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November 27, 2009 vol xv, number 11 Events Calendar Dec. 4 EPSCoR Conference STX Dec. 5 UVI Christmas Concert STT Dec. 5-6 STT-STJ Agriculture Fair STT Dec. 21-Jan. 3 University Holiday Recess STT/STX Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Crucian Christmas Festival STX ‘A Way to Think About What You’re Thinking About’ A UVI Physics professor and a visiting gradu- ate student used a scientific concept to explain the creative process. Their efforts were recently applauded by a group that’s known for asking the question: “What’s the big idea?” Prof. Don Drost and Buffalo State College student Stavros Michailidis appeared before the recent 11th Eu- ropean Conference on Creativity and Innovation. Their presentation, called, “Make it Happen with Momentum,” was so popular it became one of five sessions offered as an encore presentation. Prof. Drost said before he and Michailidis took their work to Belgium, they tested it with a group of Science 100 students on St. Thomas. First they taught the formu- la for momentum. Then they set up a demonstration with sporting equipment. The students were then told what they had learned could be applied to any idea or problem using a diagnostic tool called a momentum matrix. Pick a problem, they were told, classify it against a set of eight criteria, apply the matrix and make the needed adjustments – problem solved. “The product of the exercise is a metacognitive frame- work,” Michailidis said, “a way to think about what you’re thinking about.” After the successful presentation, Prof. Drost wrote his students. “I did send an e-mail to all of our students from Brussels and told them that Stavros and I have rep- resented UVI and the Virgin Islands well, being chosen as one of the top five workshops, and I’ve received numer- ous e-mails back from students who have thanked us for doing a good job,” the professor said. The conference, sponsored by the European Associa- tion for Creativity and Innovation, was held Oct. 28-30. The theme was “Think. Create. Innovate.” U VI President Dr. David Hall recently told a room of most- ly young male students on St. Croix to dream big, plan for college, and change the world. He made these remarks at a forum held Nov. 12 on the St. Croix Campus. Several dozen public high school seniors sat in on the presentation, featuring remarks by Dr. Hall, UVI Accounting Professor Ricardo Caldwell and elected of- ficials. Together they spoke about the challenges facing young men growing up in a society of changing values. Dr. Hall asked the group to think about what it takes to be a man. He also asked the students to consider some facts of life about young men of color, at heightened risk for their lives and their futures. He also pointed out that young black males are under- represented on many college cam- puses, including UVI. The Presi- dent urged them to think about what they could do to encourage other young men to add a college education to their dreams. UVI President Joins in Presentation to High School Boys Buffalo State College grad student Stavros Michailidis, left, and UVI Physics Professor Don Drost display the work that impressed creativity experts during a recent conference in Belgium. UVI President Dr. David Hall wants more men to attend college. He is seen here at UVI’s Fall Science Symposium. GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline: UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 dateline: UVI is a monthly publication of the UVI Public Relations Office. Contact us by telephone at (340) 693-1056 or by fax at (340) 693-1055. Stormy Day Sets Scene for Conservation Talk M onday, Nov. 16, began as a great day for ducks, um- brella sales, and people attending the Comprehen- sive Land and Sea Conference on the UVI St. Thomas campus. An inch and a half of rain had fallen on the island in less than an hour, limiting visibility, bringing flash floods and shorten- ing the work- day for many. It also pro- vided a per- fect backdrop for a talk on storm water management. “Too per- fect,” said conference leader Barry Devine, former chief scientist for UVI’s Conservation Data Center. Inclement weather kept about a third of the participants from showing up. But for those who braved the rain, he said, it was a teachable moment. UVI-based scientists, environmentalists, graduate students and engineers were among those hearing what’s been done to keep topsoil from washing off Virin Islands hillsides into the local marine environment. Participants included federal highway engineers who are currently in the territory working on road projects under the Ameri- can Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Devine said he hoped participants left the day-long seminar with a better understanding of the interactions between land and sea. “They are all one system,” he said. Included in the topics was a discussion about mitiga- tion efforts taking place on St. John under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental planning engineer Joseph Mina de- scribed some of the work he’s been doing on the EPA- CARE project over the past few weeks. Mina said he de- signed two roadside bio filtration systems that are, “just a hole in the ground that the water gathers in before it goes away,” he said. There were also recommendations made about the proper use and maintenance of silt fencing. Mina said he has also spoken with VI Public Works officials about flood control projects and local flooding problem spots. The seminar, held at UVI’s Administration and Con- ference Center, was sponsored by the Coral Bay Commu- nity Council and the Virgin Islands Experimental Pro- gram to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR). UVI Director of Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith (’98, ’03), right, interviews alumna Delaun Mercer (’97), at the annual Bucs Alum- ni Reunion held Nov. 22, at Brewers Bay Beach on the St. Thom- as campus. Mercer was visiting from Pawtucket, R.I. Her uncle, Clarence A. Nibbs (’92), with the Bucs pennant, also attended. Alumni Fun... Alumni Fun... Barry Devine and Sharon Coldren.