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dateline: UVI The monthly newsletter of The University of the Virgin Islands October 30, 2003 vol ix, number 10 Farmers on St. Thomas will soon be able to dry their bush teas, seasonings and herbs in a commer- cial-size solar crop dryer. At the in- vitation of the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Clement K. Sankat, chemist and agricultural engineer, spent a few days in the territory conducting solar crop dryer workshops. Dr. Sankat also designed the commercial-size dryer located at the V.I. Institute for Ag- ricultural Development. Solar crop dryers are custom- designed dryers made from wood and glass, which use heat from the sun and air convection to dry crops. The community dryer will be available to farmers on St. Thomas by February 2004. Jacquel Malbranche, president and founder of the institute, said the community dryer will be available to certified farmers for up to 72 hours at a time. According to Dr. Sankat, solar crop dryers are becoming increasingly popular in the Caribbean, mainly due to rising energy costs. Farmers who at one time used large ovens to dry crops are now turning to a less expensive method, he said. “Drying crops must be seen as part of the entire process- ing system,” he said, noting the marketing potential of dried crops. “The potential here is really for herbs and teas.” Dried herbs and bush teas have a shelf life of up to 300 days. Dr. Sankat, chairman of the chemistry and agricultural depart- ments at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad campus, travels around the Caribbean speaking about and designing solar crop dry- ers. He has designed solar crop dryers for lumber companies in Trinidad, spice companies in Grenada and jerk meat companies in Jamaica. “This is an excellent idea to build a relatively large dryer,” Dr. Sankat said. He hopes that once farmers become familiar with the process they will be encouraged to build their own dryers. Farmers who attended the October workshop received certificates. Additional workshops to educate and certify farm- ers are scheduled for February. The workshops were sponsored by the UVI CES, the V.I. Energy Office, the V.I. Institute for Agricultural Devel- opment and V.I. Dept of Agriculture. Dr. Clement K. Sankat, chemist and agricultural engi- neer, speaks to a group about the building and design- ing of solar crop dryers, at the V.I. Institute for Agricul- tural Development, where a commercial-size solar crop dryer will be located. Solar Crop Dryer to be Available Next Year The Freshman Jeopardy Chal- lenge on the St. Croix campus was a big success. The Social Science 100 team won the challenge with a score of 590. The Science 100 class extended a good effort with 90 points. The Sep- tember 25 event drew a crowd of more than 75 students, faculty and staff. An- other Freshman Jeopardy Challenge is expected in the Spring semester. Events Calendar Oct. 30 Student Debate STT Oct. 30 Grad School Workshop STT Oct. 30 Mini Career Fair STT Oct. 31 Liberty Day STT,STX Nov. 3 Eco Tourism Presentation STT Nov. 9 Literacy Conference STT Nov. 13 English Proficency Exam STT,STX Nov. 21 MBA Comprehensive Exam STT,STX dateline:UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline:UVI is a production of the UVI Public Relations Office. Contact us by telephone at (340) 693-1056 FAX: (340) 693-1055 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu St. John resident S. Donald Sussman, the chair- man of Trust Asset Manage- ment LLP, has agreed to a $335,000 multi-year commit- ment to support a science and mathematics research and education program hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands. Mr. Sussman will do- nate $335,000 over the next three years to provide the mandatory local funds needed to secure a four-to- one matching grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Com- petitive Research (EPSCoR) program. Mr. Sussman’s donation and the NSF grant, which is subject to final approval, are ex- pected to total more than $1.3 million. The Virgin Islands EPSCoR program will im- prove science and math- ematics research and edu- cation for grades K-16 throughout the Virgin Is- lands. VI-EPSCoR is ad- ministered by the University of the Virgin Islands with the encouragement of the Vir- gin Islands government. “Improving basic sci- ence education for all stu- dents is vital to the future of the Virgin Islands,” said Mr. Sussman. “It’s wonderful that I can be the anchor to help bring federal money here. ” Trust Asset Management is a global investment manage- ment services company based in St. Thomas. Sussman to Donate $335 K for Science and Math Research Shown, from left, are Trust Asset management employees Wilbert Smith, Heidi Hansen, Bosede Bruce, Tanya Ward Benjamin, Denroy Simon, Kwesi Howard (back), Mona Charles and Freida Webster with Trust Asset Management Chairman S. Donald Sussman, UVI Provost Dr. Gwen-Marie Moolenaar and UVI Vice Provost Dr. Henry Smith. Not present for the photo were Winifred Walters and Kevin JohnLewis. Smith, Bruce, Simon, Howard, Webster and JohnLewis are UVI graduates. UVI sophomore Lorna Jno- Lewis served as a translator at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) annual conference held from October 16-18 on St. Thomas. Jno- Lewis was a French translator for student finalists of the CTO’s “My Caribbean Essay Contest.” Students from throughout the Caribbean par- ticipated in the contest, writing about why their country/island is the best. The finalists presented their essays at the Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC). Jno-Lewis’ duties included around-the-clock translation for the duration of the conference, which mandated that she stay at the hotel with the students. “It was a great experience,” said Jno-Lewis, who is major- ing in education. Jno-Lewis learned about the opportunity at her part-time job. Hundreds of people from the CTO 32 member nations, travel agents and media representatives were in the territory for the CTO conference. Lorna Jno-Lewis UVI Student, CTC Translator