UWI research on display
THE ANNUAL showpiece for ground-breaking research across all tertiary disciplines has come of age as the 18th University of the West Indies (UWI) Research Days begin at the Mona campus today.
The research festival, founded in 2000 by then principal and former governor general, Sir Kenneth Hall, starts at 10 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 3.
The three-day event seeks to highlight research achievements and provide the public and stakeholders the opportunity to learn how the research of the university is applied across all areas and how it can positively impact businesses and aid nation building.
This year’s theme is ‘UWI, Mona: Driving Development through Research and Innovation’.
In anticipation of the event, UWI Research Day Steering Committee Chairman Denise Eldemire-Shearer told The Gleaner: “We’ve gone from one day to three because of the volume and the demand. For the public audience, it’s about looking at what UWI offers. All of our five faculties, as well as our various centres, will be displaying in the research village. Persons can expect an exposé of what the university offers in terms of young people or families contemplating further studies for their members.”
She added: “... Eighteen years ago, we had a lot of individual research. What has happened now is that the research is primarily driven by the changing environment in which we live, not just the climatic but the business, economic and social environments.
“This year, the policy is on economic development, and it shows you the transition of the research at UWI with the growth of society. Since inception, we’ve also changed how we display the information. In addition to the research findings, you are going to see the actual elements that make up the research.”