Contact Information

Department of Life Sciences
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
 

Location

Professor Peter Bacon Postgraduate Lab
Natural Science Building 
Tel: 1(868) 662-2002
Ext. 83084
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy 
PhD. Environmental Biology
Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Master of Environmental Studies (MSc)  - Sep. 2006-May 2008
Major Paper: Human-Wildlife Conflicts: A Review of Large Felid Carnivores
Department of Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies (HNES), Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) Hons  - Sep. 2002-Aug. 2005
Major-Environmental and Natural Resources Management
Minor-Zoology

Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Faculty of Science and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Project Details

Title: Urbanization and Climate Change: A Case Study of the East West Corridor (EWC), Trinidad.

Project Details: Urban areas are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There has been major infrastructural development that has occurred in the East-West Corridor (EWC), Trinidad in the past few decades. This increase in urban development makes this area particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to the high population numbers exposed to drivers of risk. A number of objectives have been derived to determine the link between urbanization and climate change in the EWC, Trinidad. These include the use of temperature data loggers to determine the variation in temperatures within the EWC and nearby green areas. ArcGIS software will be utilized to determine the extent of land use changes and simCLIM software will be used to project the changes in degree day heating. Additionally the social aspect of climate change will be explored within the EWC through the use of a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey.

Supervisor: Professor Dave D. Chadee (deceased), Professor John Agard (current)

Committee member/s: Dr. Azad Mohammed, Dr. Vrijesh Tripathi, Dr. Bheshem Ramlal

Research Interest

  • Climate change: Macro and micro climatic changes within urban areas and effects on wildlife
  • Urban Ecosystem services: Particularly regulating services associated with climate, diseases and water resources
  • Green Roofing Technology: Semi-intensive systems, aquaponic, hypdroponic and permaculture systems
  • Wildlife management:  Large Felid Carnivores and Ocelot management
  • Protected Areas Management: Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine
 

Post Graduate Training

  • Impact Assessment Training Workshop  - Jan. 6th-17th 2014                               
Physics Department of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.          
Training Course: The Use of Sector-Specific Biophysical Models in Impact Assessment in the Caribbean. Hosted by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). Implemented under the European Union funded Regional Global Climate Change Alliance Project, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica through the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.
  • Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS software)

ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) GIS web courses

  • simCLIM Software

CLIMsystems online training

 

Professional Work Experience

  • Administrative Back-stopper and Biologist -  Intermittent Sep. 2014 - Jan. 2017
Eco-Project Ltd. 1 Springfield Avenue, Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago
Project & logistic facilitator, Backstopper, Administrative Assistant and Biologist for the Projects:
  • Response to RAR for the Completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Moruga Fishing Port and Associate Facilities - Aquatic Faunal Survey. Coastal Dynamics Ltd.
  • Aquatic Faunal Survey For Environmental Sensitivity Map For Coastlines Between Point Lisas And Islote Point, Petrotrin Ltd.
  • Aquatic Faunal Survey of the South Central LNE District, Petrotrin Ltd.

  • Co-supervisor Capstone ESST 3004 - Sep. 2017- May 2018

    • Variability of temperatures in green spaces in The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.
    • Difference in temperatures between green spaces and paved surfaces in UWI, St. Augustine.
    • Difference in temperatures between green spaces and urban infrastructure in UWI, St. Augustine.
  • Demonstrator and Tutor -  Sep. 2012 - Sep. 2013
Department of Life Sciences, FSA, UWI: Parasitism, Tropical Aquaculture, Pollution and the Environment, General Ecology and Biometry. Assisted with preparation and marking of examination scripts (Parasitism).
  • Project Researcher  -  Jun. - Aug. 2013   
Eco-Project Ltd. 1 Springfield Avenue, Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago
Literature research and assistance in report preparation.
Marine Protected Area Specialist Team for the Project: Improving Forest and Protected area Management in Trinidad and Tobago related to the planned Marine Protected Area in North East Tobago. Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  • Research Assistant -  May. 2007- Jul. 2008
Department of Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies (HNES), Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario 109, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  M3J 1P3
Developed and conducted academic and practical research on fauna at Tommy Thompson Park, Lake Ontario, Toronto, Ontario headed by Associate Professor Gail S. Fraser, at York University. Field observations of breeding birds (primarily, tree nesting Black-crowned Night Herons, Double- crested Cormorants and secondarily Common Terns) were conducted. Conducted detailed observations in difficult environmental conditions; responsible for data collection, organization and data dissemination Produced several professional presentations and reports.
 

Academic Awards

  • UWI Graduate Scholarship  -  Sep. 2014-Sep. 2015
Awarded by The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Environmental Biology.
  • Field Work and Data Collection Grant  -  Oct. 2013
Awarded by The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, for Doctoral project research. Campus Research and Publication Fund.
  • Graduate Student Assistantship - Sep. 2006-Sep. 2007
Awarded by York University (Toronto, ON, Canada) for a Master of Environmental Studies (M.E.S) program.

Publications

  • Possible Facultative Parthenogenesis in Bark Scorpion- Tityus melanostictus. S. Maraj, R. Bhukal, K. Khan and R.S. Mohammed. (Submitted to Living World Journal).
  • A Review Of The Freshwater Mussels Of Trinidad, W.I. And The First Report Of A Potential Alien Invasive Species, Mytilopsis leucophaeata. R.S. Mohammed, K. Khan and D.C. Nieweg. (Submitted to Living World Journal).
  • Colours and Spots: Do they tell the story of an Ocelot's origin? K. Khan, S. Ali and R.S. Mohammed. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club. 2017 (p38-42).
  • Sightings Of Trachemys Scripta Elegans, Our New Potential Aquatic Alien Invasive Species. R.S. Mohammed, K. Khan and S. Ali. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club. 2017 (p56-58).
  • A Knowledge Attitudes and Practices survey on Climate Change and Health in Trinidad, West Indies. K. Khan, A.T.M Stewart, D.D Chadee. The Caribbean Regional Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) Wet Season Report 2016.
  • Scorpions: Stalkers of the night or just misunderstood. R. Bhukal, K. Khan, R.S. Mohammed, V. Bissram. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club. (Abstract). 2016.
  • An updated survey of freshwater fish distribution in Tobago, W.I. R.S. Mohammed, K. Phillips, K. Khan and A. Bhagan. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club 2015 p44-51.
  • Updated distributions for the most recent additions to Trinidad’s freshwater fish fauna: a natural colonizer and two introduced exotics. R. S. Mohammed, R. Bhukal, K. Khan. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club. 2015. p 64-54.
  • A Review Of The Management Of Captive Ocelots At The Emperor Valley Zoo. K. Khan and R.S. Mohammed. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club 2015. p 52-56.
  • A Knowledge, Attitudes, Perspectives and Beliefs Survey on Water Quality & Human Health in Two Communities in Nariva Swamp, Trinidad. A.T.M Stewart, K. Khan and D. D. Chadee.  Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association 23rd Annual Conference and Exhibition, 2014.
  • A Wet Dry Season, Fact or Fiction? K. Khan and D.D Chadee, Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club, Supplement 1 (Abstract) 2014-2015 supplement.
  • Bioethical issues surrounding the consumption of horse meat in Trinidad. K. Khan, H. Ramdial, A. Stewart, M. Rawlins and S. Bhaggan. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club, Supplement 1 (Abstract)  2013-2014 supplement.
  • Assessing the impacts of the development of an urban heat island in the East West corridor in Trinidad. K. Khan, D.D. Chadee. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club, Supplement 1 (Abstract) 2013-2014 supplement.
  • Temporal patterns of raccoon predation on breeding Black Crowned Night Herons and Double Crested Cormorants at a single tree-nesting colony in Lake Ontario. A. Olausen, K. Khan and G.S. Fraser. (Abstract). The Waterbird Society. 2008

Committee Membership

  • Committee member
Research Symposium Seminar, Life Sciences Department Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad.   
Jan. 2013, Apr. 2014, Mar. 2015, Apr 2016, Apr 2017.
  • Editorial Committee member
Research Symposium Seminar, Life Sciences Department Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad.
Apr 2016, Apr 2017.
 
 
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