News Releases

The AI Innovation Centre (AIIC) & EMA Sign MoU to Advance AI for Environmental Research & Education

For Release Upon Receipt - October 15, 2026

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – October 15, 2026 – The Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC) of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus has formalised a new partnership with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) aimed at advancing artificial innovation research and innovation with environmental interests at the forefront. The organisations formalised their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 27, 2026, at the EMA Head Office on Elizabeth Street, St. Clair, Port of Spain.

The joint initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by both organisations to leverage research, technology and expertise in addressing national and global challenges and to promote innovative approaches to environmental preservation and education. The AIIC and EMA anticipate that the partnership will create further opportunities for knowledge exchange, research and innovation, while contributing to a broader understanding of how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to support Trinidad and Tobago’s environmental priorities.

Dr. Craig Ramlal, indicated that “This MoU between our organisations represents the merging of the AIIC’s innovation ethos of developing AI systems and models that seek to preserve human and environmental interests with the EMA’s longstanding commitments to environmental preservation, climate action and education. Artificial intelligence should not be viewed simply as another technology to be adopted, but as a capability that can help us better understand complex environmental systems, gain useful knowledge from increasingly large and diverse sources of environmental data, and support more informed and timely decision-making. Through this partnership, we have an opportunity to explore how AI can contribute to areas such as environmental monitoring, modelling and forecasting, biodiversity and ecosystem research, climate resilience, public education and the communication of environmental information.”

According to Dr. Joth Singh, Managing Director and CEO, Environmental Management Authority, “The value of this partnership lies in its potential to turn innovation into practical tools that can benefit environmental management, research and the public. While we will explore applications of artificial intelligence, we are equally interested in how technology can help us communicate environmental information in new and engaging ways. Our collaboration around ‘Mystic Mora’, for example, provides an opportunity to develop creative educational and multimedia content that can connect environmental messages with audiences in ways that are accessible and relevant. As we move forward, the EMA is committed to ensuring that innovation remains grounded in sound environmental knowledge, responsible application and our mandate to advance environmental management in the context of sustainable development.”

Under the agreement, the partners will explore opportunities for collaboration on digital tools and software systems with a special emphasis on the application of artificial intelligence. The alliance reflects a shared interest in exploring how emerging technologies can contribute to addressing environmental challenges while strengthening public understanding and education around environmental stewardship. As artificial intelligence continues to expand rapidly, questions have increasingly emerged about the technology’s own environmental footprint, including its energy and resource demands. Against this backdrop, the AIIC and EMA partnership highlights another important dimension of the conversation: the potential for AI to be developed and applied as a tool in support of and implemented alongside environmental preservation, research and education. The partnership builds on work already underway through the AIIC’s dreamLAB, where a joint project is being led by principal investigator, Ms. Amanda Zilla.

The joint venture continues to cement The UWI's position at the forefront of technological innovation in Trinidad and Tobago and underscores the AIIC's role in exploring practical and creative applications of artificial intelligence. Through initiatives such as this, The UWI's Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre continues to demonstrate that innovation is at its most powerful when it is interdisciplinary and collaborative.

 

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Notes to the Editor

Photo Captions

Photo 1: Members of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre and Environmental Management Authority gathered for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations in Port of Spain in August. (L-R) AIIC: Ravi Deonarine, Amanda Zilla, Daniel Goitia, Executive Director Dr. Craig Ramlal; EMA: Managing Director and CEO Dr. Joth Singh, Arti Outar, Wayne Rajkumar and Nadia Nanan.

Photo 2: Members of the AIIC and EMA formalize their collaboration on a project currently underway through the AIIC’s dreamLAB. (L-R) Nadia Nanan, Wayne Rajkumar, Managing Director and CEO of EMA Dr. Joth Singh, AIIC Executive Director Dr. Craig Ramlal, Amanda Zilla and Arti Outar.

Photo 3: EMA Managing Director and CEO Dr. Joth Singh (left) and Executive Director of the AIIC, Dr. Craig Ramlal following the successful signing of the MoU. Both look forward to areas of collaboration and more joint projects between organizations.

 

About the AIIC 

The Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Centre (AIIC) at The University of the West Indies is committed to advancing research, innovation and responsible applications of artificial intelligence. Through initiatives such as dreamLAB, the AIIC provides a platform for interdisciplinary research and collaboration focused on harnessing emerging technologies to address real-world challenges.

 

About The UWI 

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 wellbeing 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.

(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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