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Two UWI Scientists appointed to International Science Council to provide expertise for SIDS

For Release Upon Receipt - August 6, 2020

UWI


Two scientists from The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Terrence Forrester and Professor Michelle Mycoo have recently been appointed to the International Science Council (ISC). In an announcement made by the ISC earlier this month, the two were named among eight distinguished scientists selected from around the world, who will comprise a Small Island Development States (SIDS) Liaison Committee.

According to the ISC, the Committee will advise on strategic matters, such as mobilizing input from the SIDS scientific community for the UN Decade of Ocean Science in Sustainable Development.

The members are also expected to bring other matters to the attention of the ISC so that representation of the SIDS scientific community is strengthened across the Council’s activities.

Professor Terrence Forrester is currently Chief Scientist for UWI SODECO (Solutions for Developing Countries) and a Professor of Experimental Medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The UWI, Mona Campus. As a clinical scientist with a longstanding interest in cardiovascular disease—primarily hypertension—he is renowned for his work with, and dedication to tropical medical research.

Professor Michelle Mycoo is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The UWI, St. Augustine Campus. As an urban planning expert, her work, recognised regionally and internationally is dedicated to pivotal inter-related issues such as land use planning, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water management and integrated coastal zone planning.

Their appointments are until December 31, 2021 in the first instance, and will then be reviewed for renewal. They will meet with other members virtually during the period and updates on the Committee’s activities will be shared with other ISC members and via the ISC’s website.

As a regional university, The UWI continues to intensify its efforts at leveraging its inter-disciplinary research and scientific expertise on the unique issues faced by SIDS to address the multi-dimensional development challenges facing the Caribbean. The appointment and commitment of Professor Forrester and Dr Mycoo are testament to this effort.

Earlier this year, the world’s most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education recognised The UWI in its ‘Impact Rankings 2020’ which maps how universities are responding to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the only global performance table that assesses universities on their research, outreach and stewardship of the SDGs. Of the 768 universities on the table, The UWI ranked among the top 200 for its work on SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing; SDG5: Gender Equality and SDG13: Climate Action.

Photos:

Professor Michelle Mycoo  

 Professor Michelle Mycoo 

 Professor Terrence Forrester

Terrence Forrester

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About The UWI

For over 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); The UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies; the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ); The UWI-University of Havana Centre for Sustainable Development; The UWI-Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership with the University of Coventry and the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research with the University of Glasgow.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. 

As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. The world’s most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, has ranked The UWI among the top 600 universities in the world for 2019 and 2020, and the 40 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2018 and 2019, then top 20 in 2020. The UWI has been the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists.  For more, visit 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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