The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“Already the regularity of its motion promises the most conclusive results. One collects numbers that, compared with the predictions of theory, permit one to appreciate how far the true pendulum approximates or differs from the abstract system called 'the simple pendulum.”- Leon Foucault. Most of us probably know the Earth rotates on an almost-vertical axis every 24 hours, which gives us one Earth day. Yet, this basic knowledge was not always so unquestionable. As far back as 470 BCE, ancient Greeks speculated the Earth itself moves. In 1851, French physicist Leon Foucault demonstrated how our planet rotates using his now-famous pendulum. Foucault first conducted his pendulum experiment in the Paris Observatory, then the Panthéon, where it remains an impressive centerpiece today. January 8 is recognized as Earth's Rotation Day annually. This important day is a reminder that the Earth spins on its axis, which is why we have day and night. This day is a great time to learn abo...

“Wherever there are birds, there is hope.”- Mehmet Murat Ildan. Birds have always held a special place in our hearts. According to Born Free USA , nearly 12 percent of the world's almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction. Regrettably, each year, millions of birds are captured from the wild or produced in captivity for commercial profit or human amusement, only to waste away in conditions that fail to meet the instinctive behavioral and physical needs of these wild animals. National Bird Day , celebrated on January 5 each year, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of birds in our ecosystems and their conservation. The day encourages people to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and significance of birds while promoting efforts to protect their habitats. National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition. The day not only draws attention to the pressing issues of bird extinction and habitat destruction but also encoura...

"Reading Braille really is important. I mean, we can listen, hear things being said. But to be able to have the privacy of only your fingers and your mind being able to know what's going on, it's a good thing".- Stevie Wonder. It is estimated that 1 billion people live with some form of disability. Unfortunately, these individuals are less likely to access health care, education, employment and to participate in their community. Such persons are more likely to live in poverty, experience higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse, and are among the most marginalized in any society. For the visually impaired, life can be rather restricted given that there is limited access to information. This reality oftentimes leads to isolation and depression. World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. World Braille Day has been observed since 2019 on January 4. The United Nations Convention...

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”- World Health Organization. Wellness oftentimes takes a fractional approach and this is problematic. The narrative regarding wellness must be viewed in holistic terms in order to achieve wholesome wellness. It is only when a wholesome strategy is taken that we can achieve comprehensive access to well-being. On January 3rd, the global community observes International Mind-Body Wellness Day. The day is set aside to recognize the profound connection between mental and physical well-being. The celebration of this day provides an opportunity to raise awareness and promote a holistic approach to well-being, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy mind and body. Oftentimes there is a disconnect between the mind and body. However, the mind and body share a profound and reciprocal influence. Recent research highlights the essential connection, emphasizing th...

“Today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s science fact.”- Isaac Asimov. Many of us live in a world of escapism. This fictional space is necessary to counter the stress and toxicity of everyday life. When it comes to fiction writing, the stories are only limited by one’s imagination. Regardless of your taste in fiction stories chances are a few of them involve some sort of science fiction topics. The word fiction is described as literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation. Types of literature in the fiction genre include the novel, short story, and novella. The word is from the Latin fictiō, “the act of making, fashioning, or molding.” Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that explores the effects of scientific discoveries, technological innovations, natural events, and evolution on people and their relationships. It is often set in the future and typically deals with imaginative concepts such as space e...

“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.”- Jimmy Carter. We are on the cusp of a new year. For many of us 2024 was a challenging year. Our finances, health, personal, spiritual and work relationships were all impacted. For a significant number of us our 2024 resolutions remained unfulfilled yet for others we achieved all that we had set out to. In 2024, we had wars, rumours of war, earthquakes, homicides, presidential elections, local government election, the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral and numerous industrial actions especially in the hotel industry. Without a doubt the closing year has been hectic. Locally, we have had a reshuffle of some government ministers namely in the Education and Finance Ministries. In Jamaica, general elections will be held in 2025. In the region, Haiti continues to be engulfed in social and political unrest while in Trinidad and Tobago, the government of Dr. Keith Rowley had implanted a ...

“An equation means nothing to me unless it expresses a thought of God.”- Srinivasa Ramanujan. National Mathematics Day , on December 22, celebrates the birth anniversary of India’s famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan’s genius has been regarded by mathematicians to be on the same level as Euler and Jacobi from the 18th and 19th centuries. His work in the number theory is especially regarded and made advances in the partition function. Since 2012, India’s National Mathematics Day is recognized on December 22 annually with numerous educational events held at schools and universities throughout the country. In 2017, the day’s significance was enhanced by the opening of the Ramanujan Math Park in Kuppam, in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The day is set aside to honour the legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan. History of Mathematics Day . Ramanujan was born in 1887, in Erode Tamil Nadu to an Iyengar Brahmin family. At age 12, despite lacking a formal education, he excelled at trigonomet...