ICTP 018: Community Chat on gender equity in STEM and ICT, community networks, and the Caribbean’s readiness for innovation

In this our latest Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Ayanna Samuels, and Gerard Best, the panel discusses: gender equity in STEM and in the ICT sector in the Caribbean; community networks, and whether they can benefit the region; and whether the Caribbean is as ready as it says it is for innovation.

This episode is also available in Apple iTunes and on Stitcher!

We have been overdue for a Community Chat! the Community Chat, we have a three-person panel, and three topics to discuss.

First, let’s introduce our guests:

Ayanna Samuels

Ayanna Samuels, an MIT aeronautical engineer, who is also an ICT and Gender Consultant, mentor and motivational speaker.
Gerard Best, a Communication Specialist and Multimedia Journalist. Gerard writes extensively on Caribbean telecoms and ICT issues, and is based in Trinidad and Tobago.

In this Community Chat, the following three topics are discussed:

Gender equity in STEM and in the ICT sector in the Caribbean – The limited number of girls that are enrolling in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and making careers in ICT has been a particular concern in the Americas. Even in the Caribbean, similar observations have been made, and a variety of efforts have been implemented over the past few years to begin to address that issue. In being an engineer herself, plus Gender Consultant, Ayanna is concerned that more needs to be done, but perhaps more importantly, we may not be tackling the problem from the source.
Gerard Best

Although not a new concept, community networks seem to be new buzzwords for 2018. At the Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, organized by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations CANTO), which Gerard attended, there seemed to have been a robust discussion community networks, which left Gerard excited about its potential and the opportunities, which we now discuss.
Finally, for the last few years, we have been hearing Caribbean policymakers encourage innovation and citizens to be innovative, but the question that me asked is whether the requisite enabling environment also actively being fostered. This scenario was brought home a few months ago with the seemingly sudden exit of Uber from Trinidad and Tobago, and hence was the impetus for the topic, “Is the Caribbean truly ready for innovation?”, which I, Michele, submitted for discussion.