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by Christina Foster '07
When the biology department at Virginia Wesleyan learned that a primary school in Trinidad and Tobago did not have proper science equipment available, the biology honor society, Beta Beta Beta, responded in a big way. Members raised enough funds to donate eight light microscopes and other science equipment to the Brasso Seco RC Primary School in Brasso Village, Brasso.
"I met the teachers three years ago... and we had a really good interaction
with those folks," said Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Victor Townsend. "We have a great relationship with the people in Trinidad."
Three years ago, the Norfolk Foundation gave Virginia Wesleyan a grant to buy new science equipment, so it only made sense to donate the slightly used microscopes to a school that could use them. After visiting Brasso Seco RC in the summer of 2005, Beta Beta Beta decided that the primary school needed the equipment.
"We donated to them because the schools down there don't get funded by the government as much as we do here," said senior biology and math major Dan Proud. "They have very little."
The biology honor society raised money through a fundraiser with Coldstone Creamery ice cream shop. Eventually, the honor society raised the $500 needed to ship the microscopes to Trinidad, with the help of owner and operator of Caribbean Discovery Tours, Stephen Broadbridge.
Townsend and Batten Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Resslar took a group of students to Trinidad this past summer. The group held a workshop where they gave practical demonstrations on how to use the microscopes.
"We sat down with them and showed them how to use them," said Proud. "They were so happy."
Beta Beta Beta is looking to raise funds again this year to send more science equipment to Brasso Seco RC. The primary school started a measurement metric systems science program that requires lots of equipment their government does not provide. Virginia Wesleyan has already donated beakers, graduated cylinders and a rain gauge for use in their program, and will donate more new equipment in the coming year.
Townsend also plans to take another group of students to Trinidad in 2008.