Venezuela Sprouts the 200th SEED Lab

Voices
Venezuela Sprouts the 200th SEED Lab

Students catching their first glimpse of the Online Science Center.

October 2007 [Cabimas, Venezuela]

by Maria Auxiliadora Torres, Social Responsibilities Supervisor, West Venezuela

On October 18, the inauguration of a SEED Lab took place at the Hermágoras Chavez School. This is the 20^th lab in Venezuela and the 200th in the world that enjoys the support of our SEED Program. As a SEED volunteer and Social Responsibilities Supervisor for West Venezuela, I was able to share a feeling of joy with approximately 1,700 students who would tremendously benefit from this lab.

The event began with a greeting by Atilla Kaplan, Oilfield Services Manager for West Venezuela, and his team, accompanied by the local management from one of our customers, PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.), who collaborate with us on each of the lab openings. Also attending this event was Simone Amber, Founder and Director of SEED; Carlos Merino, Manager of the School Network Program (SNP); and, Roberto Alfonzo, the Social Development Manager for Venezuela Trinidad and Tobago (VTT).

The Schlumberger crew enjoying a proud moment at the 200th school inauguration. From the right: Gustavo Castro, Marisol Bellorín, Iraima Ojeda, Simone Amber, Harvey Ferrer, Lucía Sperandio, Atila Kaplan, María Auxiliadora Torres, Darwin Quintero and Roberto Alfonzo.

LIVING SYSTEMS

Following a warm welcome from the school’s principal Alicia Mora, we enjoyed a beautiful song and dance performance by the school’s students, which showcased pieces from traditional Venezuelan repertoire as part of a focus on national culture. Whether it is song and dance or manufacturing and industry, the VTT GeoMarket places a high emphasis on making the most of its own country’s resources. What was most exciting to me was that the 20 computers in the lab were also manufactured within our own country.

Iraima Ojeda, SEED’s West Venezuela Coordinator, spoke to us about the benefits of the SEED Program. Schlumberger engineers Darwin Quintero and Gustavo Castro then introduced the students and guests to SEED learning materials, such as MicroWorlds and GoGo boards.

Within the lab we displayed a student project from the First Regional SEED Workshop in Western Venezuela. I was tremendously impressed by the creative approach to the energy-savings project "Residencias Los Hidroeléctricos" (apartments on the hydroelectric energy) that incorporates the use of solar panels. I think the other attendees were equally impressed, especially the teachers!

Like all of those who attended this event, I shared a passion and a common anticipation to continue our work with SEED and social development so all young people have access to science and technology.