News Releases

Call for T&T Researchers and Innovators to Participate in UWI Principal’s Research Awards 2026

For Release Upon Receipt - September 4, 2026

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago — 4 September 2026: The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus, under the stewardship of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, has officially launched the 4th Edition of the Principal’s Research Awards 2026, inviting researchers and innovators to showcase work that is advancing knowledge, driving innovation and creating meaningful solutions for Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the wider world.

Under the theme “Research for a Resilient Future: Caribbean Solutions, Global Impact,” the 2026 awards will celebrate outstanding research and innovation that responds to the challenges facing communities, industries and societies while demonstrating the transformative power of research.

The Awards recognise excellence across a range of research areas and disciplines, with categories designed to highlight individual achievement, collaborative team research, outstanding graduate research student, community impact, innovation and the productivity of research departments, institutes and centres.

Of particular significance this year are the two Open Awards, which extend beyond the University community to recognise innovative research and solutions from across Trinidad and Tobago with an intention of encouraging the culture and commercialisation of research among the public.

The Principal’s Special Innovation Award will recognise outstanding innovation with the commercialisation potential to create meaningful impact through new ideas, approaches, technologies, products or solutions.

The Hurricane and Earthquake Alleviation Research (HEAR) Award will recognise research and innovation focused on strengthening resilience and mitigating the impacts of hurricanes, earthquakes and related natural hazards.

These Open Awards are available to researchers and innovators across Trinidad and Tobago, including those affiliated with public and private sector institutions and organisations, secondary schools, industries and communities.

The Campus-level and Faculty Awards will also recognise outstanding researchers across The UWI, St. Augustine campus, including full-time academic staff, Academic and Senior Administrative Professional staff, and Administrative, Technical and Service Support staff.

The awards include recognition for the Best Researcher, Most Impactful Community Research, Best Team Research, Most Outstanding Regional/International Research Project, Most Productive Research Department, Most Productive Research Institute or Centre, Most Promising Early Career Researcher, Most Faculty Outstanding Researchers, Most Outstanding Graduate Researcher and Mentor and Most Outstanding Researcher of a Centre or Institute.

Through the Principal’s Research Awards, The UWI seeks to foster a culture of multidisciplinary research, encourage collaboration and partnerships, ignite innovation among young researchers, and strengthen the connection between research priorities and the needs of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

The initiative reflects The UWI’s commitment to using research and innovation to contribute to national and regional development through stronger partnerships among academia, government, industry and communities.

The Call for Applications opened on Friday 7 August 2026, and researchers and innovators are encouraged to begin preparing their submissions. The deadline for applications is Monday 28 September 2026.

The winners will be announced and celebrated at the Principal’s Research Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 25 November 2026.

Researchers and innovators are encouraged to use this opportunity to demonstrate how their work is helping to build a more resilient future, through Caribbean solutions with global impact.

For award categories, eligibility requirements, application information and further details, visit: https://sta.uwi.edu/researchawards/

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About The University of the West Indies 

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region. 

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 1000 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 leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world. 

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This recognition has also spring boarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development. 

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu. 

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