Close Menu

Dr. Junior Darsan

BA, PhD (UWI)

Lecturer - Physical geography, Coastal Geomorphology, Coastal Modelling, Coastal Hazards and Vulnerability, Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

Tel: +1-868-662-2002, ext. 82698
E-mail: junior.darsan@sta.uwi.edu

Teaching

Qualifications

B.A. (Geography), University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica, 2005

Ph.D. (Coastal Geomorphology), University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica , 2012

Positions

Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus , Trinidad and Tobago, 2013-present.

Lecturer (Part-time), Department of Geography, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus , Trinidad and Tobago, 2012-2013.

Lecturer (Adjunct), Department of Natural and Life Sciences, COSTATT, 2012.

Principal Research Officer, Oceanography and Coastal Processes, Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago, 2012-present.

Senior Research Officer, Environmental Research Program, Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago, 2011-2012.

Research

My research interest involves interdisciplinary applied and academic research in the oceans, coastal waters and nearshore environments. I am particularly interested in fully understanding the drivers for coastal change towards better management and sustainability of our natural resources. Such driving forces include but are not limited to tides, waves, currents, sediment transport, sediment characteristics, subsidence, geology, geomorphology, climate change and other anthropogenic/socio-economic factors. My research extends to an understanding of risk, vulnerability and adaptation strategies by coastal communities, towards sustainable integrated coastal zone management.

Research Projects

Society, turtles and environmental change in Grande Riviere Bay

Coastal Conservation Research for Trinidad & Tobago.

Coastal Vulnerability Assessment for Trinidad & Tobago.

Investigation of the bacterial and fungal flora identified from leatherback turtle egg shells and nest sand at Grande Riviere beach.

Developing a system for providing vertical and horizontal control of IMA's benchmarks around Trinidad & Tobago.

An investigation of coastal processes at Columbus Bay between Los Gallos and Corral Point, southwest peninsula, Trinidad.

An investigation of the anthropogenic and natural alteration of Grande Riviere Beach.

Publications

Journal papers

  • Darsan, J., Jehu, A., Asmath, H., Singh, A. and Wilson, M. (2016) The influence of fluvial dynamics and North Atlantic swells on the beach habitat of leatherback turtles at Grande Riviere Trinidad. Journal of Environmental Management 180: 111-122. (DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.05.014) Impact Factor (2.723) View Paper
  • Darsan, J. (in press). Cocos Bay (Manzanilla); A barrier beach system under threat. Cruse R. & K. Rhiney (Eds.) Caribbean Atlas.
  • Darsan, J. (2016). Investigating coastal geomorphological response to the passage of Hurricane Dean 2007 in the Southern Caribbean: Cocos Bay, Trinidad. Earth Science Research 5(1): 108-128. (DOI: 10.5539/esr.v5n1p108). View Paper
  • Singh, A., Leung Chee, C. S., Asmath, H. and Darsan, J. (2015). Potential oil spill risk from shipping and the implications for management in the Caribbean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 93: (1-2): 217-227. (DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.01.013). Impact Factor (2.991) View Paper
  • Darsan, J. (2014) Digital mapping of the coastline evolution of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), Trinidad. Caribbean Journal of Science.48 (2-3): 103-116. (DOI: 10.18475/cjos.v48i3.a07) Impact Factor (0.343) View Paper
  • Leung Chee, C. S., Singh, A., Persad, R., and Darsan, J. (2014). The influence of tidal state on coastal erosion in a tropical micro-tidal environment - A case study of Columbus Bay, Trinidad. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research. 14 (5): 15-31. (Online ISSN: 2249-4626). (1 Citation) View Paper
  • Darsan, J. and Alexis, C. (2014). The impact of makeshift sandbag groynes on coastal geomorphology: A Case Study at Columbus Bay, Trinidad. Environment and Natural Resources Research 4 (1): 94-116. (DOI: 10.5539/enrr.v4n1p94).
  • Darsan, J. (2013). Beach morphological dynamics at Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), Trinidad. Atlantic Geology. 49: 151-168. (DOI:10.4138/atlgeol.2013.008). Impact Factor (0.846)
  • Darsan, J., Asmath, H. and Jehu, A. (2013). Flood-risk mapping for storm surge and tsunami at Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), Trinidad. Journal of Coastal Conservation 17(3): 679-689 (DOI: 10.1007/s11852-013-0276-x). Impact Factor (1.096)
  • Darsan, J. (2013). Beach state classification; the dissipative domain of Cocos Bay, (Manzanilla), Trinidad. Caribbean Journal of Earth Science. 46: 1-11.
  • Darsan, J. (2012). An examination of the offshore bathymetry and sedimentology of Cocos Bay, Trinidad. Caribbean Geography. 17 (2): 92-108.
  • Darsan, J. (2005). A comparative study of the coastal geomorphology of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla) and Las Cuevas Bay, along the eastern and north-western coasts of Trinidad. Caribbean Geography. 14 (2): 116-132.

Technical Reports

  • Darsan, J., and Alexis, C. (2013). Status of Beaches and Bays in Tobago (2004-2008). Technical Report, Institute of Marine Affairs, 187p.
  • Jehu, A., Darsan, J. and Asmath, H. (2013). Lessons learnt from the Grande Riviere River Shifting Event. Technical Report, Institute of Marine Affairs, 10p.
  • Darsan, J., Ramnath, S. and Alexis, C. (2012). Status of beaches and bays in Trinidad (2004-2008). Technical Report, Institute of Marine Affairs, 199p.
  • Darsan, J. (2012). Set-back recommendations for Toco sea-front property. Technical Report, Institute of Marine Affairs, 5p.
  • Jehu, A., Darsan, J. and Asmath, H. (2012). Rapid assessment: Grande Riviere beach - backshore erosion channel. Technical Report, Institute of Marine Affairs, 32p.

Newspaper/ Magazine Articles

  • Hart, T. and Darsan, J. (2015) ' Vanishing coast '. Interviewed 29 January, 2015 for Geographical Magazine, Suite 3.20 Q West 1100 Great West Road Brentford Middlesex TW8 0GP. (March 2015).
  • Darsan, J. Wilson, M. and Asmath, H. (2014) 'Nature's Balancing Act - Manzanilla's delicate ecosystem'. Newspaper Article, Trinidad Express. Published 23rd November, 2014.
  • Alexis, C. and Darsan, J. (2013) ' Beware of Rip Currents '. Newspaper Article, Trinidad Guardian. Published 7th March, 2013.
  • Theodore, C. and Darsan, J. (2013) ' A littoral threat: Coastal erosion intensifies in Trinidad with grave ecological implications '. The Caribbean Open Institute.
  • Darsan, J. (2013) 'Grande Riviere River, Mother nature at work'. Newspaper Article, Trinidad Guardian. Published Sun 20th January, 2013.

Conference Papers

  • 'Digital mapping of the coastline evolution of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), Trinidad'. Paper presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, California, USA: 29th March - 2nd April, 2016.
  • 'The influence of fluvial dynamics and North Atlantic swells on the beach habitat of the leatherback turtle - the case of Grande Riviere, Trinidad'. Paper presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers, Chicago, Illinois, USA: 21st - 25th April, 2015.
  • 'Coastal erosion and its implications for Trinidad' Paper presented at the 2013 AmCham T&T's 17th Annual HSSE Conference & Exhibition, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 25th - 26th September, 2013.
  • 'Status of beaches and bays in Tobago (2004-2008)' Paper presented at the 13th Research Symposium, Institute of Marine Affairs, Arthur Loc Jack, Mount Hope, Trinidad, 18th - 19th September, 2013.
  • 'Assessing the equilibrium status of beaches in Trinidad, W.I.' Paper presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers, Los Angeles, California, USA: 9th - 13th April, 2013.
  • 'Status of beaches and bays in Trinidad (2004-2008)' Paper presented at the 12th Research Symposium, Institute of Marine Affairs, Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 26th - 27th September, 2012.
  • 'Anthropogenic and natural alteration of Grande Riviere Beach, Trinidad'. Paper presented at the 12th Research Symposium, Institute of Marine Affairs, Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 26th - 27th September, 2012. (Authors: Jehu, A., Darsan, J. and Asmath, H.).
  • 'Tidal cycles and resulting beach dynamics of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), Trinidad'. Paper presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers, Las Vegas, NV, USA: 22nd - 27th March, 2009.
  • 'An analysis of the coastal geomorphology of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla), along the eastern coast of Trinidad'. Paper presented at Conference 'Foundations & Directions: Celebrating Geography & Geology, The University of the West Indies. Mona Campus, Jamaica, 7th - 11th July, 2008.

Seminars

  • 'An Analysis of the Coastal Geomorphology and Evolution of Cocos Bay (Manzanilla) Along the Eastern Coast of Trinidad.' PhD Upgrade Seminar presented at Staff/Graduate Seminar, Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, May 2006.
  • 'An Examination of the Morphological and Sedimentological Seasonal Changes at Cocos Bay', Paper presented at Staff/Graduate Seminar, Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, February 2006.
  • 'Analyzing Diurnal Changes in Beach Profiles and Sediment at Cocos Bay', Paper presented at Staff/Graduate Seminar, Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, November 2005.
Top of Page