Exhibits on display
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) launched its ‘Earth Science Week 2010’ with an official launch at the Montserrat Public Library on Monday.
MVO Director Dr. Paul Cole and Head Librarian Sonja Smith both spoke of their pleasure at having the exhibition mounted at the library and the hope that further partnerships benefitting the people of Montserrat could occur in the future.
Miss Smith said: “It’s really a pleasure to be working with the MVO this week celebrating Earth Science Week and it’s just a pleasure to be a part of educating the public, educating the youth of the nation and along with our exhibition…
Minister of Education Colin Riley, a former geography teacher, spoke about the progress being made to expose the youth to such knowledge, saying he never experienced such exhibits as a child. The minister added that so much more is known about volcanoes in Montserrat, with the everyday lexicon of locals, “it’s like common to say things like pyroclastic flow, mud flow and lahar and these words that the volcanologist use in their reports…” Words, which were unknown before the eruption.
“This is a far cry from the first time in recorded history when Montserratians experienced ash; although this came from Mt Pelee, Martinique in 1902,” Minister Riley told the small gathering.
The exhibit, was viewed at the public library in Brades. It contained numerous books on Earth Science from both a scientific and technical aspect, to publications of a more social nature. The exhibit will run through the week until December 6, 2010.
Librarian Sonia Smith also used the opportunity to invite the wider public; “there is a lot of information here that people can learn about allot more information on the shelves so we welcome one and all to come and see… have some of the works by the students of the various schools did their poems of, ‘the volcano and me’.
Other Earth Science Week activities included a public lecture on Tuesday evening at the old Salem Primary. The activities continue today at the MVO with an Open Day for school children from 9.00 a.m. and later for adults from 3.00 until 5.00 p.m.
