Solving a Crossword Puzzle that aptly ‘Awakened New Depths’ of Ocean Knowledge for Staff in Observing World Oceans Day 2024
Can solving crossword puzzles help increase awareness of marine environmental issues? That is the challenge the Information Centre (IC)-Library Unit posed to staff and the Institute’s social media followers on Monday 10th June 2024 in observance of World Oceans Day 2024.
Under this year’s theme for World Oceans Day, ‘Awaken New Depths’, staff were invited to solve a crossword puzzle to mark the globally observed environmental day, challenging and inspiring them to ‘awaken’ new personal depths of their knowledge of oceans, deep-sea life and ecosystems.
The response/reaction/feedback, it was discovered, was a resonating yes. A total of fifteen (15) persons with eleven staff members across the support departments and research programmes and four social media followers, participated in the crossword puzzle. All participants found the puzzle to be educational as they were sensitised to not only new concepts but also characteristics of deep-sea ecosystems.
After one hour and twelve minutes, the Institute’s Accounts and Information Technology Secretary, Ms. Andrea Peters, emerged victorious, having submitted all the correct answers. Ms. Peters was closely followed by the Institute’s Internal Audit Assistant, Ms. Trisha Constantine, who also submitted all the correct responses in one hour and fifteen minutes, copping the runner-up title, while the Institute’s Marine Technician from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Programme, Mr. Israel Eugene, who submitted his completed puzzle responses in an astounding forty-three (43) minutes, came in third position. All other staff participants were outstanding as they submitted their completed answers in under one hour and twenty (20) minutes.
The crossword puzzle was posted on the Institute’s Instagram account attracting the attention and participation of eight followers. Two winners emerged. Ms. Maya Ribeiro, a former recipient of the 2020 Institute of Marine Affairs Marine Biology Award at The University of the West Indies, emerged as the winner while Ms. Jemyah Libert took the runner-up spot.
Designed to be moderately difficult, the questions in the puzzle forced participants to conduct thorough online searching to find the relevant answers, which, they surmised, helped them to hone their online searching skills. Being made aware and conscious to habitats and ecosystems found in the deep, participants not only learned new words such as ‘zooxanthellae’ but discovered that these tiny cells help corals survive by providing it with food through a process called photosynthesis. They also learned that a new species of deep-sea tubeworm found off the coasts of Trinidad and Tobago, was discovered and named Lamellibrachia judigobini, in honour of former IMA researcher and current Professor of Marine Biology at the St Augustine Campus of The University of West Indies, Professor Judith Gobin. Numerous studies have shown that solving well-designed crossword puzzles not only expand knowledge but improve mental function and analytical skills. Crossword clues often drive participants to think, by linking concepts or using clues from surrounding solutions to solve one question. Other studies have shown that these word games help foster connections in the workplace, promote creativity and inspire productivity.
A brief prize-giving ceremony was held on July 13, 2024, in the Conference Room of the B7 Building where the IMA Director, Dr. Ava Maxam, presented prizes to the winners – staff and social media – and participants and extended hearty congratulations to all.
The staff winner, Ms. Andrea Peters, received a Massy Gift Card and an IMA branded car sun visor while the social media winner, Ms. Maya Ribeiro also received a Massy Gift Card and IMA publications: (Life along the Seashore of Trinidad and Tobago; A Guide to the Beaches and Bays of Trinidad and Tobago; and Turning the Tide Fostering Conservation and Sustainable Development: A 45th Anniversary Commemorative Anthology 1978-2023). Participants also received several branded tokens and publications.
The following winners and selected participants include:
- WINNER – Ms. Andrea Peters
- WINNER – Ms. Maya Ribeiro (Social Media)
- RUNNER-UP – Ms. Trisha Constantine
- RUNNER-UP – Ms. Jemyah Libert (Social Media)
- Mr. Israel Eugene
- Ms. Nialah Johnetty
- Ms. Anastascia Auguste
- Ms. Malissa Moses
