Dean of Faculty of Science Technology & Environment;

Head of School;

Members of the Chemical Society of the South Pacific;

Sponsors;

Teachers;

Parents and Students.

Bula vinaka and a very good afternoon to all of you.

It is a pleasure to be here this afternoon and be part of the Chemical Society of the South Pacific (CSSP) Annual Awards Ceremony – an occasion that marks a milestone in science education in Fiji.

I see among us are promising young people, who would one day join the rank of distinguished scientists and academics. You are the future of Fiji and the Region – you will lead the nation into the new era.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate the winners on their achievements in the diverse areas of sciences. Prizes serve a useful purpose, which is to give science publicity and to produce good role models for young people, such as yourselves. 

Why is science important and why should we pay attention to it? In the broadest sense, science is really a term for knowledge. Paul Nurse has pointed out that it comes from the Latin word ‘scientia’. He added that it is broadly divided into three kinds of sciences – the basic research, the applied research and the transitional research. 

For me personally, basic science can lead to entirely new technologies that you could not even have imagined. 

In science, evidence matters. That is both its beauty and its strength, not caring what is someone saying, but rather, just looking at the evidence. You should look at the evidence behind what the person is saying. The reason that it is important, is because we live in a world where all sorts of claims are propagated often with no basis in fact. Misinformation spreads through social media and sadly, often people take these to be indisputable facts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To bring home the topic on science, we do have a shortage of experts in the science field. It is a field that the Fijian Government is strongly focusing on and dedicating resources. 

We need to expand the number of experts in the field of science to assist our country grow. Whilst the Fijian Government has measures in place to address this issue, parents, teachers and guardians are once again reminded to encourage their children to take up science subjects in school.

Some of you may already know, there is more emphasis on science scholarships. In the recent 2018/2019 National Budget, the Government had expanded the National Toppers Scheme for students with another 340 full time scholarships, bringing the number to 970.

Of these new scholarships, 20 will be awarded for overseas study and specialised courses that are not offered in Fiji and this includes forensic and genetic science. 

The Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board (TSLB) Award is another avenue where our students are encouraged to apply for programmes, which are Priority Areas for the Fijian Government for 2019 and science is one priority area.

The TSLB Awards are for Years 12 and 13 students who wish to pursue approved Engineering programmes at the Fiji National University next year. I have been informed that the deadline for submission of application forms is 14 December 2018. So, you still have time to lodge your application.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I for one, would not want to see our young people sit behind the same desk in the same office year-in and year-out and not fully utilizing their potential. We want our young people to do more, than what we are able to do today. Our youth should not only be job seekers, but they also need to be job creators. 

We want our young people to think outside the box, and make Fiji a hub of innovation for the Pacific, and the world. This is the time, that young people should realise that the world is full of opportunities and risks.

That is what the Young Entrepreneurship Scheme or YES, which was launched early this year by the Hon. Prime Minister, is all about. YES is about giving life to the innovative and unique ideas of smart and ambitious young people.

Through YES we intend to promote and harness the talents of young Fijians. It is Government support to young Fijians, between the ages of 18 and 30 years of up to $20,000 to develop or expand their innovative and unique business ideas. 

The initiative is continuing the Government’s efforts to securing a better future for all. Technology and innovation will drive economic growth in the future. Hence, the YES initiative setting the foundation for the sustainable growth and modernization of the Fijian economy. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At this juncture, I commend the great work done by the CSSP thus far. Dating back its humble beginning as a small non profitable orgnisation in 1985, with the primary goal to promote science in the region, I am happy to mention that CSSP has developed over the years.

With the society managed by a few academics from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and post-graduate students, membership has extended to undergraduate students, science teachers and individuals who are working in the chemistry/biology related field.

To our winners, I once again congratulate you all on your outstanding achievements and personal growth. I have no doubt that every one of you will excel in your future roles and contribute to the future well-being of society and our nation. But do always bear in mind that the key to success in life is not to get ahead of other people, but to get ahead of ourselves. 

In the complex world we live in, science is more important than ever. So I want to conclude by thanking CSSP. I urge you to continue the good work, encourage more members to join and without a doubt, CSSP would become another great avenue for students to pursue their studies in the field of science. You never know, you could be producing Fiji’s very own Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton or Marie Curie.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With those words, my sincere gratitude to CSSP, congratulation to our winners and an enjoyable afternoon to you all.

Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.