News Releases

UWI’S Dr. Ronald Roopnarine Appointed to International Scientific Committee

For Release Upon Receipt - August 8, 2023

St. Augustine


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Dr. Ronald Roopnarine, Researcher and Academic at the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. August 8, 2023 – Dr. Ronald Roopnarine, a researcher and academic at the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies, has been invited to join the International Scientific Committee planning the 2024 Islands Water Congress of the International Water Resources Association. As a member of this Global Task Force, Dr. Roopnarine will plan the thematic framework and discussions, speakers and proceedings of this key island event to be held in Torshavn, Faroe Islands. 

A Lecturer in Agri-Environmental Disaster Risk Management in the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA), he has a thorough background in Disaster Risk Resilience and Sustainable Land and Water Resource Management and has amassed significant experience in Integrated Water Resources Management and Climate Change Adaptations, with specific focus on Caribbean Small Island Developing States. He is also the Network Manager of Caribbean WaterNet, the Caribbean arm of CapNet UNDP, and a consultant for various international and regional developmental and state agencies. Over the years, he has served on numerous projects implemented by various United Nations agencies such as UN-water, UN- FAO, UN Environment, and UNDP. 

Dr. Roopnarine’s progressive thinking was the genesis for the development of a new Major in Disaster Risk Resilience in Agriculture and the Environment. The Major received outstanding reviews and is expected to be offered by the FFA from September 2023. 

Dr Roopnarine has also been instrumental in acquiring project and grant funding for the FFA amounting to over 8million USD in the last 3 years. Recently he co-ordinated efforts that led to the FFA, UWI being selected as the operational partner for two major Regional Fisheries projects co-funded by FAO and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and an FAO funded, innovative insect farming project to be implemented at the University Field Station.

Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Professor Mark Wuddivira, notes that “this remarkable recognition not only highlights Dr. Roopnarine’s expertise and contributions but also spotlights the exceptional calibre of our faculty members as well as FFA’s cutting edge research and global collaboration. This achievement resonates deeply within our academic community and positions us as a hub of innovation and expertise in the field of water resources.”  

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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 for the past 75 years. 

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 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). 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 in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 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. 

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University. 

Learn more at www.uwi.edu  

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