News Releases

UWI Hosts Open Lecture On Transforming Food Systems Featuring 2021 World Food Prize Winner

For Release Upon Receipt - October 19, 2022

St. Augustine


Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted  

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Wednesday 19 October, 2022 - The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus’ Open Lectures Committee is pleased to announce a Distinguished Open Lecture by 2021 World Food Prize awardee Dr Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, herself a UWI St. Augustine alumna.

Dr. Haraksingh Thilsted’s lecture will address the issue of “Transforming Food Systems: Building Resilience, Nourishing People and Improving Livelihoods with Aquatic Foods” and takes place on Wednesday October 26,  2022 at Daaga Auditorium, The UWI St. Augustine Campus from 5:30pm.

The Global Lead for Nutrition and Public Health at WorldFish, a One CGIAR entity, she received the 2021 World Food Prize for her ground-breaking research, critical insights, and landmark innovations in developing holistic, nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems. That same year, she was awarded the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award for research innovation. She is member of the Steering Committee of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security and Vice Chair of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021: Action Track 4 - Advance Equitable Livelihoods. Dr Haraksingh Thilsted plays a pivotal role in promoting aquatic food systems for nourishing nations and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, she was appointed co-chair of the EAT-Lancet 2.0 Commission.

A 1971 graduate of The UWI with a BSc in Tropical Agriculture, she also  holds a PhD from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The University of the West Indies will confer an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc.) on Dr. Haraksingh Thilsted for her contributions to Agricultural Science and Nutrition on October 27, 2022.

The lecture is open to the public. Interested persons can email uwistaevents@sta.uwi.edu to reserve.

END

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global 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 its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 For more, visit www.uwi.edu

 

 

 

 

Contact