The University of the West Indies’s dynamic and diverse Research and Development agenda is perhaps the best-kept secret in the region. The St Augustine Campus, in particular, continues to be at the forefront of exciting research. Indeed, as Campus Principal, one of my most important tasks is making the world-class work that we do here more visible.

Our research literally spans the heavens and stars – we have the only astronomer in the region, who collaborated with the International Astronomical Union to name a host star and an exoplanet “Dingolay” and “Ramajay” named by Dr Jo-Anne Ferreira)  to the earth – with Nobel Prize-winning work on Climate Change or groundbreaking research in genome sequencing and the seas – the discovery of a new species of deep-sea tube worm named after newly-retired Professor Judith Gobin and the soil – the development of new species of crops, such as scorpion pepper and pest-resistant crops and soils.

Former Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI, St Augustine Campus, Professor Brian Cockburn is accompanied by Technician responsible for the UWI Zoology Museum, Mr Rajindra Mahabir as he receives the “Lamellibrachia judigobini” from then Head of Department of Life Sciences, Professor Judith Gobin