Students of the University of Guyana’s (UG) Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) can now benefit from exposure to real-world engineering applications, groundbreaking innovations, and direct insights from experts in the field thanks to an initiative spearheaded by the dean of the faculty.
A UG release yesterday announced the launch of its Tech Talk series under the leadership of FET’s newly-appointed Dean, Dr. Kofi Dalrymple with the aim of redefining how students engage with industry leaders, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological advancements.
The inaugural session was held on February 20, at Fresh Restaurant in Cummingsburg, Georgetown, and featured CEO of 19Labs and former Apple executive, Ram Fish, with participants including students, professionals, and aspiring engineers.
The release said that the discussion sparked critical conversations about problem-solving, emerging technologies, and the role of engineering in transforming lives.
A key takeaway from Fish’s talk was the importance of cultivating a mindset of deep technical engagement and rigorous problem-solving. To underscore his view, he shared an experience from his time at Apple, where senior executives worked closely with engineers to resolve a minor yet complex issue.
“At Apple, when there is a problem, you aim to solve it by getting to the root cause—not a temporary fix,” Fish emphasised, adding, “These temporary fixes always come back to haunt you, usually at the worst time possible. Always strive for structured, detailed, quantitative analysis.”
He also urged students to “fall in love with the problem, not the solution,” noting that engineers tend to get attached to a single idea, but true innovation comes from adaptability and open-minded thinking.
The 19Labs CEO highlighted his company’s work in Guyana, where cutting-edge technology is reshaping healthcare access. He noted that telemedicine, bolstered by mobile ultrasound, AI-powered diagnostics, and digital health platforms, is bridging gaps in medical services, ensuring that even the most remote communities receive quality care.
Responding to a question posed by Dr Dalrymple on the role of drones in telemedicine, Fish posited, “Healthcare isn’t just about virtual consultations – it’s about ensuring communities get the critical medical supplies they need.” According to the release, he and his team have developed a long-range drone logistics system to transport medication, blood samples, and essential medical supplies to Guyana’s hinterland regions. This project, backed by a US$500,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Lab, is breaking geographical barriers and revolutionising rural healthcare delivery.
Students passionate about drone technology and autonomous systems, also found this discussion especially exciting. One such person, Lemuel, an electrical engineering student at UG whose final-year project focusses on drone communication networks, said he found inspiration in Fish’s experiences. “My fascination with flight started when I was young, and it has since evolved into an obsession with aerospace technology,” Lemuel shared.
He added, “Hearing about the challenges Mr. Fish and his team faced in developing a custom unmanned aerial system for rural healthcare was inspiring. It reinforced my commitment to pushing boundaries and viewing failure as a stepping stone to success.”
Lemuel’s project focusses on FANETs (Flying Ad-Hoc Networks), an autonomous UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] network used in disaster response, environmental monitoring, and search-and-rescue operations. His research aims to develop energy-efficient routing protocols to address the power consumption challenges of UAVs, balancing flight and data transmission needs.
