January 2013


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It’s not really the first place you’d go to for routine services requiring chemical analysis; it offers something more specialized than that. In fact, although it does offer some routine lab tests – soil or water analysis, measuring chemical content and so on – the Chemistry Department of the new Faculty of Science and Technology has come up with a practicable way to package its services that draws on a broad range of skills, equipment and technology to bring clients consultancy and analysis from one stop at UWI.

The Department, headed by Professor Anderson Maxwell, has come up with a business plan that focuses on leveraging its competencies to generate revenue and broaden its impact in a way it has not done before. Over time, the Department realized that several clients from various industries seek their services, but do not always know what tests they need or how to use the results. The Chemistry Department’s academic-led research service will be able to fill that need.

Under the leadership of Dr Leonette Cox, clients from academic and industry areas will find guidance from the Department as to what range of services will best serve their needs and once the model has been agreed, she will gather the requisite resources to fill them.

Dr Cox feels the Department can be the incubator of scientific and technological answers to solve the region’s socio-political and economic problems. They have expertise in a wide range of areas including solid-waste management (environment, plastics, reclamation); public health and safety; environmental issues; renewable energy and new product development (eg, drug design), she says.

“In the past,” she says, “the services have been available but they were not offered as a package and were often only used by people who happened to know of the Chemistry Department’s capacity.”

Now, she says, they want the world to know they are a one-stop shop and they’re open for business.

For further information, please contact Dr Leonette Cox, Department of Chemistry, at (868) 6622002 (Exts. 84334, 82091, 82092, 83570) or 6626013. Fax: (868) 645-3771.
E-mail: ChemistryDepartment@sta.uwi.edu