DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES

Grants

Dr Mona Webber received a grant valued at J$4.5 million from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica to conduct a research project entitled "The Mangrove Ecosystem: Biodiversity Hot-Spot."

Dr Byron Wilson received a grant of US$1,500 from the Audubon Zoo (New Orleans) for a study of the impacts of exotic predator removal on a dry forest fauna.

Conferences/Workshops

Dr Dwight Robinson attended an International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists entomology workshop in Montego Bay from November 23 to 29, 2003, at which he presented two papers: 'Research and development of botanical pesticides in Jamaica' (with Kathy Dalip, Arlene Wilson and Ajai Mansingh), and 'The potential of biological control agents and biorationals in the management of the coffee berry borer in Jamaica' (with Kathy Dalip).

Dr Paula Tennant presented a paper at the 17th Annual National Conference on Science and Technology: Science and Technology for Economic Development, Technology-Driven Agriculture and Agro-Processing held in Kingston between November 19 and 22, 2003. Her paper (coauthored by Melanie Chin, Simone Pinnock, Madeen Roberts, Donna Minott, Jose Jackson-Malette and Dennis Gonsalves) was entitled 'Field resistance and nutritional analysis of papaya ringspot virus coat protein transgenic papaya.'

The CITES headquarters in Switzerland accepted the nomination by NEPA of Dr Karl Aiken to attend a conference on sea cucumbers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 1-4, 2004.

Outreach Activities

The Department hosted a team from the UWI Bursary on a tour of the Port Royal Marine Laboratory on November 7, 2003.

A number of staff members attended CARDI's open day on November 26, 2003. and various events of the SRC Conference on Science and Technology.

The Joint Board for Teacher Education requested that Dr Mona Webber and Mr Frederick Boyd undertake a review of the biology syllabus already piloted at Church and Mico Teachers' Colleges, with a view to commenting on the extent to which there was parity with the UWI's Preliminary and Level I course content, suitability of the curriculum, the assessment mechanism of coursework/final examinations, the depth and chronology of the teach objectives, and suggestions regarding activities, textbooks or equipment. The aim of the Board is to seek formal accreditation for these courses as Associates, and ultimately to have students with such accreditation enter the Faculty at Level II.

Dr Mona Webber and Mr Frederick Boyd moderated the Joint Board for Teacher Education Double Option Biology examinations.

Visitors

Visitors to the Department included Mr Orlando Robinson (Hope Zoo); Mr Owen Evelyn (Forestry Department); Professor M. Ahmad (Biotechnology Centre); and Professor Guldner (Anatomy Department). Greater collaboration between the Department and these organizations was expected as one of the goals of these visits.

On November 28, 2003, Dr Byron Wilson hosted an Australian scientist, Mr Rick van Veen, as they conducted preliminary studies towards establishing a formal joint research project on iguanas in the Hellshire Hills.

Dr R. Brodie, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, visited the Department on January 23, 2004.

Mr John Kunna and Mr Rick van Veen visited the Department in February 2004 to serve as field researchers on the impacts of exotic predator removal on dry forest fauna.