April 2013


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Science, People and the Environment was the theme of this year’s Research Day held by the Department of Life Sciences to show off the work being done at all levels by students. For the third year, students got a chance to demonstrate the relevance of their work to societies, particularly in relation to biodiversity, and to have it critiqued.

Migrant songbirds in the Caroni Swamp, seabirds on the north and east coast, spiders and guppies; you’d be surprised at how their ways of life affect you. Participants presented research on our forests, our cocoa, our rivers and beaches and looked at what affects our water quality, the impact of quarries, and even the economic value of the recreational resources provided at the Caroni Swamp Bird Sanctuary.

One of the final elements of the day’s agenda was a video presentation called “The Bioethics of horsemeat consumption in Trinidad,” which must have sparked quite a lot of interest given the global furore over unexpected horses at the table (more of that at a later date).

Prizes were awarded for the presentations and the winners are:

      PG oral presentation
      1st place – Ms Lena Dempewolf,
      2nd place – Mr Ryan Mohammed,
      3rd place – Mr Maurice Rawlins

      PG Poster presentations
      1st place – Mr Mike Rutherford,
      2nd place – Ms Kerresha Khan,
      3rd place – Mr David Gopaulchan

      Best video
      The Bioethics of horsemeat consumption in Trinidad – Kerresh Khan, Hema Ramdial, Maurice Rawlins and Akilah Stewart.