My GLOBE Scientist Visit Experience at Brazil Secondary school, Arima, Trinidad and Tobago - Olawale Ayodeji Oluwafemi

This time was my first visit to Trinidad and Tobago and to the LAC region. The visit was first of its kinds, knowing vividly that Africans and the People of Trinidad and Tobago have so many things in common in terms of Geography and Historical antecedent.  The motivation for my visit to Trinidad and Tobago started during the 17^th GLOBE Annual meeting at Maryland. Initially, it was just a brief discussion with Henry Saunders (Country Coordinator, GLOBE Trinidad and Tobago). However, after a year, I met Mr. Michael at GLOBE Expedition in New Delhi, India where we had in-depth discussions about GLOBE.

However, early last year the discussions of two years with GLOBE Partners Trinidad & Tobago (GPTT)  started yielding positive results  when Mr. Michael and the GPTT officially invited me to train GLOBE students, teachers and celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of GLOBE Trinidad and Tobago with GPTT.

Hence, processing the visa here at Abuja, Nigeria was easier with the help of the Trinidad and Tobago, Acting High Commission  in Nigeria Mr. Garth A. Lamsee who expedite the visa in 10 days. In his words during the visa interview “I look forward to future collaborations between Nigerian Scientists and Educators at Trinidad and Tobago”.

As part of the mandate or task expected from GISN members, Mr. Olawale Oluwafemi (Femi) conducted a 5-day (25^th July 2016 to 29^th July 2016) GLOBE Training for GLOBE Students and Teachers also to create awareness about GLOBE as the first class international program for environmental education.

The Training started with GLOBE awareness meeting with the Staff, University of Trinidad and Tobago O’meara Campus. On July 25^th 2016, Femi and the GLOBE Country Coordinator, Henry Saunders gave an enlighten discussions on a Live TV Programme at TV Me, Port of Spain, Trinidad about the relevance of GLOBE Program to Educational Systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The visit gave an ample opportunity to reach out to GLOBE Students and Teachers, Minister of Education, Trinidad and Tobago and Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly and major sponsors of GLOBE Activities in Trinidad and Tobago as well as keeping in touch with the local scientists. The visit also promoted the relevance of GISN and Science Working Group to the GLOBE Program on the ISAAC FM 98.5 in a program titled “Looking for Solution”.

The training started around 9:00am in the morning and ended around 4:00pm in the evening at the Brazil Secondary School, Trinidad, witnessed by the GLOBE Country Coordinator, Henry Saunders, Students and Teachers.

Training was done in the following NASA/GLOBE protocols:

1. GPM  Student Field Campaign  and Precipitation Measurement
2. SMAP  Student Field Campaign and Soil Moisture Measurement
3. Surface  Temperature Measurement

Femi also attended the 20^th GLOBE Trinidad and Tobago Anniversary at Plipdeco House, Port Lisa Industrial Estate. The potentials of GLOBE Program were highlighted during meetings and the impact the GLOBE Program has recorded in some GLOBE countries were also mentioned. GPTT and Femi also discussed with the government officials present at the meeting on how GLOBE Program can be properly funded and development of GLOBE Program Proposed Action Plan in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lastly speacial thanks to Mr. Micheal, Mr. Ali, Henry Saunders, students and teachers of the Brazil Secondary School, Arima, Trinidad for making my visit a memorable one and to GIO for creating a platform to soar.