May 2009


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New MOU with Buccoo Reef Trust

He wants to see The University of the West Indies (UWI) increase its presence in Tobago, said St Augustine Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat, during the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with Buccoo Reef Trust on May 8, 2009.

Recognising the past achievements of the partnership, including significant increases in collaborative research on the science and management of reef systems in Tobago, Prof Sankat said he believed it was now the ideal time to push the partnership to a higher level of interaction.

Dr Richard Langton, who signed on behalf of the Buccoo Reef Trust, said he was “extremely excited” about the range of collaborations being discussed and developed with UWI. These include opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research, field courses and outreach activities with the local community on aspects of science and sustainable use of Caribbean coral reefs and their resources.

On the list of priorities for the partners is the involvement of the Buccoo Reef Trust in the delivery of aspects of the new MSc in Science and Management of Tropical Biodiversity. Professor Andrew Lawrence, Director of the new MSc programme said “a key component of the new MSc will be the opportunity of students to meet and learn from professionals working in the industry on aspects of the management and exploitation of terrestrial and marine tropical environments.” Dr Langton said that BRT hopes to offer some teaching and research projects to students registering for the new course.

With courses including environmental legislation, environmental impact assessment, data analysis and management and geoinformatics, UWI the new MSc can meet the needs of a wide range of professionals in the environmental management sector.

“We are hoping to advertise the new MSc in the very near future,” said Prof Lawrence, but if anyone wants more details about the course they can currently register their interest with Course Administrator, Mrs Velda Ferguson-Dewsbury at: aabio.edulink@sta.uwi.edu