Mission
The mission of the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) is to assist with the diversification of the economies of the Caribbean Region by harnessing science and technology for economic development, thereby helping to raise the standard of living.
Specifically, the CSF is:
- Accelerating education reform that supports technology‐based entrepreneurship by:
- Promoting and offering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs including robotics camps and computer coding workshops for Caribbean youth
- Offering business and entrepreneurship education programs for Caribbean youth
- Carrying out STEM teacher training exercises in the Region
- Enhancing the communication skills of the youth in CSF programs
- Stimulating technology‐based entrepreneurship by identifying and funding science and technology projects in new and existing enterprises that are relevant to the economic development needs of the Region, and
- Providing scientific and engineering advisory services to Caribbean governments by working with the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation (CADSTI) to leverage the expertise that resides in the Diaspora.
Below are videos further detailing the mission, goals, culture & programs of the CSF:
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
CSF Accomplishments
- The CSF SPISE program has served 152 students since 2012 (see SPISE Description)
- SPISE students are enrolled at or have attended many prestigious universities, including those listed below and others. Most of these students have substantial financial aid packages, and some have full scholarships. This represents a tremendous early return on the investment provided by their SPISE sponsors.
University No. Attended University No. Attended MIT 10 Stanford 3 Harvard 2 Yale 1 Princeton 1 Columbia 3 Dartmouth 1 Univ. Pennsylvania 2 Georgia Tech 1 McGill 1 Univ. of Toronto 2 Trent University 2 University of Rochester 3 Rensselaer Polytech Inst 1 Florida Inst of Tech 1 NJIT 1 Univ. North Carolina 1 Univ. Connecticut 1 Lehigh university 1 NYU 1 SUNY (Buffalo) 1 Howard University 2 Temple University 1 Wesleyan University 1 University of Denver 1 University of Arkansas 1 University of Detroit Mercy 1 Macalester College 1 Grinnell College 1 Trinity College 1 Iowa State 1 Brock University 2 John Carroll University 1 Ryerson University 1 McMaster University 3 St. Mary’s University 1 Univ. College London 1 Univ. of Edinburgh 1 Univ. of Bath 1 Bristol University 1 University of St. Andrews 1 Univ. Nottingham 1 St. George’s, U. of London 1 Royal College of Surgeons 1 Bard College 1 University of Manchester 1 University of Guyana 1 University Belize 1 Univ. Virgin Islands 1 Université des Antilles et de la Guyane 1 UWI (all campuses) several St. George’s Univ. 2
- The CSF Robotics Camp has served 229 students since 2015 in 4 levels of the Camp (see Junior Robotics Camp Description)
- A pilot of the CSF Computer Coding Workshop was held in Barbados from January to March 2018 with 12 students. In January 2019 the Coding Workshop was expanded to St. Lucia. In January 2020, the workshop will be expanded further to Dominica (see Computer Coding Camp Description)
- Nine STEM Teacher Training Workshops for primary school teachers have been held since 2015 in St. Vincent, Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, Dominica, Kingston and Montego Bay (see STEM Teacher Training Workshop Description)
- CSF made its first grant, under its CaribVenture vehicle, to AES Energy systems of Barbados for US$ 20,000 in January of 2017. The grant is for the development of software to aid energy audits and manage electricity usage (see CaribVenture Description)
- The CADSTI-New England & CSF Student Internship Program has organized a total of 44 internships at 16 host organizations during the period 2014 – 2019, in the US, Canada, UK and the Caribbean, in the areas of biotechnology, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, renewable energy, software development and actuarial sciences (see Student Internship Program Description)
- CADSTI-UK has initiated a STEM Coaching Club that helps students in the London area to prepare for the GCSE in the STEM disciplines. The Club meets on Saturday mornings. More information is available at the CADSTI-UK Website
- The CSF has produced a comprehensive blueprint for the Ministry of Labour of Barbados addressing the means by which STEM can be harnessed to create more and better employment opportunities for the people of Barbados. The document is available at the link:CSF Final Report – STEM Blueprint for Barbados-5SEP2016
- The CSF has published a paper titled “Creating a STEM-based Economic Pillar for the Caribbean: A Blueprint”, in the Journal of Education and Development in the Caribbean (Vol. 18 No. 1, pp 234-270, 2019.)
Latest CSF News
A Spise For Our Times – St. Lucia Times News
This year’s SPISE scholar from St Lucia is 17 year old Hailey Boriel, sponsored by St.
Rosetta Irene Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund Launched
The Ward/Chase families have set up the Rosetta Irene Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund to help preserve
Spring 2018 Computer Coding Camp Pilot Successful
On March 31, 2018, the twelve students in the Level I pilot of the CSF Computer
2018 STEM Teaching and Coaching Opportunities at the CSF
The CSF is seeking qualified individuals for the following positions: (a) SPISE Summer 2018 Teaching Assistants,
More News
The Student Center
Perspectives on SPISE from Graduates
Loic Michel (SPISE 2016)
Home Country: Martinique
University: Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) – Class of 2020
Electrical Engineering DepartmentSPISE: how to prepare your future
Design error, miscalculation… Engineers are not afraid of all these things because they are a part of the job. In engineering as elsewhere, failure is neither inevitable nor a sign of weakness. It is simply the mark of those who have the will to take on challenging problems.
…..Read full article
Joel Beazer (SPISE 2013)
Home Country: Antigua
University: Harvard – Class of 2018
Major: Physics/ChemistryQuestion 1. How would you describe your SPISE experience?
Before going to SPISE, I was never a part of such an intense learning environment. I believe that SPISE has allowed me to learn new areas. It has also helped me to see that there are a number of brilliant Caribbean people in the world and that academics can be much higher than I had previously known it to be. SPISE was an eye opener and it challenged me more than I ever was before.
…..Read full interview
Liam Neath (SPISE 2012)
Home Country: Jamaica
University: Stanford – Class of 2018
Major: Electrical Engineering/Computer ScienceQuestion 1. How would you describe your SPISE experience?
It was great. I was exposed to lots of material in Engineering field. I had a great time with SPISE and my colleagues, and appreciated the holistic approach to Science and Engineering and also appreciated how advanced SPISE was.
…..Read full interview
Kester Wade (SPISE 2013)
Home Country: Trinidad and Tobago
University: Stanford – Class of 2018
Major: Chemical EngineeringQuestion 1. How would you describe your SPISE experience?
My SPISE experience was really insightful. I was immersed in so many new topics like Mandarin, Biochemistry and Entrepreneurship. Plus, I really learnt about approaching problems critically and through collaborative design thinking with projects like building a robot and presenting a comprehensive business proposal. The program opened my eyes to possible future endeavors regarding college and beyond.
…..Read full interview
CSF Buzz
Featured CSF Personality
Ms. Daneilia De Silva – Our Assistant Director for Program Management
Daneilia De Silva currently serves as the Assistant Director of Program Management for the CSF. Her responsibilities include program creation and management, coordination of all program activities and logistics, as well as management of program budgets. These tasks are critical for advancing our portfolio of programs which promote STEM in the Region. In addition to managing the day to day activities of the office, she is also serves as a focal point for communication between the CSF and external organizations and individuals. Daneilia De Silva, also affectionately known as “Dee Dee”, brings a wealth of knowledge from the legal industry having served for 15 years as an Executive Legal Secretary and Legal Executive.
Support the CSF
YOU can make a difference in the lives of the people of the Caribbean! Your donation of US dollars today to the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) will help support much needed education reform as well as new science and technology projects that will create more and better jobs in the Region.
CSF is a project of the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology, & Innovation (CADSTI). Donations directly support CSF. There are many options for making donations:
Science & Technology Links
