The UWI Geology Museum - One of a kind
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There is nothing in the English-speaking
Caribbean quite like The UWI, Mona’s Geology
Museum. Established in 1961, the museum
started as a special collection for teaching
geology when the then Department of Geology
was established at the Mona Campus.
The UWIGM as a repository for research
collections, and as a public museum began
in 1967 and 1970, respectively. Since then
the museum has excelled both in terms of
the collections it holds as well as the services it offers. The significant
collections represent the rich scientific heritage of Jamaica
and the Caribbean, in the areas of geology and palaeontology,
and are significant teaching tools for certain fields such as
environmental science and biodiversity.
The mission of the UWIGM is “To procure, display and curate
geological, mineralogical and palaeontological materials from
Jamaica and the Caribbean for the purposes of research,
education, posterity and the enjoyment of the public.”
The UWIGM’s role has changed over the years, largely due to the
promotion of the earth sciences, curriculum changes within the
Jamaican school system and the need for teaching and learning
resources. Now, through its collections and museum education
programmes, it has been able to provide a learning environment
not only for students of geology, but of other disciplines as well.
The museum promotes science and geoscience
education by providing opportunities
for students to be active participants
in their learning through the manipulation
of real objects in an enabling environment
with a multimedia technology-based interface.
It provides curriculum support
by hosting organized visits and tours for
primary, secondary and tertiary level
students and teachers from schools and
colleges in Jamaica; seminars and workshops
for teachers and children as well
as summer science camp activities.
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Since April 2009, the UWIGM has been
undergoing a modernization and rejuvenation
programme. It has introduced an
interactive learning environment with
funding from the Canada Fund for Local
Initiatives (CFLI) under the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) programme.
The learning centre was opened
by the then Canadian High Commissioner
to Jamaica, Mr. Stephen Hallihan in March
2010. The learning centre boasts a tutorial
room environment with a height-adjustable
SMART board. Six computers
from the Department of Geography and
Geology computer lab have been fitted
with interactive geoscientific software for
discovery learning for all age groups.
The discovery zone facilitates discovery
learning through engaging activities and
experiments – activities involve rocks,
minerals and fossils but are based on the
early childhood education curriculum. The
discovery zone was funded by two discretionary
grants from the Insurance Company
of the West Indies Foundation (ICWI)
and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica
(EFJ).
Research
The need for collections-based research
and programme development has sparked
the introduction of a research programme
through the acceptance of research associates
and/or fellows. Since 2011, the
UWIGM has hosted a research fellow in
cultural resource conservation and management
of the architectonic heritage,
Dr. Patricia Green (of Patricia E. Green
Architects). This collaboration has generated
research proposals and research is currently
being conducted in geoconservation
and geoarchitecture®. The intention
is to apply UWIGM’s skill set and its public
awareness capabilities to be able to
conduct Heritage Impact Assessments for
sites, monuments and areas of historical
significance in a bid to engage persons on
a community level in the preservation of
our heritage and physical, geophysical
and social history. The UWIGM previously
hosted a research fellow, Miss Pietra
Brown in the area of climate change and
environmental security.
Collections
The UWIGM houses approximately 20,000
items (rocks, minerals and fossils). A major
collection comprises rudists, a fossil
species that lived around the time of
the dinosaurs. Many are type species and
some are only found in Jamaican rocks.
The collection shows the abundance and
diversity of rudist taxa in Jamaica as well
as other parts of the Caribbean and Central
American region. There are approximately
5000 rudists in the UWIGM
collection.
The UWIGM also houses the Caribbean
Journal of Earth Science (formerly,
Geonotes and Journal of the Geological
Society of Jamaica). There are rare publications,
field reports and articles along
with a catalogue of articles from lecturers
and where possible graduate students of
the department of Geography and Geology
(past and present). These resources
are available through a digital archive,
soon to be accessible online.
Programmes
The UWIGM has a vibrant volunteer programme.
It has been served by 23 volunteers
and 10 temporary (student) workers
who help the museum in areas such as IT,
administrative, curatorial, visitor experience
and tour guide support since 2009.
There is an active summer programme -
the “Rock Star” Camp - which houses
students from 4 to 16 years of age (preschool
to the 11th grade). The sessions
run for 2 weeks in July for high school
students and 2 weeks in August for
pre-school to primary school children).
The UWIGM also conducts seminars and
workshops for local and regional groups
of teachers and students.
Exhibits
The UWIGM has on display rocks, minerals
and fossils. The exhibition space at the
UWIGM has been improved through a donation
of display cases made to the UWI
Museum by Digicel. The new cases allow
for a more modern feel and look to the
UWIGM exhibits.
The UWIGM will collaborate with the UWI
Museum to host the Museums Association
of the Caribbean conference and
AGM in October 2014. This will bring
museum professionals from across the
Caribbean into UWI and by extension Jamaica
to showcase our geological, cultural
and social heritage space. The UWIGM is
a member of the International Community
of Museums (ICOM) and is a board
member of the Museums Association of
the Caribbean (MAC).
The UWIGM is open from 10 am to 3 pm
daily. Tours are available through bookings
and spontaneous visits. Since April 2009,
the museum has seen over 3000 local and
overseas visitors from the pre-school to
tertiary level. |
