News Releases

UWI Pushes for More Science in the Community

For Release Upon Receipt - May 23, 2019

St. Augustine


 Dr. Terry Mohammed, Deputy Dean and Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology; Dr. Brian Cockburn, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology; Justice Anthony Carmona SC ORTT Fifth and Former President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Deputy Principal Professor Indar Ramnarine; Professor Patricia Mohammed, Director, Graduate Studies and Research; and Dr. Ricardo Clarke, Deputy Dean and Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology at the launch of The UWI First Annual Science and Technology Week

 “We are strengthening our ties with more of our stakeholders, we are aggressively putting mechanisms in place to allow more of our students to experience the learning and application of science outside of the classroom and laboratory not only through internships but also through community engagement exercises,” said Dr. Brian Cockburn, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at the recent launch of the first annual week of Science, Technology and Innovation hosted by FST at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus.

The launch, which took place on Monday, 20th May, 2019, kicked off the FST’s week of activities under the theme “Science in Communities” and the sub-theme – supporting partnerships in Science, Technology, and Innovation. The activities, which have already attracted several stakeholders, aim to showcase collaboration amongst The UWI, industry and communities, while complementing the Faculty’s drive of supporting public-private partnerships, not only locally, but regionally and internationally. Dr. Cockburn used the opportunity to emphasise the FST’s commitment to addressing issues which impact the lives of local communities, the management and development goals of governments and challenges faced by the private sector through teaching and research activities.

During his welcome remarks, UWI St Augustine Deputy Principal Professor Indar Ramnarine explained that “Community engagement for development is critical if the University of the West Indies is to achieve our overarching goal and mission: a sustainable Caribbean in every sense of the word. The research that we do on this Campus cannot be done and is not done in a vacuum.” He said the issues discussed during Science and Technology Week reflect The UWI’s thrust to align with the needs of society and the economy, “From climate change and earthquakes, through information technology and renewable technology, to what I suspect will be a highlight this week: cannabis – the science and the issues. Any scientific research has value and importance to the extent that it helps address problems of a practical nature.”

Justice Anthony Carmona SC ORTT, Former President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, delivered the feature address at the launch. He urged the audience to share science “in an understandable way to motivate our people to make the requisite changes in our lifestyles, to save this planet we call home… science has to be taken to the community and the community must be allowed to participate in the collection and use of scientific data.”

Justice Carmona told the audience that “Trinidad and Tobago has shown that it is capable of producing scientific and technological innovations that are world class in nature. In this regard, there are examples from within and outside the walls of this University of scientific developments that have impacted other members of the international community.” He took the opportunity to highlight The UWI’s achievements in the field of climate change research, “In January of this year 2019, the International Association of universities selected The UWI as its global leader in mobilisation of research and advocacy for the achievement of a climate smart world. This designation was in recognition of UWI’s decades of world class research on climate change and sustainable development.”

Science and Technology week features presentations and posters from The UWI staff based at the St Augustine, Cave Hill or Mona Campus as well as professionals from locally-based Tertiary Learning Institutions and the private and public sectors. The UWI First Annual Science and Technology Week concludes on Friday, 24th May, 2019 with a panel discussion on “Cannabis – The Science and the Issues”. All activities are free and open to the public.

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About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. The UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

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