BVI Students studying in the United Kingdom will join their counterparts from other territories that are members of the UK Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) and produce short films depicting their homeland to be presented at a conference in November.

The third Overseas Students conference will be held at the Natural History Museum (Flett Events Theatre), London under the broad theme of ‘Identity’. Films will be shown at the conference in the Flett Events Theatre as part of an Overseas Territories film festival, and judged by the political and cultural geography academics Dr Alastair Pinkerton (University of London) and Dr Matt Benwell (Newcastle University). The academics will then use their Overseas Territory specialist knowledge to lead a discussion on the themes coming out of the students’ original film work.

The event is expected to present a great opportunity for students from a wide range of cultures to come together and celebrate their shared histories and distinctiveness at the same time. The theme ‘Identity’ is said to be a refrain that resonates strongly among the Overseas Territories as both the UK and its Overseas Territories are reflecting upon their historic ties and cultural identity at a time of change in the UK with the imminent departure from the European Union.

The Natural History Museum hosts will also be fielding speakers to highlight the vast range of specimens held at the museum from UK Overseas Territories across the globe. Students will get the opportunity to visit collections behind the scenes to see specimens relating to their various Overseas Territories.

The UKOTA Chair, Cayman Islands’ Representative in the UK Eric Bush, said the association is delighted to be holding the important UKOTA student conference, where the future generation of Overseas Territory citizens get to meet, interact and share areas of common interest and celebrate differences.

He added, “We are particularly grateful to the prestigious Natural History Museum for generously hosting the event. The Museum offers both fantastic facilities and a genuine insight into the various Overseas Territories, seen through the enormous collection of exhibits gathered from around the globe.”

Principal Curator in Charge of the Algae, Fungi and Plants Division Dr. Mark Carine welcomed the opportunity to work with the UK Overseas Territories and their students and to discuss the huge and important collections gathered from around the world over the centuries.

Dr. Carine added, “We are also keen to highlight the on-going modern day scientific work still taking place in the Overseas Territories, with current Natural History Museum scientists. We hope that the students gain a wider understanding of their endemic flora and fauna and their importance in global biodiversity and to their own cultural identity.”

Students from the Overseas Territories who are in the UK are encouraged to register for this event and follow @UKOTSTUDENTS Facebook page for further information and updates about the event.  All information and registration details can be found at: www.ukota.org/studentconference18.  Further enquiries regarding the student conference or the Film Festival can be sent to ukota@angeloversees.com or deputyrep@falklands.gov.fk.

Notes:

UKOTA exists to promote the interests of the Territories and the co-operation between them. The main work of UKOTA is representing the collective view of the Overseas Territories through their dialogue and contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other UK Government Departments; both at official and Ministerial levels. UKOTA also engages with NGOs in relation to protecting the critical biodiversity of the Territories.

Any UK Overseas Territory student wishing to attend should register here.

Details and criteria of entering the film festival competition are available online at: deputyrep@falklands.gov.fk

For further information contact:  deputyrep@falklands.gov.fk  or ukota@angeloversees.com