Department of Agriculutral Economics and Extension

Research in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension addresses current issues in the agricultural sector of Caribbean countries, with the objective of making a contribution towards the development and transformation of agriculture. The research programme in Agricultural Economics and Human Ecology focuses on contemporary, policy areas for the regional, agricultural sector. These include:
1. Human Nutrition
2. Rural Development
3. Trade and Agricultural Policy
4. Marketing and Agribusiness Management
5. Environmental and Natural Resource Management.

The research programme in agricultural extension includes:
• Planning, delivery and evaluation of extension programmes using ICTs.
• Emerging models such as farmer field schools.

Department of Food Production

The Department of Food Production’s major research pillars are focused on the goals of food and nutrition security and agricultural diversification and encompass the following broad areas: soil chemistry, physics and the environment; food safety, microbiology and quality assurance; tropical crop production, biotechnology, crop breeding and crop protection; tropical livestock production, breeding and technology; tropical commodity utilisation and post-harvest physiology and technology.
The DFP’s research focus is consistent with the University’s research themes of relevance and impact. The DFP generates impacting and innovative technologies that assist the farming community nationally, regionally and internationally. At both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the University Field Station (UFS) situated at Mt. Hope is the main vehicle through which research progresses. It is envisaged that in the near future the facilities at the Agriculture Innovation Park (AIP) at Orange Grove would be more readily accessible. The facilities provided at the UFS for teaching and research in crop production, livestock and wildlife production research are complemented by laboratories at the St. Augustine Campus for Food Production, Food Biology, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Plant Tissue Culture, Soil Science and Animal Science.
Opportunities for hands-on research experience are provided to undergraduates in their final year projects and to postgraduate students as they complete their MSc, MPhil and PhD studies. Additional opportunities are provided through links with other agricultural institutions such as the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and other national, regional and international institutions and companies in the public and private sector.
Additionally, academic staff members also carry out independent research activities individually or in teams with staff from other departments and faculties of The UWI, or with external collaborators.

Department of Geography

Research in the Department of Geography is highly interdisciplinary and encompasses a wide range of specialisations including coastal geomorphology, hydrology and water resources, meteorology, disaster risk resilience, natural hazards, geographic information science, remote sensing, migration, homelessness, environmental sustainability, ecology, and more.
The Department of Geography offers hands on learning experiences for postgraduate students aims to provide students with the latest tools and techniques to ensure that our graduates leave with the most applicable skill sets. The Department routinely collaborates with different departments within the St. Augustine campus and other campuses in the region. More recently, strong collaborative efforts have been made with local, regional and international organizations like the Institute of Marine Affairs, The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, National Quarries, IAMovement, and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to ensure regional relevance of projects.

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