In his speech at the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations given in late November of last year, UN Secretary General António Guterres, speaking on the multiple challenges that beset humanity, said, "“we are more united by our common fate than divided by our distinct identities".
It is a powerful and very apt message for our times, but yet largely unheard. Perhaps the circumstances are right for this seed to be planted. Globalisation has intensified the strength of global dilemmas and, in some cases, played a role in creating new ones. More than ever, messages of cooperation for the collective good need to be promoted and to resonate.
One could argue that a contradictory message - one that promotes individual or tribal interest over the communal—is the guide for human relations, even though it is more likely to be shared in whispers than on public platforms. A new “ethic” has also emerged which advocates for efficiency over empathy.
Certainly efficiency matters. At this campus, we have made greater efficiency a priority. Our annual report, released in March (highlights available here sta.uwi.edu/ annualreport/report.php) goes in-depth into activities such as our campus-based commercialisation projects, regional and international research, partnerships with state agencies and the private sector, and student and staff services. They all demonstrate achievement through discipline, relevance, and efficiency.
However, at this campus we have not and will not sacrifice empathy for efficiency. In fact, the two are complimentary, not mutually exclusive. Likewise, The UWI, as an institution of service with a mandate for regional development, has always been dedicated to improving the lives of all Caribbean people and, by extension, all people.
With this in mind, I am privileged and pleased to have opportunities as the leader of this campus to participate in/observe truly exciting and impactful work and events emanating from this wonderful institution. One such is a recent international symposium created to advance science in the region. The Caribbean Future of Science Symposium was held from March 21 to 24 at the Mt Irvine Bay Resort in Tobago, bringing together thought leaders from our campus, the region, and the world, such as Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kosterlitz, science advisor to President Barack Obama Professor Sylvester James Gates, and T&T’s own Dr Alexandra Amon, recipient of the prestigious Sloan Award in Science, among many others.
The symposium was organised by another T&T born scientist, Professor Stephon Alexander (also a professional jazz musician), and UWI St Augustine Astronomer Professor Shirin Haque (the first professor in the field of Astronomy at The UWI and also the first in the English- speaking Caribbean).
An important and fascinating theme of the symposium was how scientific endeavour is embedded in artistic pursuits like music, such as the roles of mathematics and physics in musical innovations and productions (even deejaying). The event sought to make science more accessible, especially to under-served communities. The symposium was therefore a celebration of not only science and creativity, but also collective action for collective benefit.
On April 1, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DECE) in the Faculty of Engineering held a closing ceremony for their Community Service Learning (CSL) Humanitarian projects. CSL is a remarkable initiative that encourages undergraduate engineering students to apply their creativity and skill to meet the needs of society. You can view their work here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ce594b7fdc.html#page/1.
Student projects included developing an app to help autistic children trace and identify numbers, creating a numeracy learning aid to assist the visually impaired, and developing a speech to text solution for Spanish-speaking residents. Other projects focussed on improvements to campus life for the students.
One of the St Augustine campus’s most prominent and consistent vehicles for student outreach activity is the Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement Department within the Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD). The department inculcates the spirit of collective action and outreach in our students, and links them with NGOs, community organisations, and government and private sector entities involved in volunteerism
In addition, every year they host Volunteer Open Day, a campus-wide event in which organisations from T&T and the region invite our students to learn about their work and take part. For more information, visit the Community Engagement and Service Learning section at sta.uwi.edu/dssd/community-engagement-and-service-learning. I encourage every student to volunteer.
On March 15, I was very pleased to attend the installation ceremony of The UWI’s new Chancellor, Mr Dodridge D Miller. Chancellor Miller, a man who exemplifies service to community, will continue the legacy of this crucial post in this crucial time for the university, and although the St Augustine campus community has welcomed him before, specifically at last year’s graduation ceremonies, on behalf of us all, I wish him much success and look forward to his contribution to The UWI.
I called these “crucial times”. This is not just because of the many international crises that we face, but because in times of emergency and scarcity and threat, there is always the tendency to divide ourselves, turn inward, lower horizons and limit possibilities for the best interest of the tribe and to prioritise the individual/stand apart.
I endorse Secretary General Guterres’s words in his speech to the international community, “In these turbulent times, too many people are convinced that differences must define us. But the most powerful force of all is the recognition that we are more united by our common fate than divided by our distinct identities.”
