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Scientifically Swaggerific! Columbia University Professor Brings Science Genius Program to Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Associate Professor of Mathematics and Science at Columbia University, Professor Christopher Emdin, has pointed to the need for the education system in Jamaica to harness the cultural values of its people to strengthen teaching and learning.
Addressing government ministers, academics, students, corporate Jamaica and dancehall artistes, at the launch of the JN Foundation’s Science Genius Jamaica in New Kingston, recently (Feb 22), the urban education expert, noted that marginalised people of colour around the globe have come to recognise the value of their cultures in learning and development.
“In many ways we are pushing back against a schooling system and traditions that are a dying colonial imperialism,” he told a receptive audience.
“We are not doing dancehall with science because that seems cool. No. We are in a place where folks who have had their bodies, their minds, their souls incarcerated by a philosophy of age-old times, saying that we are going to reclaim our education by using a culture that is ours that you have told us has no value,” he said.

New science/ dancehall project aims to improve learning and expand music
Pointing to Science Genius Jamaica, which will involve students producing dancehall music using science and mathematical content, he emphasised that the initiative should be seen as an effort to recoup the intellect of people who have been oppressed.
“This is not a celebration of a nice, cute thing. This is a statement about reclaiming our brilliance,” argued Prof Emdin, who founded Science Genius in the United States of America (USA), noting that the project has the capacity to reach students often deemed unreachable.
“You say dancehall is only a negative culture and that they, young people, are only interested in bleaching. What happens when you attach dancehall to science is that you are engaging them, because by merging dancehall with science, you are re-training the brains of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to re-imagine themselves as scientists,” he argued, using neuro-science research to support his point.
“We are not just engaging in a cute programme, we are engaging in neuro-scientifically re-wiring our generation!”
Dr Renee Rattray, senior manager, Learning, Development, Culture at The Jamaica National Group, who is managing the implementation of Science Genius Jamaica, said the aim of the project is not simply to excite students, but to assist them with the development of their confidence and ability to articulate rigorous science and maths content, given the continued under-performance in the subject.
Citing Ministry of Education data, she explained that Jamaican students have continued to achieve low passes in subjects, such as mathematics, chemistry and physics, with a mere 48 per cent of those sitting exams passing maths; 57 per cent, chemistry and 63 per cent, physics.
“The launch of Science Genius Jamaica is not a debate about the pros and cons of dancehall music, but rather an acceptance of its cultural power,” she underscored. “It is a power which we can harness, as Jamaicans, not merely for packaging it, as a product; but something, which we are demonstrating today, that can be used as a tool to speak to our children; and diversify how we teach and assist them to learn.”
Endorsing the project, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Floyd Green called the use of culture to reach students “genius.”
“What is undeniable is that dancehall touches us to our core, not only us here in Jamaica, but around the world…,” he said.  “If it is so powerful. If it is so impactful, shouldn’t we be using it?” he argued.

Emphasising the need for the country’s deeper involvement in scientific research and innovation to support development, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, the Hon. Dr Andrew Wheatley, was confident that more students would be drawn to science and mathematics as a result of the project.
“Stopping the downward trend of performance in national CSEC science is something we are concerned about,” he said.  “And as we seek prosperity, in whatever way we define prosperity, it is critical that the sciences are not neglected,” he continued, and congratulated Dr Emdin and the JN Foundation for the initiative to improve the science performance of students.
Saffrey Brown, general manager, JN Foundation, indicated that Science Genius Jamaica was a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to support the revolution of education in Jamaica.
“We are living in a Jamaica, and indeed a world, that begs for ‘difference.’  We are using a method of teaching that begs for ‘difference’ and our teachers are charged with molding minds that are ‘different’,” she said, pointing to the need for change to achieve better results.
“We know that the decline of interest in science among students is a worrying trend, therefore, we are doing something about it,” Miss Brown said.
Beyond enriching education, Professor Emdin, who is also aptly referred to in the US as the Hip-Hop Professor, said the project also has the potential to expand the source of content for dancehall music.
“We are going to change dancehall, not to change the core of it and the beauty of it; but, we want to expand dancehall to make intelligence cool again,” he commented, emphasising that one can achieve a balance between dancehall culture and academia.
“You can be scientifically swaggerific!” he quipped.
“You can imagine a whole new world for yourself that’s beyond the possibilities that anyone else created before you,” he implored students.

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Jamaica National (JN) Foundation has collaborated with Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin, to launch its ‘Science Genius Jamaica’ education project, which fuses dancehall music with science.
The project was officially launched during a function held at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (February 22).
Whereas Science Genius uses hip-hop music in the United States to reach students, Science Genius Jamaica will use dancehall music to bring the subject to life for students and teachers in an exciting ‘dancehall clash’ competition that is geared at helping them to explore and discover the wonders of science.
Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at JN Group, Dr. Renée Rattray, said the initiative aims to inspire the confidence of students by using music and culture to get them more enthused about learning.
“As part of the broader science movement initiated by Chris (Prof. Emdin) in New York schools a few years ago, our project aims to connect youth culture with education, so that learning the rigourous content of mathematics and science becomes more effortless for young people,” Dr. Rattray said.
She noted that data show that students are not performing as well as they should in mathematics and the core science subjects. She said the pass rate for Mathematics is 48 per cent; Chemistry, 57 per cent; and Physics, 63 per cent.
“The influence of dancehall on our young people is a no-brainer. It is our popular culture and its influences, today, extend beyond class boundaries and country borders. It is like the air our children breathe,” she said.
Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, welcomed the project, noting that it is intended to convert students into science lovers through the use of popular culture.
“I thank the JN Group and its Foundation for setting an excellent precedence in public-private sector partnership in assisting in the rescue mission of science and mathematics in Jamaica. So let me say thank you for your efforts in birthing the new generation of scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, botanists – both girls and boys,” Dr. Wheatley said.
He also thanked Professor Emdin for taking the time to come to Jamaica to introduce his model of fusing popular music with science and mathematics education.
“Importantly, and as the educators have stated, this new fusion approach brings the sciences and the arts together and, in the land of reggae and dancehall I believe it will reap positive results in the near future and improve the national Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Science performance,” he noted.
State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green also commended the JN Group for its inititiave.
“We all recongnise now that no one cap fits all and no one size fits all and you have to take different approaches if you are going to truly connect with your students,” Mr. Green said.
Meanwhile, Professor Emdin noted that by merging dancehall to science “you are retraining the brain of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to reimagine themselves as scientists”.
“We are engaging in not just a cute programme; we are engaging in rewiring our generation,” Professor Emdin said.
Under the project, grade-nine students and teachers will be invited to submit videos to the JN Foundation Team by Tuesday, February 28.
Teachers and students will be coached over a five-week period to create and deliver dancehall and reggae songs with purely scientific content.
Project Ambassadors Tifa and Wayne Marshall will visit the schools and mentor students and teachers as well as assist them with the development of their songs.
In the final phase, teams will engage in classical dancehall clashes called BATTLES, an acronym for Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science.
The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of BATTLES, where they will be judged by a team comprised of the project mentors, other professionals from the music industry, scientists and educators.
Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, among other prizes. The winning school will also receive funds for its science labs.

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Founded in 1874 on the concept of a social enterprise, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), through its philanthropic arm, the JN Foundation, has channeled its vision to propel the social enterprise sector in Jamaica as a significant contributor to socio-economic development.
The financial institution, which converted to JN Bank on February 1, continues to place emphasis on maintaining and growing its member base, who share in the ownership of the institution, benefit from competitive products and service offerings, as well as philanthropic efforts aimed at building communities and empowering Jamaicans.
Demonstrating its vision and belief in the impact of social enterprises on a country’s economic outcome, after launching the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) in 2013, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the JN Foundation has solidified and created opportunities for social business ventures to become sustainable enterprises, while serving their social missions.
Eight social enterprises generated more than $37 million in revenue during the first phase of a three-year pilot. And with a current incubator comprising 21 social pioneers, Opal Whyte, project manager, of SEBI, said the programme has yielded positive results, which have significantly increased the visibility and growth of the sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the SEBI Summit at Jamaica Pegasus on Monday, January 30, Whyte emphasised the role of social enterprises in creating avenues for many groups including those living with a disability, those marginalised in underserved communities and others.

SOCIAL CHANGE
“Through SEBI, we are investing in social missions and long-term change. We are working to create an enabling environment for social enterprises to finance and grow their business, as well as increase the number of people they serve in their respective communities.”
Referring to the current batch of SEBI participants as “innovators”, Whyte revealed that 30 per cent of the enterprises in the incubator are “owned and operated by persons living with a disability”.
“Young deaf men are gainfully employed and affirming their identities and role in society. We also have change-makers who are transforming their mobility challenges into a business, which provides mobility impaired services and consultation to access buildings.”
Encouraging support for the social sector, the SEBI advocate emphasised the need for buy-in from the wider society to further boost the sector.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica National (JN) Foundation has collaborated with Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin, to launch its Science Genius Jamaica education project, which fuses dancehall music with science.
The project was officially launched during a function held at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday.
Whereas Science Genius uses hip-hop music in the United States to reach students, Science Genius Jamaica will use dancehall music to bring the subject to life for students and teachers in an exciting dancehall clash competition that is geared at helping them to explore and discover the wonders of science.
Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at JN Group, Dr Renée Rattray, said the initiative aims to inspire the confidence of students by using music and culture to get them more enthused about learning.

“As part of the broader science movement initiated by Chris (Prof Emdin) in New York schools a few years ago, our project aims to connect youth culture with education, so that learning the rigourous content of mathematics and science becomes more effortless for young people, Dr Rattray said.

She noted that data show that students are not performing as well as they should in mathematics and the core science subjects. She said the pass rate for Mathematics is 48 per cent; Chemistry, 57 per cent; and Physics, 63 per cent.
The influence of dancehall on our young people is a no-brainer. It is our popular culture and its influences, today, extend beyond class boundaries and country borders. It is like the air our children breathe, she said.
Under the project, grade-nine students and teachers will be invited to submit videos to the JN Foundation Team by next Tuesday.
Teachers and students will be coached over a five-week period to create and deliver dancehall and reggae songs with purely scientific content.
Project Ambassadors Tifa and Wayne Marshall will visit the schools and mentor students and teachers as well as assist them with the development of their songs.
In the final phase, teams will engage in classical dancehall clashes called BATTLES, an acronym for Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science.
The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of BATTLES, where they will be judged by a team comprised of the project mentors, other professionals from the music industry, scientists and educators.
Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, among other prizes. The winning school will also receive funds for its science labs.

See the original article here!

The use of dancehall and reggae music in teaching mathematics and the sciences has been credited by Floyd Green, minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, as a suitable means to deliver the detailed concepts of two of the most difficult subject areas at the secondary level.
Green made the disclosure while speaking with The Gleaner at the launch of the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation Science Genius Jamaica (SGJ) project at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew yesterday.
The brainchild of Dr Chris Emdin, professor at Columbia University in New York, United States, SGJ is geared towards increasing student interest in the sciences, ease engagement by teachers, and create a space where pop culture is synonymous with learning.
“This will enhance and complement the National Standards Curriculum. The curriculum focuses on different forms of delivery as you have to find different ways to engage different students. Debate of negativity or positivity aside, what is important is the undoubted power dancehall has to connect and impact our young people. So the question is, how do we use it for good?” said Green.
 
FIND NEW WAYS
 
“We’ve had difficulty getting students to the level that we want with maths and science over the years, and those subjects are critical components to the now economy and technology, so we have to find new ways. We’re happy that JN, as a private partner, has decided to try this new delivery, and the ministry endorses it,” the state minister continued.
“Almost as soon as you put out a dancehall song and it’s catchy and creative, the young people grasp it. Imagine if they can do that with scientific theory? That would help them greatly with retention, which would translate to application.”
Grade nine students were identified as the focal point of the SGJ, as crucial subject selections are usually made at that stage, according to RenÈe Rattray, senior manager of learning, development, and culture at JN, who spearheads the project.
 
PROJECT OUTLINE
 
– Project is titled #DancehallEd.
– Grade nine students and teachers from all schools across Jamaica can participate in the project.
– Students and teachers are to submit videos creatively conveying aspects of mathematics and science through songs.
– They will compete in clashes.
– The best 20 will get a spot in the project.
– Submissions are to be made by February 28.
– Individual and collective school prizes will be awarded, including upgrade of science labs.
– Students will receive mentorship from entertainers to reaffirm the notion that they can combine knowledge with contemporary style.

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Dancehall meets sciences will be a thing in Jamaica very soon.
Dancehall is perhaps the most dominant part of Jamaican culture particularly among the young generation and what better way to connect with youths than through music. Professor Christopher Emdin and JN Foundation are teaming up to launch a new academic project which will utilizes dancehall music to help push science among youngsters.
Professor Emdin is the mastermind of the popular Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S in the Unites States where he teamed up with Rap Genius and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan to help push science through hip hop music. Kendrick Lamar is also a part of the initiative known as #HipHopEd and the movement is having a lot of success in the United States. The of this as the dancehall version in Jamaica called #DancehallEd.
The Science Genius Jamaica programme will launch a series of dancehall clashes in Jamaica with the aim to energize students interested in science programs cross the island. “There is declining academic interest and performance in science and maths, and this is something that we need to address as a matter of urgency, even as we speak about improving our economic outcomes,” JN Foundation said in a statement.
Jamaica National Group senior manager, learning, development and culture, Dr Renee Rattray, will be leading the Science Genius Jamaica project. “Our Science Genius Jamaica competitions will mirror the clashes we are already familiar with in the Jamaican dancehall, as individual students and teams participate in an opening round. The top five students and teams from that round will move to the final round,” Dr Rattray said.

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Deputy General Manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Robin Levy has revealed plans to assist investors in identifying impact enterprises through the launch of a Social Exchange by June 2018.

Levy, who was speaking at the closing of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) 2nd National Summit held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last week, reasoned that if Jamaica is to realise the objectives of Vision 2030, investors need to support the social enterprise sector.

The platform is expected to allow social enterprises to list on the JSE, thus enabling them to expand the line of business through greater visibility, profile and access to capital for high-impact debt and equity issues.

“Lighter regulations would be expected for this group and investors will be made to understand that the enterprises will be operated for people, planet and profit, rather than just for profit,” Levy stated in a release.

According to Levy, the JSE has been laying the groundwork for a Social Exchange since 2009. He noted that as a member of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the JSE is committed to the goals of long-term sustainability.

In response to the announcement, General Manager of Jamaica National Foundation, conceptualisers of the SEBI, Saffrey Brown, reasoned that the Jamaica Social Exchange will create a space where enterprises within the social economy are able to access real capital so the great work that these organisations do can be scaled.

Over the years, there has been a thrust to develop the social enterprise sector in Jamaica. The USAID in partnership with the Jamaica National Foundation began the SEBI roughly four years ago with hopes of boosting the sustainability of the sector.

Plans are also underway for the Planning Institute of Jamaica to include social enterprises in its surveys to determine the sector’s contribution to Jamaica’s GDP.

The USAID and JN are also working to have social enterprises not be viewed as “charities” or even cottage enterprises, but rather as viable businesses that emphasise the needs of people over the demand for profit at any cost, and businesses which also operate with respect for the physical and social environments as a whole.

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Let’s grow the social economy. This was the message of a large and very successful meeting last week in Kingston.
At the meeting I spoke on the topic of social media marketing for social enterprises at the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) Summit in Kingston. SEBI is JN Foundation’s empowering program that supports the growth of social enterprise in Jamaica, with funding from USAID. JN Foundation defines social enterprises as “those organizations that are committed to the development and sustainability of the social and economic well-being of communities, groups and individuals.” Some of those social enterprises that come under the SEBI umbrella are the increasingly popular (and delicious) Deaf Can! Coffee; the Montego Bay Marine Park, working hard on the environmental front; Petals ‘n’ Roots, which offers a range of floral services in support of people with mental health challenges; and the Alpha Boys School, which taps into Jamaica’s rich musical heritage through its Alpha Wear clothing. These are just a few of the range of social enterprises across the island that SEBI supports.But of course, you’ve got to have a great product to sell – and you want to be an efficient business with a strong growth plan. You are not there just to be a “Mr. Nice Guy.” You must be hard-headed. How do you balance your “social” with your “enterprise”?

My presentation followed that of Mr. Jason Mendes, who had a PowerPoint that was actually very powerful. Mine looked painfully dull beside it! Jason  showed how big companies like Buick and Toyota pulled at the heartstrings with provocative, even quirky ads that had a social message. Much of what he said resonated with me, although he was at a different level altogether – that of international marketing for big brand names. Jason talked about making your audience “feel” something. I’m sure there is plenty of marketing jargon and clever stuff in books to describe this. But simply put, you know when you are feeling an emotion (or perhaps when you are not). And you know when you are making a person feel something. It’s just the way humans are. Anyway, Mr. Mendes summed all of this up in a Maya Angelou quote that flitted through my mind as soon as he touched on the subject:
Ive-learned-that-people
So, how is social media any different? People may often turn to it for information (as I often do) – but also, for inspiration. In general, the Jamaican public does not turn to social media to look for product ads. Jamaican men and women want to connect, chat, argue…feel. So, as a social enterprise in particular, you want to tap into that feeling. How about a three-minute video that can make you laugh (or cry); a good quality photo that is really striking and that sends a message about your enterprise. Remember, social media is never about blasting out a message to all and sundry via a TV commercial or a newspaper ad. It is truly social. It is about people.
Now, by this I don’t mean that one should become personality-driven; in fact, any kind of enterprise that depends on and revolves around one personality is not really desirable at all. What you should get across, though, is that you are a team (introduce your team members individually on social media). You should explain that you care about the development of Jamaican society, whether it is through supporting vulnerable populations, improving education or promoting social justice. You should demonstrate that you espouse certain values, and make these crystal clear: respect, commitment, hard work, community spirit, and so on.It’s very important, dear social entrepreneurs, to post your Mission Statement and your Vision Statement on your Facebook page in the section that tells your potential customers what you are about. Moreover, you can pick out small elements of those statements and connect them to an activity and/or product that you are selling. Why is this T shirt important? Because it shares the message that we are committed to children’s welfare, for example. Or, in the case of the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD), one is providing employment to a vulnerable group that often finds it hard to get work, to produce a real quality product (JAD makes beautiful binders and other stationery products and does book restoration). So… buy us!

And so, to sum it up – in the words of Dr. Angelou: Make your audience feel something. Make that all-important connection. You can tell people you have a terrific product until you are blue in the face. What you need to do above all, though, is to show that, if they buy into the values you embrace in your work, you can support them by buying one of your products.
I think this is common sense. And marketing through social media is just that. Go with your gut feeling, and gently, sweetly draw the customer towards buying something.
Go, social entrepreneurs! You are the future.

The Government is exploring the role of social enterprises in the development of vulnerable and crime-prone communities, according to Fayval Williams, state minister in the finance and public service ministry.
Social enterprises refer to those businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market and then reinvest their profits into the business or the local community.
Addressing the opening of the second staging of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) Summit at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Monday, Williams noted that critical to the development process in those communities is the partnership to be formed among stakeholders, such as the private sector and non-governmental organisations on one hand and the Government on the other.
SEBI aims to create an enabling business environment for social enterprises in Jamaica and to assist them in transitioning their grant-funded operations into a viable profit-making business.
The state minister acknowledged that there would be “no easy solutions” in the discussions with the partners due to the delicate balance between social enterprises and commercial businesses that needs to be navigated, as well as the fragility that exists with residents in vulnerable communities.
However, Williams noted that the Government must take reasonable steps to facilitate the stability of social enterprises.
Industry, Commerce, Agricul-ture and Fisheries Minister Karl Samuda commended the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation for its work through SEBI.
He emphasised that the country needs to be more engaged in the concept of the SEBI, “which is extremely noble, but requires exposure”.
General Manager of JNBS Earl Jarrett said SEBI seeks to improve and increase the number of social enterprises by providing sound leadership in the development of the Jamaica social enterprise sector.

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The Jamaica Stock Exchange is seeking to launch the JSE Social Exchange by June 2018.This will allow social enterprises to list on its own market on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
So said Robin Levy, Deputy General Manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in an interview following his participation in a panel discussion on ‘Financing Social Enterprises’ at the closing day of the SEBI 2nd National Summit held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
“Lighter regulations would be expected for this group and investors will be made to understand that the enterprises will be operated for people, planet and profit, rather than just for profit,” Levy said.
He said that, as a member of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the JSE is committed to the goals of long-term sustainability.  “And if Jamaica is to realise the objectives of Vision 2030, we all need to support the social enterprise sector,” he noted.
He said the Jamaica Stock Exchange has been laying the groundwork for a Social Exchange since 2009.
In response to the announcement Saffrey Brown, General Manager of Jamaica National Foundation, conceptualisers of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), said: “The Jamaica Social exchange will create a space where for benefit enterprises within the social economy are able to access real capital so the great work that these organisations do can be scaled.”