH.” 

the primary goal of a computer forensic 

investigation usually involves a conviction 

in either criminal or civil court. Thus, 

preserving the data during the recovery 

process requires great care. The pervasive 

use of computers has given criminals a 

new tactic to carry out their misdeeds. 

After a dubious act or crime is detected 

on a computer system/ computer or a 

network, a digital investigation is sure to 

follow. Knowing the attacker responsible 

for the crime is not enough. The forensic 

investigator must be mindful of due 

process and precisely follow the laws of 

the governing country. The investigator 

needs to know the right techniques 

for documenting evidence to be used 

in a legal proceeding and prepare to 

present the evidence found in a court 

of law as an expert witness, if necessary. 

Computer forensic investigators use 

some of the same investigative techniques 

employed by law enforcement. The use 

of digital media is the distinction. The 

investigator must know other areas, Law, 

Computer Science, Information Systems 

and Social Science and many operating 

systems and how they work. Windows 

and UNIX are two of the most common 

operating systems used in an investigation. 

Information systems and information 

system management are other areas that an 

investigator needs to know. It is likely that 

the investigator will find violations of the 

policy if he/she knows the system policies 

of the organization. 

The investigators should also 

know an extensive range of programming 

languages such as Java, Java scripts, C, 

C++, and UNIX scripts. In recent years, 

computer forensics has gained substantial 

popularity with many law enforcement 

agencies. Currently, legal experts use 

computer forensics in nearly every 

enforcement activity. Nonetheless, it is still 

not as prominent as other methods such 

as DNA analysis, because of less effort to 

improve its accuracy. 

Hence, the legal system is often 

in the dark as to the validity, or even the 

significance, of digital evidence (Balon, 

Stovall, & Scaria, 2012). 

An array of methodologies has 

been designed in the use of computer 

forensics intrusions when steering an 

investigation. A computer forensic 

investigator must be highly skilled and 

equipped with a multitude of forensic 

software to conduct an investigation. 



2/7/2018 9:42:28 PM

PHOTO CREDIT: Via Wikimedia Commons 

With the use of the Internet and networks, computer intrusions 

are becoming more significant. Network Managers must establish 

preventive measures, such as authentication and access control, to 

prevent intrusions. It is worthy to note that a substantial number 

of network managers use Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) which 

are developed to identify an invasion as it occurs and implement 

countermeasures when detected. According to Mishra, Sahu, and 

Das (2013), the classification of an intruder falls into the following 

three types: 

a) Masquerader - unauthorized users who access a computer 

system to exploit a legitimate user’s account, 

b) Misfeasor - authorized users who misuse their privileges by 

accessing resources, data or programs illegally 

c) Clandestine - users who grab administrative access of a system 

and use this access to evade access controls and auditing 

A computer forensic investigation typically involves a 

conviction in either criminal or civil court. During an investigation, 

procedures must be followed to obtain evidence. Preservation of 

data during the recovery process requires great care. Conducting 

a computer forensic investigation involves a sequence of steps. 

Evidence must be acquired, authenticated, analyzed and presented 

(Dregier, 2015). Computer forensic process involves an approach 

which embraces an assessment, obtaining the evidence and analyzing 

it, for the completion of a case report. Other formal methods 

developed have been established to aid in the proper sequencing of 

actions taken in a computer forensic investigation. 

A computer forensics investigator may be limited in their 

capabilities without the proper tools. Several categories of software 

tools are available for use in a computer forensic investigation. 

For instance, tools are available to analyze a drive or a network. 

A forensic investigator uses a variation of software tools such as 

open source, commercial, and operating system utilities. Different 

situations require different software tools. It is worth mentioning 

that no single software tool is used in all cases, as such, a computer 

forensic investigator may use other software programs depending on 

the task. This paper provides an introductory concept of computer 

forensics investigation, outlines various principles, and demonstrates 

some of the software tools uses in computer forensics investigation. 

References: 

*Balon, N., Stovall, R., & Scaria, T. (2012). Computer Intrusion Forensics. 

*Dregier, Leo (2015). Computer and Hacking Forensics. 

*Rajesh, K V N; Ramesh, K V N. i-Manager's Journal on Software Engineering; Nagercoil Vol. 10, 

Iss. 4, (Apr-Jun 2016): 1-5 


Charlito’s 

Greenhouse 

Andre Gooden 

Charlito’s Greenhouse is a small working island 

farm that models, promotes, and educates 

about sustainable food systems, environmental 

stewardship, community engagement and 

development, and access to real, good food for everyone. 

We are a local grower of vegetables, herbs, and trees where 

freshness and passion are always in full bloom. We are 

dedicated to naturally-harvested food products that are 

farmed and produced with a love for community. We do this 

by taking time to perfect our craft, developing a sustainable 

relationship with the land and respect for its heritage, 

designing and building personal gardens, and sharing our 

progress with fellow friends in food. 

Charlito’s Greenhouse is more than a farm. We 

have created a community space that brings conscious 

consumers together - people who are passionate about 

spreading healthy love by learning and sharing information 

about nutrition, wellness, and good living. We love 

welcoming customers to our farm and together we explore 

the connection between healthy lands and healthy people. 

We strive to create dialogue within our community by 

sharing our experience and listening, learning, and building 

knowledge together. Thinking critically about food choices, 

considering quality, amount, source, and where, when, and 

under what circumstances foods are consumed is always in 

season. From natural coconut oil for inner health or outer 

beauty to fresh herbs for delicious meals or visual delight, 

there is so much to be discovered. We want to empower 

everyone within the Charlito’s Greenhouse community and 

throughout the Cayman Islands to make informed food 

choices that are aligned with their needs and values. Our 

goal is to be a partner in the creation of strong communities 

where everyone can enjoy good health and meaningful 

relationships in the garden, around the table, and beyond. If 

you are as passionate about natural, organic foods and living 

a healthy lifestyle as we are, we welcome you to connect 

with us and let nature set your table with fresh and delicious 

produce that is locally farmed and in tune with the season. 

13 


2/7/2018 9:42:34 PM

UCCI 

Weather Station 

David Brown 

Following on from last year’s 

STEM Carib Conference, UCCI 

expanded its engineering 

programs here in the Cayman 

Islands with the introduction of 

both microcontrollers and microcomputers 

to its workshops. 

This year the first STEM camps 

during the summer months 

endeavored to inspire the 

potential engineers of the future 

with some thoughts and challenges using 

the technology available today. In recent 

years the proliferation of commercial low 

cost computing and micro-computing 

markets has made engineering more 

accessible than ever before. Who can 

remember the advent of the first home 

computers back in the 1980s with 

computers like the ZX80, Amiga, and 

Atari? Today’s computing platforms are 

faster, more flexible, less cost prohibitive, 

and with access to the internet for support, 

now herald a new era for engineering. It is 

now possible to build and program your 

own 3-D printer with parts and software 

available over the internet. This is not 

about the technology of the future; it’s the 

technology of today. 

Last year at the STEM Carib 

Conference, UCCI showcased the 

results of an exercise in interfacing a 

microcontroller to a micro-computer and 

displaying the results on a live webpage. 

This year we were able to take the solution 

a step further and look at the issues 

around deploying a full weather station. 

Once again the solution involved logging 

‘live’ data and reproducing the data in a 

user friendly format. 

Moving beyond some of the 

initial technical issues of developing the 

weather station, with regard to software 

development and integrating this with 

commercially procured hardware, there 

were a number of additional areas that 

the group needed to look at in greater 

depth. This is an important step, as we 

move from classroom theory to the more 

practical aspects of STEM. The students 

in this instance had to research diverse 

areas such as - international standards for 

erecting the weather station, obtaining 

manufacturer data sheets for all the 

sensors and equipment utilized, and how 

to achieve accurate time (UTC) sources. 

Some of the developmental issues 

encountered were only identified during 

testing. For example, the micro-computer 

used in this instance timestamped the 

data it received. So, what if there was a 

power failure overnight and the real-time 

clock lost its synchronization? In this 

scenario, if the micro-computer shutdown 

in an uncontrolled manner, it was noted 

that without battery back-up, not only 

might there be some form of memory 

corruption, but potentially an erroneous 

system time might be introduced upon 

restarting. How should this real-world 

scenario be managed within a STEM 

context? A logical sequence of events was 

needed to be established in order to recover 

from an asynchronous start. With respect 

to data preservation it was proposed to 

initiate regular backups of the recorded 

data. However, how would the integrity of 

the backup be assured? What file format 

should be chosen and how would the files 

be transferred from one type of operating 

system (UNIX/Raspian) to a dissimilar 

one (MSWindows)? These questions 

and others would need to be identified, 

considered and evaluated for potential 

scenarios and modes of failure. Other 

scenarios considered the effect of daylight 

saving time (DST). If implemented in 

the Cayman Islands would it affect the 

calculations on historic data? Would 

the use of a different database format 

facilitate further statistical analysis? Had 

all the potential sources of Systematic and 

Random errors in the data collected been 

addressed? Would a replacement sensor 

function in the same way with the same 

offsets and tolerances as its predecessor? 

Gradually, as we found with this 

particular project, the principles learnt 

extend to all walks of life and in all subject 

areas. As such STEM should not just be 

viewed as a practical application of the 

theory we learn in classrooms, but as a 

way of developing critical thinking for 

solving today’s problems. It starts with 

an assessment of all that has gone before 

(standards), develops a solution with 

respect to all the stakeholders (developers 

and end-users), and considers a range of 

scenarios (sources of error) which might 

affect the end-product, resulting in the 

development of more robust systems. 

In the world at large there is less call 

to develop bespoke solutions than for 

integrated systems and solutions with 

greater integrity. 



2/7/2018 9:42:36 PM

PHOTO CREDIT: Via Wikimedia Commons 

Beam me up Scotty! 

The science behind 

warp drives and 

teleportation 

Shirin Haque 

We are all fascinated by what seems like science 

fiction – popularized by the television and movie 

series “Star Trek”. So, how much of it is fantasy and 

fiction and is it possible in reality? The answers, as 

Spock, may have said is “fascinating”. Star Trek uses warp drives 

to be able to accelerate at speeds greater than that of light. This in 

the real world of Physics is forbidden by Special Relativity. Thou 

shalt not travel faster than the speed of light…according to Albert 

Einstein. It therefore is of course possible on the big screen – but 

what does the world of science have to say about warp drives or 

simply put, traveling faster than the speed of light? According 

to Einstein, no material body can exceed the speed of light as 

the energy requirements to accelerate it to such become infinite. 

However, a Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre published a 

paper in 1994 in the journal of Classical and Quantum Gravity on 

how to overcome the barrier of faster than light travel. He showed 

that the speed limit is limited to physical bodies but space is 


not subject to that law. In other words, rather than the physical 

‘ship’ moving in space at faster than light speeds, what if space 

compressed and expanded and the ship moved with it. This is 

known as the Alcubierre Drive. It is a method of stretching space 

in a wave, causing the space “ahead” of a spacecraft to contract 

and It would also cause the space “behind” the spacecraft to 

expand. The ship would ride along space inside a warp bubble. 

Since the ship itself is not moving, it is not subject to the rules 

of general relativity. Is this just theoretical conjecture? Lab tests 

with interferometers have shown the presence of negative mass 

on an extremely microscopic scale which is what will be required 

to perturb spacetime itself. That is literally out of this world! 

The crew from spaceship Enterprise are able to beam up 

and back on board – getting to places without physically moving! 

What does science have to say about teleportation? Indeed, from 

quantum theory, teleportation of atomic particles have taken 

place. It is all about quantum entanglement. Two entangled 

particles can appear to influence one another instantaneously 

even if separated at opposite ends of the universe! The furthest 

a photon has been teleported has been 500 km out in space by 

Chinese scientists. While there has been success such as this, it is 

much more difficult to teleport an atom, a microorganism, and 

certainly extremely difficult, essentially impossible to teleport a 

human being! However, the most interesting application of the 

teleportation physics or quantum entanglement is in quantum 

computing and cyber security which is the next technological 

revolution. 

15 


2/7/2018 9:42:39 PM

IMAGE: Coral Nursery in Portland, Jamaica 

PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Ruben Torres 

Coral 

Restoration 

Techniques 

Denise Henry 

Corals and coral reefs are vitally 

important resources to many countries 

worldwide, providing habitat for marine 

animals, a source of food for the 

population, coastal protection and 

avenues for recreation and income 

generation through water sports 

activities especially scuba diving. 

Across the region, corals have 

been degraded via various 

means including storm damage, 

nutrient inputs and overfishing. 

Coral restoration has become a widely 

explored area in several countries around 

the world as a means to address these 

problems. Jamaica the seminal coral reef 

environment, among them has through the 

activities of various organizations 

run the gamut of techniques to find 

the ones that work best for us. 

Over the past three 

decades, Jamaican reefs have 

been experiencing a phase shift 

from being coral dominated reefs 

to algal dominated reefs. This is 

due to many different influences 

including the overfishing of 

Jamaican waters and the increase 

in nutrient input. This phase shift 

has made it impossible for the coral 

reefs to rehabilitate themselves. As 

a result, the marine biology community 

has intervened to reverse this problem 

by exploring and applying various coral 

restoration techniques. 

Across Jamaica several different 

conservation groups have attempted 

various nursery designs, the first of 

which was in 2005 a replication of a 

successful restoration project in the 

Red Sea. This project utilized a floating 

midwater platform, which while successful 

in Israel, did not achieve the desired 

results in Jamaica Other nursery designs 

subsequently attempted as a result include: 

“set and forget” corals, corals grown on a 

vertical floated line and allowed to settle 

under their own weight over time; Biorock 

© and AIR frames, which both utilize 

an electric current, direct current and 

chemical reaction respectively, to enhance 

the growth of corals on a metal frame; A 

frames, to create habitat as well as substrate 

for attachment; line nurseries and finally 

tree style nurseries. As the methodologies 

changed with regard to growing the corals, 

the knowledge collective increased and 

this was also applied to the techniques 

employed to outplant these nursery grown 

corals. These methods ranged from: direct 

attachment to the substrate via fishing line 

and cable ties/plastic ties; attachment of 

individual fragments to the substrate using 

marine epoxy and attachment of groups of 

fragments using cement cookies. 

These applications have resulted 

in successes of various percentages, 

and have taught us a very specific 

lesson- no one method will work 

in all marine areas. Consideration 

of site and species specificity when 

designing a project is paramount 

to the success of the project. A 

systematic approach in designing 

the activities, which will include: 

species selection; site selection; 

nursery design and donor selection 

in the planning phase and followed 

by: harvesting; fragmentation; seeding 

the nursery; maintenance and finally 

outplanting in the application phase results 

in an overall more successful project. 

Taking the time to work out the specific 

considerations for your individual needs 

will, with time, result in a thriving reef 

community. 



2/7/2018 9:42:44 PM

Teaching With 

GAMES 

Charles Palmer 

During the past 15 years, two surprising trends have emerged from the video games industry. 

1) Games have become more than a mere distraction; they have become a motivational power in the 

classroom and workplaces. Educators, trainers, professional development specialist and the like are using the 

power of games to create new levels of engagement in the classroom. Badges, achievements, rich stories and 

interactive game-based activities have replaced boring PowerPoint lectures as we struggle to win back the 

attention of a generation. 

2) Game creation has been democratized. At one point, video game development was a mystery. It took 

specialized skills, techniques, equipment and resources. The process was not for the faint of heart. Today 

that has changed. A large number of development tools are free, the internet is full of training videos and 

thriving communities have sprung up to support students, hobbyist and professionals alike. 

At STEMCarib 2017, Professor Charles Palmer presented his views on these two trends for two distinct audiences. Working 

with a group of local Caymanian educators, Mr. Palmer held a session on the use of game technologies in STEM classrooms. 

The session covered a review of different applications, tips for integrating games into lesson plans and a look at a few game 

examples. The highlight of the session was a walkthrough of using Twine (www.twinery.org) to create a simple “choose-yourown” 

adventure style game. The tool can be used by teachers to create new activities, or by students to show mastery of the information 

and to develop creative approaches to teaching the content to others. 

During the Thursday 

morning plenary session, Mr. Palmer 

returned to peel back the curtain on 

the game development process. The 

engaging talk subtitled “Getting paid 

to play!” was geared to high school 

students interested in alternative 

STEM careers. The presentation 

outlined the creative process, how 

games are made and creative/technical 

career opportunities. Students also 

had an opportunity to express their 

creativity by performing in a handson 

game development activity. 

The event was well received 

by both audiences. Teachers expressed 

interest in more content and training, 

while the students were eager to share 

their ideas with friends and learn 

more about the video game jobs 

market. 

Successful games interweave these elements to 

create an experience. When these elements are 

in balance, users perceive the experience as fun, 

enjoyable, or meaningful. 

Professor Palmer concluded with a hands-on exhibit at the “Family Fun Afternoon”. Like last year, he brought along a few virtual 

reality headsets and discussed VR development, games, and careers with a large number of participants. 


17 


2/7/2018 9:42:46 PM

STEM C a r i b 



2/7/2018 9:42:48 PM

C o n f e r e n c e 


19 


2/7/2018 9:42:49 PM

Crypto 

CURRENCIES 

Isabel Gumeyi 

Robots, smart refrigerators and self-driving cars – exciting times where technology is improving 

our day-to-day lives or changing it all together. The internet has made it easier and faster to 

keep in touch with others around the world and more convenient to source goods and services. 

Robots, smart homes, self-driving cars 

– exciting times! Technology is either 

improving our daily lives or changing 

it all together. The internet has made 

it easier and faster to keep in touch with others 

around the world and more convenient to 

source goods and services. Now it’s being used 

to facilitate another type of innovation: cryptocurrencies. 

When making a transaction online, 

we typically use a credit or debit card which is 

essentially a digital representation of sovereign 

currency (also called “fiat”) like US Dollar or 

British Pound. These credit/debit cards are 

linked to our bank accounts and the funds 

are held by a bank. Processing the transaction 

includes confirming sufficient funds exist and 

transferring them to the other party. 

Cryptocurrencies provide an alternative 

form of payment and are digital representations 

of value. They use complex cryptographic 

algorithms to secure and facilitate processing of 

transactions. Blockchain is the technology that 

enables existence and use of cryptocurrencies. 

Transactions made using cryptocurrencies 

are all recorded on a Blockchain – which is a 

decentralized ledger /history of all transactions 

across a peer-to-peer network. 

This also means there’s a cost associated with validating transactions, generally 

represented as a fee. 

The most known cryptocurrency is Bitcoin (BTC), however there are over 

1000 cryptocurrencies which vary based on the underlying problem they are trying 

to solve or new product offering being introduced (e.g. faster processing or smart 

contracts etc.). Generally, cryptocurrencies have the following characteristics: 

• Not attached to government or central authority; 

• Transferred, traded or largely stored electronically; and 

• Based on cryptographic platforms that aim to provide security, privacy and trust. 

Cryptocurrency can be obtained by directly exchanging it for fiat from 

someone who already has it or via a Bitcoin ATM. Alternatively, using either fiat 

credit/debit card on the internet via an organization such as an Exchange. In all 

cases the same digital version of cryptocurrency is received. Once purchased it 

can be retained on the Exchange or stored on a phone, computer or tablet in an 

application called a “wallet”, or an external hardware wallet and the owner retains 

the responsibility to keep it safe. 

With almost as little as $10, one can buy crypto to make purchases or keep 

it in hope of future price increase. BTC is currently traded at over USD$10,000 per 

coin (more than the price of 1 ounce of gold!) up from under $50 in 2012 - only time 

will confirm if it is a true currency or an asset. 

In Bitcoin’s case, transactions are not anonymous, but are pseudonymous: 

while a transaction record is created which can be publicly viewed, only their public 

address is used (a combination of letters and numbers) so the name of the actual 

person behind that address is not shown. 

Blockchain utilizes the internet and 

in some cases the underlying computer code is 

open-source, meaning anyone can see it. Peerto-peer 

network means there’s no central server 

and all devices connected to the Blockchain’s 

network (worldwide) will each have exactly the 

same history of all transactions at exactly the 

same time - only transactions confirmed and 

agreed by participants of the Blockchain can 

be added – hence no single point of trust or 

failure. Significant computing power is used to 

validate transactions before they are accepted, 

reducing risk of fraud or double-spending. 

Blockchain has multiple uses aside from cryptocurrency based transactions 

– the distributed ledger has potential use cases for non-monetary transaction types 

making them harder to destroy, steal or alter. Learn more about this technology, 

evaluate its benefits and risks and decide if you will add any blocks to the chain! 



2/7/2018 9:42:57 PM

The Ride To Conquer 

CANCER...WHAT’S NEW ? 

Vineetha Binoy 

Cancer is a global health care concern because 

it is currently the second leading cause of death 

worldwide, after heart disease. 

The treatment of cancer has 

for long stood on the three 

traditional pillars of surgery, 

chemotherapy and radiation. 

However, chemotherapy produces a lot of 

unwanted side effects like hair loss, nausea, 

vomiting and low blood counts due its 

indiscriminate killing of normal cells in the 

body alongside cancer cells. In addition, 

the chemotherapy that works 

for one patient may not work 

for another, even with the same 

types of cancer. This is because 

all cancers have a genetic basis 

and every single cancer patient 

exhibits a different genetic profile 

which can change over time. 

The turn of this century 

witnessed the arrival of many 

new drugs, collectively called 

targeted therapies, characterized 

by their ability to specifically 

target abnormal receptors or 

proteins found only in the cancer 

cells. This gave us a fourth pillar for cancer 

treatment namely precision therapy. 

Chemotherapy follows the “one size fits 

all” approach whereby all patients with the 

same type and stage of cancer receive the 

same drug. However, in precision therapy 

the genetic changes in a person’s cancer is 

used to determine his treatment. Genetic 

tests on a patient’s biopsy will help decide 

which treatments a patient's tumor is most 


likely to respond to, sparing the patient 

from receiving treatments that are not likely 

to help. All patients with tumors sharing 

the same genetic change receive the same 

drug that targets that particular change, 

irrespective of the type of cancer. This type 

of personalized medicine has improved 

the survival rates of many cancers, a case 

in study being a cancer called chronic 

Cancer cells are larger than healthy blood cells. 

(National Cancer Institute/Wikimedia CC-BY) 

myeloid leukemia (CML). Prior to 2001, 

less than 1 in 3 CML patients survived 5 

years past diagnosis.With the advent of an 

oral targeted therapy drug called Imatinib 

or Gleevec, patients with CML have almost 

the same life expectancy as persons who 

never had the disease. Gleevec is also used 

to treat a number of other cancers with the 

same genetic abnormality as CML. 

The fifth emerging pillar of 

cancer treatment is Immunotherapy, 

which was based on the discovery that 

our own immune system can be used 

to fight cancer cells. Our body’s natural 

immune surveillance system is constantly 

destroying mutated cells in our body before 

it becomes cancerous. However cancer cells 

have escape mechanisms by which they 

weaken the immune killer cells 

trying to eliminate them. Cancer 

cells suppress natural immunity 

or camouflage themselves from 

recognition by the killer T cells. 

With immune therapies we 

attempt to boost our immune 

system, allowing our body’s 

natural defense mechanism to 

fight the cancer. Immunotherapy 

can produce durable responses 

in a number of different types of 

advanced cancer, including lung 

cancer, kidney cancer and a type 

of skin cancer called melanoma. 

The landscape of cancer 

treatment has changed significantly in the 

21st century. The incidence of cancer is 

increasing so are the number of survivors 

who are living longer with a better quality 

of life. We hope that ongoing research 

will finally help us to conquer this deadly 

disease. 

21 


2/7/2018 9:43:00 PM

Where Does Your 

Drinking Water 

Come From? 

“A History of 

Reverse Osmosis 

Desalination” 

Karlene Singh 

Grand Cayman has experienced significant 

economic growth over the last four decades. 

One of the key factors in its growth was the 

availability of piped potable water since the 

early 1970’s. Now, one hundred percent of the drinking 

water on Grand Cayman comes from seawater, in a 

process known as seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) 

desalination. 

Several Caribbean islands, including the 

Cayman Islands, have played a significant role in the 

development of desalination on a global scale. The 

presentation gave an overview of the history and growth 

of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination 

internationally and in the Cayman Islands. It also 

discussed the development of the first energy recovery 

device, installed and tested on Grand Cayman, which 

laid the foundation for SWRO desalination to become 

a more economically viable option for potable water 

production around the globe. 

Bill Andrews – “Dr. William Andrews (middle), inventor of the Dual Work 

Exchanger Energy Recovery Device. Early installation and testing was performed on 

Grand Cayman in the late 1980’s.” 

Signing Handshake – “One of the first forms of the DBOOT contract 

model was developed by Dr. William Andrews for a SWRO plant on Grand 

Cayman. This model has since been used worldwide.” 



2/7/2018 9:43:15 PM

Making the pigment was just the beginning of the 

process. Students then learned how to combine their pigment 

with a binder material sourced from egg yolks to make paint. 

There is a great deal of work involved in mixing the pigment and 

the binder in the correct ratio to achieve a suitable, spreadable 

paint. Once students created the paint, then the painting 

began! The students were able to showcase their artistic skills 

and utilize the malachite paint they created to paint pictures on 

both paper and canvas. 

Chemistry 

OF PAINT 

Chemistry and its applications made a showing at STEM Caribe 2017. The session called 

Chemistry of Paint attracted a lot of interest. This was the first time this handson 

session was a part of the conference offerings. More than 40 students 

excitedly packed into the chemistry laboratory at UCCI. Students were able 

to mix two reactants, sodium carbonate also known as washing soda with sodium 

sulfate commonly found in plant killer, and initiated a very vigorous reaction. 

The students synthesized a beautiful blue-green colored pigment known as 

malachite, Cu 2 

(OH) 2 

CO 3 

. The reaction also produced a large amount of 

carbon dioxide gas very quickly, which of course made the initial mixture 

nearly rise out of the container! After some additional hands-on work 

to separate the synthesized malachite pigment from the remaining 

liquid using filtration, the students began the fun part of learning how 

chemistry can be applied to the arts. Many years ago before paints 

were commercially available, artists had to do this same chemistry 

and synthesize their own pigments. 

Catherine T. Santai 


23 


2/7/2018 9:43:19 PM

CAYMAN 

A Game Changer 

Barry R. Cole 

How to harness the power of the beautiful ocean in Cayman Islands? OTEC International LLC 

(OTI) has signed a Term Sheet to deliver 25MW of electricity to Caribbean Utilities Company 

Ltd (CUC) on Grand Cayman Island (GCI). The project is to be executed in phases with the 

first phase comprising installing the Interconnection Facility on shore and the first of up to four 

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Power Plants off shore, each delivering at least 

6.25MW average net annual output. 

HOW OTEC WORKS AND OTEC BENEFITS 

The OTEC process uses warm ocean surface water flowing through a large heat exchanger to boil a working fluid from a liquid 

into a gas. The gas expands and turns a turbine. The turbine turns a constant speed generator to produce electricity. The electricity 

is transmitted to shore via a submarine power cable. The gas is changed back into a liquid by passing it through another large heat 

exchanger where cold water pumped from deep in the ocean condenses the working fluid into a liquid. The liquid is collected in a tank 

beneath the condenser and pumped back through the cycle in a continuous process that runs 24 hours a day 365-1/4 days every year. 

The working fluid remains in this closed loop system for the duration of the 25 or more years of service. OTI has chosen ammonia as its 

working fluid because it is a readily available industrial agent that is not a greenhouse gas. Ammonia has been used in industry for more 

than a century and therefore has well established handling, storage and operating standards, and most importantly is an excellent low 

temperature working fluid with low pumping power requirements. 

ABOVE: Marine and Ocean Scientists, 

assisted by ship’s crew, ready the BONGO net 

for collecting biologic samples. The 16-chamber 

rosette sets nearby, ready for the next step in the water 

sampling process 

LEFT: CSA Survey Boat operating off North Coast of Grand 

Cayman during initial ocean survey 

INSERT: Image of Rosette used to collect first set of water samples at 

depth intervals from the surface to more than 1000m deep 



2/7/2018 9:43:19 PM

ABOVE: Side scan sonar array being deployed from a smaller locally-operated vessel to map 

the sea floor at the selected OTEC Power Plant site during Phase 2 Ocean Survey 

INSERT: Locally owned and operated SAND CAY was used during the Phase 2 Ocean 

Survey because of its large open deck, boom crane and A-frame capable of deploying special 

instruments to depths of over 1200m 

TOP RIGHT: Image of Multi-beam sonar array deployed beneath CSA Survey Boat 

RIGHT: Shown is an Acoustic Doppler Current and Temperature Array being set on the sea 

floor during the start of Phase 2 Ocean Survey. This array is also capable of measuring and 

recording waves. 

THE BENEFITS CAN BE SUMMED UP THIS WAY: 

Non-intermittent renewable energy is linked directly to the electric grid. 

Power generated with local resources enables energy independence for Cayman. 

There are no fossil fuel emissions from the power generating process. 

There are no fossil fuel and fuel transport costs. 

Sustainable design minimises environmental impact. 

OTEC AND THE APPLICATION OF STEM 

To ensure compatibility with the environment of Grand Cayman, OTI undertook an extensive study of the ocean, and compiled 

profiles of its water temperature, salinity, density, chemistry, biology, waves and currents. The sea floor was mapped using various types 

of sonar and imaging techniques. The benthic community was surveyed and densities of marine flora and fauna were recorded. 

This project could not happen without the participation of: 

• Mechanical Engineers 

• Electrical Engineers 

• Electronics Control System Engineers 

• Metallurgists 


• Environmental Scientists 

• Marine Biologists/Ocean Scientists/Ocean Engineers 

• Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 

• Industrial Engineers 

• Safety Engineers 

• Civil Engineers 

• Logistics Engineers 

• Quality Engineers 

• Financial Analysts 

25 


2/7/2018 9:43:20 PM

Life in the Universe 

The Multidisciplinary 

Approach To Discovery 

Shirin Haque 

At the Physics Department, University of the 

West Indies, we are part of an international 

collaboration on the topic of astrobiology. 

Our collaborators are Washington State 

University, Villanova University in the USA, 

University of Turku in Finland, Helmholtz 

Institute in Germany and University 

of British Columbia in Canada. We are 

jointly engaged on studying analog sites 

in Trinidad. One such geological feature is 

the mud volcanoes located in the southern 

end of the island and the other is the La 

Brea pitch lake. The mud volcanoes act as 

an analog site for Mars and the pitch lake 

as an analog for Titan – Saturn’s largest 

moon. Both these sites in Trinidad emanate 

methane and are considered as extreme 

conditions for proliferation of microbial life. 

Gone are the days of the lone 

scientist working in his 

laboratory making landmark 

discoveries. Names such as Isaac 

Newton, Marie Curie and Albert Einstein 

come to mind. By mid century, some of 

the biggest discoveries were associated 

with pairs of researchers, such Penzias and 

Wilson for their landmark discovery of the 

cosmic microwave background radiation 

and of course, Crick and Watson on the 

structure of the DNA. This is now the era 

of “Big Science” and single projects can 

easily involve teams of hundreds and even 

thousands of researchers across the world 

in international collaboration. The human 

genome project is one such story and the 

discovery of the gravitational waves was 

a collaborative effort among hundreds of 

scientists internationally. 

The problem of understanding 

life in the universe is another such big 

problem needing input from many 

areas of expertise. It is the field of 

Astrobiology. It is broadly defined 

as the study of the origin, evolution, 

distribution, and future of life in the 

universe: extraterrestrial life and life 

on Earth. It is truly multi-disciplinary 

and requires input not just from 

Astronomers, but biochemists, 

palaeontologists, microbiologists and 

geologists. Multidisciplinary studies 

is the way of the future as problems 

such as understanding life do not 

exist in isolation in single disciplines. 

Multidisciplinary investigations in 

Astronomy has given rise to such 

other fields as Astrochemistry and 

Astrogeology. 

Extremophiles refer to microbial 

organisms that can survive in extreme 

environments. It is unlikely, that the search 

for life will land us in exact conditions as 

on planet Earth. Therefore the search for 

extremophiles is based on understanding 

the limits that microbial life can exist in. 

Extremophiles have been found in the 

coldest, darkest, driest places on Earth and 

interestingly, our research has also yielded 

positive findings of strains of archaea in 

both the toxic environments of the mud 

volcanoes in Trinidad as well as the pitch 

lake in Trinidad. It therefore takes a lot of 

scientists in many countries with different 

expertise to truly understand where and 

how microbial life can survive and sustain. 

Our findings can help us to understand 

how perhaps microbial life, if it exists, can 

survive on Mars and on Titan. 



2/7/2018 9:43:32 PM

A New Kind Of Artificial 

Intelligence With 

Smart Data 

Andrew Hacker 

“Companies already can’t cope with the 

data they have today, let alone the data that 

is around the corner… Rather than worrying 

about “big data,” companies would do well to 

instead focus on Smart Data…” 

Forbes, April 26, 2016 

By 2020, 50 billion Internet of Things devices will 

produce 120 billion gigabytes of data every day. 

This deluge of data requires a different approach to 

managing and getting value from data. Today’s big 

data analytics technologies simply cannot keep up with the 

distributed Internet of Things and exponentially growing 

amounts of data. 

With Smart Data: 

Business value is provided faster by using 

context and action logic as the data is generated, 

without requiring huge amounts of time, processing 

power and storage to produce. 

Information is shared without contractual 

negotiations and complicated data transfer plans for 

every exchange. Each piece of smart data knows what 

can be shared and who is allowed to have it. 

Multi-level encryption and authentication 

of each data element enables access to analytics while 

protecting privacy and keeping original data secure. 

Data automatically becomes a marketable 

asset because monetary value is dynamically assigned 

to each piece of smart data. 

Data is “unhackable” since the compromise 

of one small piece of data will not affect any other 

piece of Smart Data, this can help eliminate major 

cybersecurity breaches. 

Here at MistIQ Technologies, we are reinventing data 

analytics and Artificial Intelligence with Data Defined Computing 

which merges data and data processing together creating Smart 

Data. Smart Data is literally each piece of data combined with 

a small piece of application logic that creates a data agent. Data 

agents are autonomous “things” that can interact with the world 

around them. Already we are providing solutions for major 

industry verticals such as Healthcare, Transportation, Finance, 

Cybersecurity, and Energy. 

Blockchain technologies are reinventing how the tech 

community conceives and launches new ideas. The cryptocurrency 

ecosystem is highly innovative, moves at a blinding pace, and 

is growing rapidly. Founders who have novel ideas want to 

build something, create a viable product that helps out in some 

way, launch it to the public and see it grow. Blockchain and 

cryptocurrency economics offer funding opportunities that 

did not exist before and the community can lend its support to 

fledgling companies and be engaged with them every step of the 

way. With the incredible surge in growth and momentum of such 

a new technology like blockchain and cryptocurrencies comes the 

need for frameworks and guidelines around how they can (and 

should) be used. 

MistIQ Technologies is merging blockchain technology 

with Smart Data to create a global Artificial Intelligence network 

called Thought Network where decentralized artificial intelligence 

meets blockchain. The Thought Network’s mission is to unlock the 

knowledge potential of the world’s data. The Thought Network will 

create an insight layer on the Internet to manage the world's data 

with a global data defined processing and artificial intelligence 

network run by “Smart Data”. The Thought Network will launch its 

functional network and Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in early 2018. 

Website: http://thought.live, email: andrew@thought.live 


27 


2/7/2018 9:43:48 PM

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems 

(sUAS) for Modern Map Making 

Albert R. Sarvis 

At the 2017 STEM Carib conference, I dove deeper into the topic of Geospatial Technology by exploring the 

use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for just-in-time high resolution mapping and 3D modeling. 

To direct this talk to the interest and experience of students on Grand Cayman, fellow Harrisburg 

University faculty and I flew multiple sUAS missions over the Clifton Hunter School in the days preceding 

the conference. The resulting aerial photos and 3D model of the school provided a recognizable example 

of how this rapidly growing technology has practical applications. 

This year’s talk began by reviewing the US 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

regulations that govern the commercial, 

and hobbyist, operation of drones. With 

the rapid introduction of drones into the global 

airspace, safety has become a primary concern. The 

safety-based regulations provide the framework by 

which drone mapping missions are planned and 

executed. Our flight over the Clifton Hunter School 

required review/approval of both the Cayman Civil 

Aviation Authority and the School Administration. 

Flights over the school adhered to a detailed flight 

plan provided weeks in advance. On the 9th and 

10th of October our flights remained within the 

property boundaries of the school, below 50 meters 

above ground level (AGL), and while students were 

in their classrooms. 

After careful safety planning for the timing, 

location, take off/landing points, and other special 

considerations the actual mission programming 

occurs. I reviewed the mobile app “Pix4D Capture” 

that was used for our flight. This application runs 

on the iPad that connects to the drone controller. In 

our example, a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone was 

pre-programmed with specific flight information 

such as boundary of flight extent, altitude and the 

amount of overlap between every photo captured. 

These and other settings enable the app to calculate 

an exact flight plan guided by the onboard GPS. 

Once programmed the operator simply initiates/ 

monitors the flight and, if necessary, can intervene 

in the mission and land manually. 

The demonstration missions flown at the Clifton Hunter School 

produced two separate products: 

• Using 220 images taken facing 

straight down during back to back 

flights on our first day of flying 

an orthomosaic, pictured here, 

was produced. We used Pix4D 

Mapper Pro desktop software to 

merge multiple photos and correct 

distortion in order to create a 

spatially accurate image of the entire 

school campus. (Figure 1) 

• The second product was created 

out of 680 images taken with 

significantly more image overlap 

and at 70 degree camera angle. 

These images allow us to see more of 

the sides of structures and produce a 

3D model of the campus. (Figure 2) 

The conclusion of my talk was to stress that either of these imagery 

products can be used for numerous applications. The two dimensional 

orthomosaic photo can be used to create highly accurate maps of the campus 

such as building footprints, edge of pavement, sidewalks, storm water inlets, etc. 

The 3D model can be exported to other applications such as 3d gaming engines 

or engineering modeling tools. In a matter of just a few hours an $800 drone and 

some software can now accomplish what a piloted plane, dozens of hours and 

expensive equipment used to do for tens of thousands of dollars. 



2/7/2018 9:43:53 PM

Medical Applications Of 

3D Printing 

Gregory Gillispie 

3D printing is 

a revolutionary 

manufacturing 

technology 

As opposed to classical 

manufacturing techniques such 

as machining and molding, 

3D printing creates objects 

by depositing materials layer-by-layer. 

This gives it huge advantages over other 

manufacturing techniques in its flexibility 

and customizability. It is especially 

beneficial for small scale production 

and rapid prototyping. The three main 

technologies (photopolymerization-based, 

granular-based, and extrusion-based 

printing) were all first established in the 

1980’s, but did not gain widespread use 

until around 2010. 

The medical field is one of the 

fastest growing sectors of 3D printing. The 

medical division of the 3D printing market 

is up from 1.6% in 2013 to 11% in 2017 and 

new, potentially life-saving technologies 

are being added every day. Currently, 


the major medical applications can be 

categorized as rapid prototyping, implants, 

anatomical models, and tissue engineering. 

3D printing can eliminate the need for retooling 

or re-molding in between design 

iterations. As soon as a new design is 

ready, the next prototype can be printed 

immediately, saving time and money. This 

is true for any product, but with medical 

devices, decreased time to market can 

potentially be lifesaving. 

Many implants are now 

3D printed, especially for dental 

procedures, hearing aids, and craniofacial 

reconstruction. Personalized implants can 

be made based on imaging data by using a 

computer program. These implants often 

have shorter surgical times, better clinical 

outcomes, and improved aesthetics when 

compared to their non-printed, off the 

shelf counterparts. Anatomical models are 

also printed for education purposes. These 

models are advantageous when compared to 

cadavers in that they can be manufactured 

with any desired morphology or pathology, 

are cheaper, and are not biohazardous. 

They are currently being used for student 

training, patient education, and surgical 

practice. Additionally, these models are 

used for surgical preparation, allowing 

surgeons to plan their approach and 

modify hardware before making the first 

incision. This can greatly reduce operation 

times, thereby reducing cost and the risk of 

complications. 

Finally, tissue engineering 

approaches such as bioprinting and organon-a-chip 

utilize 3D printing. Bioprinting 

aims to regenerate tissue in the laboratory 

and in vivo in hopes of treating the millions of 

people currently on organ transplant waiting 

lists. Organ-on-a-chip is an experimental 

platform which aims to improve the accuracy 

of in vitro results and reduce the need for 

animal testing by creating miniature 3D 

environments which mimic that of tissues 

in the body. For these strategies, 3D printing 

is used to spatially control the deposition 

of biomaterials, cells, and growth factors. 

Bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip are 

currently in preliminary, proof-of-concept 

research, but both have shown great promise 

to impact the field of medicine as a whole. 

Many limitations still exist for 3D printing 

technology. It is a time consuming process, 

the printers themselves are still expensive, 

and the users are very limited by the available 

materials which can be used. Nevertheless, 

as these limitations are overcome and more 

applications are discovered, 3D printing’s role 

in medicine will continue to expand for the 

foreseeable future. 

29 


2/7/2018 9:43:55 PM

Forensic 

Entomology 

Robert Furey 

The use of insects for forensic 

death investigation is as old as 

early as 14th century China. In 

The Washing Away of Wrongs, 

the lawyer Sung Ts'u described flies’ affinity 

for blood as the key to identifying a murder 

weapon, and so the murderer. As a first 

step to using insects as forensic tools, Sung 

Ts’u seems to have had prophetic foresight. 

Ancients believed that maggots 

were produced by the process of decay. 

A dead body – or a leftover pot of stew – 

would naturally produce maggots from a 

process within. It wasn’t until 1668 that an 

Italian doctor, Francesco Redi, determined 

through experiment that maggots 

originated from flies. A fact so obvious to 

us yet almost a paradigm shift to the world 

of 1668. 

The relationship that certain 

insects and other arthropods had with 

corpses was noted when Doctors Lesuere 

and Orfila published extensive works 

conducted on exhumed bodies. But it wasn’t 

until 1855 that the concept of insect growth 

patterns and ecological succession came to 

fruition a concept in forensic entomology. 

Doctor Bergeret d'Arbois conducted an 

autopsy on the body of an infant hidden 

inside the brickwork of a Paris fireplace. 

The owners of the home had been arrested 

for murder but Doctor d’Arbois noticed 

the insects and insect stages present on the 

child’s body and noted the time required for 

such activity to predate the current owners’ 

possession of the house. The previous 

owners were arrested and convicted of the 

crime. 

Doctor d’Arbois’ autopsy 

represents the first time that insects and 

insect activity were used to approximate 

a time of death. Although the estimation 

window was large, it proved effective to 

both exonerate the couple first accused 

to the crime as well as convict the true 

murderers. 

Calculating time of death has 

become more sophisticated since the mid- 

19th century. We recognize that insects’ 

role in taphonomy -- the process of decay 

– displays a predictable pattern. Carrion 

flies are attracted to the earliest signs of 

decay, arriving and commencing egg laying 

within ten to fifteen minutes of death. The 

life cycle of these flies tracks a known and 

predictable sequence, following growth 

patterns and metamorphic life stages from 

egg to larvae, from larvae to pupae, and 

finally egg-laying adult. Time spent in 

each stage of development is programed 

into the flies by evolution and since we 

know the time to get to any given stage, 

we can calculate the PMI (post mortem 

interval). How is this accomplished? 

Investigators using carrion flies during 

a death investigation record pertinent 

environmental measures, temperature and 

humidity, that when correlated with insect 

life stages collected from a scene will in 

some cases give a precise measure of a time 

of death. 

Students of forensic entomology 

can test the predictability of these 

correlations by setting traps and rearing 

flies under controlled conditions. Just as 

we do when investigating crime scenes, 

my students use bait and record arrival 

time for egg laying flies. Time of day and 

ambient temperature are taken. Eggs are 

returned to the lab and placed in rearing 

chambers where temperature and humidity 

are controlled. They attempt verification 

of developmental times from all instars, 

from egg to adult, noting correlations with 

maturation and environmental factors. 

Given the “hard wiring” of carrion flies, my 

students are able to employ the techniques 

necessary to correctly determine PMI 

under naturalistic conditions. Many of my 

students have worked with local authorities 

at crime scenes going through our program. 

There are few things more 

profound than speaking for the dead. 

Forensic scientists can do that while 

looking to the natural world for what the 

dead are trying to tell us. As part of the 

natural world. insects are an effective way to 

listen to what the dead are saying. Forensic 

entomologists have cracked the Rosetta 

Stone of insect language enough to answer 

not just questions about PMI, but also 

toxicology, physical abuse, and hygiene, 

just to name a few. Insects have a lot to tell 

us, and students of forensic entomology are 

always looking to further what we know. 



2/7/2018 9:43:56 PM

Other 

Adventures In 

STEM Carib... 

About UCCI 

The University College of the Cayman Islands has never let size stand in the way of 

achievement – and this "Little University that Could" has been making giant strides for 

education and community development not only in the Islands, but in the region. 

Since its inception as a Community College in 1975, UCCI transformed from being a 

part-time establishment to a full-fledged tertiary level institution offering a plethora 

of programmes in the Associate, Bachelor and Master's levels as well as Professional 

Education and Workforce Training. 

At the forefront of the entire operation is its world-class faculty, members of which 

possess either Master's and Doctorate degrees. Drawing from their vast classroom and 

real-world experiences, they provide global and personalised instruction to over 1,000 

students. 

In recent years, UCCI has become the institution of choice for many Caymanians and 

expatriates alike, as they are able to experience the demands of a University environment 

right on their doorstep. Through the delivery of quality programmes, students are 

equipped with knowledge and skills that meet the needs of local and international 

employers. UCCI also strives to be on the cutting edge of technology by promoting 

STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives and through the 

establishment of its very own observatory. 

As an important socio-cultural landmark, the University College stays true to its 

commitment of making valuable contributions towards nation building. Through its 

series of regional conferences, UCCI has brought thinkers and influencers from various 

fields of expertise, discussing some of the most pressing issues of our time. 

Adapted from http://www.ucci.edu.ky/about/index.shtml 

Solar Energy - 

James Whittaker, 

Greentech Solar 

Alternative Methods to 

Diesel - 

Sacha Tibbetts, 

CUC 

Engineering in Cayman - 

Kern Owens, 

RCIPS 

Lionfish: The Perfect 

Invader - 

Tom Sparke, 

CCMI 

Grouper Moon Project - 

Todd Bohannon, 

Reef Foundation 

Food Science - 

Joel Walton, 

Maritime Authority 

Drones 101 - 

“What, Where & Why” – 

Mick Davidson, 

Security Centres International 

Photo Credit - The Intellectual 


31 


2/7/2018 9:44:01 PM

Meet The 

Intellectuals! 

Albert Sarvis 

Albert Sarvis received his B.A. in Geo-environmental Studies from Shippensburg University in 1991 and M.A. in Geography at Ohio 

University in 1994. Mr. Sarvis began his teaching experience as a Graduate Assistant at OU teaching Physical Geography and Geospatial 

Technology labs. Mr. Sarvis has also taught graduate level Geospatial Technology classes at Indiana University's School of Public and 

Environmental Affairs and undergraduate classes at Harrisburg Area Community College. In 2005 he began working with Harrisburg 

University as a corporate faculty member helping to develop and teach the Geospatial Technology program before joining the HU staff 

full time in January 2011. Prior to becoming a full time professor Mr. Sarvis worked for 16 years in the Geospatial Technology consulting 

industry spending 11 of those years as a project manager. He obtained his Project Management Professional certification in 2005 and 

GIS Professional certification in 2007. Mr. Sarvis has presented Geospatial Technology and Project Management at numerous conferences 

and workshops during his consulting career and maintains a wide range of Geospatial Industry contacts to benefit both the Geospatial 

Technology and Project Management program content and future student careers. 

Andrew Hacker 

Charles Palmer Catherine Santai Andre Gooden 

Professor Andrew J. Hacker is the Cybersecurity Expert In Residence at Harrisburg University and Founder and CEO of MistIQ Technologies. 

At Harrisburg University, he is helping to further the University's position as a world class institution in Cybersecurity. As CEO of MistIQ 

Technologies, Mr. Hacker is building an innovative technology called Smart Data that will help protect consumer privacy while still 

providing device manufacturers access to usage data. MistIQ’s patented Data Defined Computing will enable a new data economy and 

enhance the business and consumer value of information by creating a new kind of infrastructure for privacy, security, artificial intelligence 

and data analytics. Mr. Hacker is the former Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where 

for 6 years, he supported the Enterprise Information Security Office in managing information security, guiding State Agency CISOs and 

Executives, interacting with State and Federal partners, and protecting citizen data and government systems and operations. He played a 

major role in creating enterprise security strategies, standards and policies, enhancing overall application security, and was responsible 

for risk management and compliance across the commonwealth. Publications in Network World, Information Week, Help Net Security. 

Certifications: CISSP, ISSAP, PCI QSA (former), CTGA, CGCIO 

Andre Gooden is the owner of Charlito’s 

Greenhouse, a small working island 

farm that models, promotes, and 

educates about sustainable food systems, 

environment, stewardship, community 

engagement and development, and 

access to real, good food for everyone. 

Barry Cole 

Barry is a degreed engineer, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 

and acquisition professional with more than 43 years of 

experience in engineering, manufacturing, production and 

operations, research and development, quality and program 

management, with over 35 of them at a senior or executive 

level. He has assembled and led teams on large ($5M to 

$1.5B) and diverse projects in government and industry. At 

his current post, Barry leads a world-class team of contractors 

from various fields of expertise and manages all aspects of 

cost, schedule and technical performance of a multi-billion 

dollar OTEC technology commercialization program. 

Dr. Catherine Santai is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Integrative Sciences Program Lead at Harrisburg 

University of Science and Technology in Harrisburg, PA. She has a M.S. in Chemistry from Georgetown University. She is a graduate of 

Georgia Institute of Technology where she earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry for her research into novel 

nucleic acid structures she created and termed mixed-stranded DNA. Her current research interests include determining how the method of 

plant oil extraction impacts antibacterial effectiveness. Dr. Santai has been teaching Chemistry and Biochemistry at the undergraduate level 

for 11 years. She is passionate about education, research, and increasing representation of women and minorities in STEM fields. She is the 

current Chair of National Chemistry Week for SE Pennsylvania, an executive board member of the SE PA Section of the American Chemical 

Society, an active volunteer for "Girls in STEM" program at Whitaker Science Center, and the mother of three very active boys. 

As the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies, Charles Palmer oversees the design and 

development of ventures in new and emerging technologies, serves as the Program Lead for the undergraduate Interactive Media program, 

is an adviser to the Learning Technology Masters of Science program, and coordinates the High School Gaming Academy. As an instructor, 

Professor Palmer mentors students on research projects in the fields of augmented and virtual reality, mobile computing, web application 

development, video production, desktop manufacturing (3d printing), motion graphics and interactive games. As a technologist, author 

and international speaker, Professor Palmer lectures on virtual reality, 3d printing, gamification, interactive storytelling, and simulations 

linking learning and research to practical outcomes. 



2/7/2018 9:44:02 PM

Denise Henry David Brown 

With over twenty years' experience in the aviation industry. Initially as a Hardware Engineer designing electronic systems, subsequently as 

a Software Engineer developing Engine Management systems through to Primary Flight Computers. Ultimately David became a Systems 

Engineer designing elements of some of today's most prestigious aircraft including the Airbus A380 (the largest civilian aircraft in the world) 

and Boeing's new 787 'Dreamliner'. More recently David was involved with the creation of aviation standards for the Airline Industry as a 

whole. 

She is a marine biologist having earned a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology (Double Major) with focus on terrestrial and marine ecology and 

a M.Phil. in Marine Biology from the University of the West Indies with a focus on echinoderm population dynamics. Denise has worked 

on coral, seagrass and mangrove restoration projects, establishing and maintaining coral, seagrass and mangrove nurseries first at the 

Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, St. Ann, Jamaica and currently at the Alligator Head Marine Laboratory (AHML), located in Portland, 

Jamaica. Over the course of the seagrass project her team developed a new novel technique for rehabilitating eroding seagrass beds which 

was successfully tested in Trelawny, Jamaica. Additionally the various coral restoration teams at the respective labs have outplanted 3000 

coral fragments to surrounding reef areas to date. She is currently the research coordinator of the AHML which is the research arm of the 

Alligator Head Foundation, a non-profit that working to restore marine life in East Portland by establishing and managing a fish sanctuary. 

Her international work includes Environmental Impact Assessments in Roatan, Honduras, seagrass monitoring in the Cayman Islands and 

benthic reef assessments in Montserrat. 

Isabel Gumeyi Gregory Gillispie Graham Morse Eustache Placide 

Professor Eustache Placide joins the University College of the Cayman Islands 

(UCCI) as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and 

Engineering. Before coming to UCCI, he was a Professor at DeVry University in 

Atlanta. Eustache received his B.S., M.S. and a Ph.D., in Computer Science. He 

is interested in teaching general, theory, and systems courses. His other interests 

centered on developing intelligent applications and methods that can be applied 

to solve interdisciplinary problems. His primary research interests are in the field 

of Artificial intelligence, Software Engineering, Expert System, and Robotics. He 

studies both how to design efficient autonomous decision-making systems as well 

as the rationale behind decisions of living agents in natural systems. 

Following a marketing background and business career as an entrepreneur 

in England and the USA, Graham retired in 2000 to follow his dream of sailing 

around the world with his wife in their own sailing yacht. Moved by the unspoiled 

natural beauty of the ocean, and the isolated islands of the South Pacific, he became 

very aware of the importance of the natural environment and the world’s need for 

sustainability. In 2008 he settled in the Cayman Islands and, with his wife Janet, set 

out on a new challenge: to design and build an energy efficient house that respected 

the local environment. In 2011 Sea Grape House won the Governor’s Award for 

Design and Construction Excellence. Graham is a writer and author of The Islands 

Time Forgot: Exploring the South Pacific Under Sail and the biography of Sir Walter 

Winterbottom: The Father of Modern English Football. 

Gregory Gillispie is a PhD student at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). He graduated from University of 

Delaware with a B.S. in Exercise Science: Biomechanics and Motor Control in 2014 and from the Wake Forest-Virginia Tech School of 

Biomedical Engineering Sciences with an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2016. His undergraduate research included studying the effects 

of increasing body temperature on blood flow to the brain and recommissioning a Wii BalanceBoard to assist in physical therapy from 

hip and knee replacement surgeries. His Master’s research in the Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics involved testing for range of 

motion and pull-out strength of hybrid screw systems used in spinal fusions as well as the mechanical evaluation of fixation methods used 

to treat pelvic fractures. Recently, his research has focused on bioprinting and the regeneration of orthopedic junctions with current projects 

targeting the bone-to-cartilage and bone-to-tooth interfaces. He also works as a member of the Wake Forest Innovations medical device 

design team to help move medical devices from conception to commercialization. Ongoing projects include work on an intramedullary nail 

for radial head fractures, a non-migrating biliary stent, and a screwdriver for the tapping and inserting spinal fusion screws. 

Isabel Gumeyi is a Senior Manager in the Risk Assurance Services (RAS) group at PwC. She is a certified IT professional with over ten 

years of experience providing practical, value-added assurance and advisory services to clients in multiple industries and jurisdictions. 

She assesses IT risks and advises clients on how to enhance both business processes and IT controls in line with best practice. Prior to 

joining PwC Cayman, Isabel spent three years enhancing her professional experience with PwC Bermuda where she provided a range of 

IT audit and advisory services to insurance, reinsurance and telecommunications clients. In Cayman, Isabel’s client base consists mainly of 

companies from the financial services industry but she also works with local operating companies. She also explores emerging technologies 

such as Blockchain, advising clients on strategies, governance, risk/control and frameworks considerations. Isabel’s portfolio includes data 

protection and information security initiatives within the Caribbean region for PwC as well as for external clients. She also conducts training 

and awareness sessions on IT related aspects. Isabel is Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA); Certified Information Security 

Manager (CISM); Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Computer Management 

Information Systems. 

Francis French 

Francis French is a space author, educator, and 

speaker currently residing in San Diego, CA. From 

a young age in Manchester, England, Francis was 

fascinated by space. He has written numerous 

magazine articles and co-authored two books: Into 

that Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon. 

Both books were finalists in 2007 for the Eugene M. 

Emme Award given by the American Astronautical 

Society. His newest book is Falling to Earth, the coauthored 

autobiography of Apollo 15 astronaut Al 

Worden, released in Summer 2011. 


33 


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Karlene Singh 

Karlene Singh joined Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.'s engineering team in August 2006, serving as the Company's Operations/Project 

Engineer. She currently fills a dual-role as the Business Development - Project Engineer for the Engineering and Business Development 

Departments. Her role includes supporting the design and construction of Seawater Reverse Osmosis plants and promoting the Company’s 

desalination and water utility business through all sales and marketing activities. Karlene serves on the Board of the Caribbean Desalination 

Association and is the Chair of the Publications and Communications Committee, as well as Co-Chair of the Young Leader’s Program. 

Karlene has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Applied Science, both in Chemical Engineering, from Ryerson University, Toronto, 

Canada. Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. is a complete turnkey design, build, own/finance, and operate desalination company headquartered 

on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, where Karlene has resided for the last eleven years. 

Mrunalini Pattarkine 

Mrunalini Pattarkine, PhD, Professor in Biotechnology heads the BTEC program at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in 

Harrisburg PA. Prof Pattarkine has a PhD in Biochemistry from IIT Powai, and has over 25 years of research experience. In addition to being 

the program director, she is also the lead faculty for Nanobiotechnology initiative within the Biotechnology program at the university and 

is currently directing sponsored research for private industries. In addition to teaching Biotechnology/Nanobiotechnology courses, Prof 

Pattarkine also serves as a Director of Capital Area Biotechnology Partnership (CABP), a Workforce Leadership Grant in Biotechnology 

though funding from PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED, a $700,000/- grant). Prof Pattarkine has active 

research projects in areas such as biosensor development, paper-based analytical devices, antimicrobial properties of plant biomaterials, and 

hydrogels for regenerative medicine. Prof Pattarkine has several publications and two book chapters to her credit. Under her instruction, 

the university offers several summer courses for high-school students. Prof Pattarkine has conducted numerous workshops at national and 

international events, for educators and administrators and is considered an expert in the field by state administrators. 

Orane Barrett 

Orane Barrett is an immigrant from the island of Jamaica and resident of New York City. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester 

[UofR], Chemical Engineering, Class of 1999. Upon graduating UofR, he was employed as a Process Engineer at Intel Corporation and 

eventually promoted to an Operations Managers, managing a staff of 22-technicians in the Manufacturing Department, tasked with meeting 

aggressive production goals. After spending four-years at Intel, Orane attended MIT Sloan School of Management, with a concentration 

in Finance and Entrepreneurship, MBA Class of 2006. Upon graduation, he worked as an Investment Banker at UBS Investment Bank and 

then as a Project Manager at Credit Suisse Investment Bank. Orane is currently the Chief Executive Nerd of Kool Nerd Club [KNC]. KNC 

is a social-fashion brand with a mission to decrease unemployment, primarily in lower-income communities, by inspiring our children to 

pursue careers in high demanding job fields, in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math [STEM]. As the "TOMS Shoes for 

STEM", the sale of ONE Kool Nerd product will unlock ONE hour of tutoring / mentoring by a College student to a High-School and or 

Middle-School student in the areas of STEM, at a partnering Boys & Girls Club. KNC’s goal is to generate 1-million tutoring / mentoring 

hours by 2023. 

Robert Furey 

Shirin Haque 

Dr. Robert Furey is Professor of Forensics and Integrated Sciences at Harrisburg University. Dr. Furey graduate from the University of 

Tennessee, Knoxville, earning his PhD in life sciences and specializing in ethology and behavioral ecology of social spiders. His research 

included social structure displayed by the west African Agelena consociate and the North American Anelosimus studiosus. Dr. Furey was 

the first to document the level of sociality in Anelosimus studiosus. His post-doc work included emergent behaviors in the South American 

social spider, Anelosimus eximius as a post-doc at the Universite de Vandouvre as a visiting European proifessor at the Universite Libre 

de Bruxelles. Dr. Furey has been teaching in higher education for 30 years. As a graduate student, he restructured the ethology courses at 

the University of Tennessee. As a post-doc he redesigned the animal behavior course at the Universite de Vandouvre in Nancy, France. He 

was deeply involved with New Century College, a part of George Mason University, and developed pedagogy in learning communities, 

field studies, and experiential learning. Eleven years ago Dr. Furey joined Harrisburg University and started the Forensics Program, in 

both an academic sense as well as becoming deeply involved with local law informant through the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office. The 

relationship developed such that Dr. Furey is now the working forensic entomologist for Dauphin County and through extension Central 

Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Shirin Haque is the deputy dean and a former head of department in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the St Augustine campus 

at the University of the West Indies. She is an astronomer by profession and a senior lecturer in Physics Department with research interests 

in astrobiology and cosmology and was recently the recipient of the Rudranath Capildeo Award for applied Science and Technology. She and 

her team's recent findings on astrobiological studies at the pitch lake in Trinidad was published in Science in 2014. She is also the producer of 

several Caribbean Science documentaries and is heavily engaged in science popularization and has won three excellence in teaching awards. 

A lifelong learner, she just obtained her MPhil in Psychology. 

Vineetha Binoy 

Dr. Vineetha Binoy practises as a Medical Oncologist at Health City Cayman Islands. She is trained in Internal Medicine with specialty 

training in Medical Oncology. Dr Vineetha has previously worked and trained in India and Australia in Medical Oncology, Hematology 

and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. She believes in comprehensive and compassionate cancer care and has extensive experience 

treating a variety of cancers. She renders her services to the community in the prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis and 

multidisciplinary management of hematological and non-hematological malignancies. Her special areas of interest includes women’s 

oncology, preventive oncology and Hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation. 



2/7/2018 9:44:08 PM

Thank you for supporting 

The University College of the Cayman Islands, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and the 

STEM Carib 2017 organising committee extend our heartfelt gratitude to the international and local 

STEM experts who took time to share their knowledge and inspire our attendees. 

We also acknowledge the budding scientists and engineers from the Rotary Science Fair and the UCCI 

STEM Camp, whose participation herald a bright future for STEM in Cayman and the region. 

In addition, we recognise all the conference attendees, parents, students, teachers, principals, 

professionals in the field, STEM enthusiasts, media friends and the general public who supported the 

event. Sincerest thanks also go out to all our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. 

Lastly, we gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors, whose demonstration of corporate social 

responsibility enabled us to host our most successful STEM Carib Conference to date. We hope that all of 

you can join us again next year. 

Presented by: 

www.stem.ky 

@stemcaribconference 


2/7/2018 9:44:09 PM


2/7/2018 9:44:10 PM

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