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'Celebrity Scientist' Dr. Jennings to Give Public Lecture on Monday

Brothers With a Cause, a student component of the Male Initiative of the University of the Virgin Islands, will host a public conversation for young men with visiting scientist Dr. Cecil Jennings. Dr. Jennings is a graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School and a research fishery biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

All interested young men are invited to attend the roundtable conversation which will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 4, in the Emancipation Garden in downtown Charlotte Amalie.

Dr. Jennings will visit the Territory, conducting sessions with students in both the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts, as a part of the VI-EPSCoR Celebrity Scientist Program, which aims to expand the number of Virgin Islands students entering into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Brothers With a Cause is taking advantage of Dr. Jennings's visit and expertise to motivate members of the organization and others in the community towards ideas and activities that can affect their futures in a positive way.

Darryl Williams, a senior at the University who provides leadership for the student group, said all are invited to attend. He also specifically extended an invitation to University students and student groups at both public high schools in the district to attend.

"We are even asking our professors here at UVI to allow their students, particularly in the math and science fields, to attend the session and even to provide them extra credit for assignments related to Dr. Jennings' talk," Williams said, clearly excited about the Monday session.

Dr. Jennings, who also is on the faculty of the University of Georgia, will combine a discussion of natural history with some historical and environmental facts about the Virgin Islands.

He will highlight some of the ways in which Virgin Islands residents have interacted with the environment over the years and discuss the responsibility to preserve and protect that natural environment for the future.

His presentation will also touch on his own personal journey to his present field of fish biology and ecology, and he will share information on career opportunities in marine and environmental science with the students.

For more information, Williams can be contacted at brotherswithacause@myuvi.net or the University's Public Relations Office at 693-1056.