Professor Ishenkumba Kahwa joined the staff of UWI in 1987. He established a laser laboratory, which included powerful lasers, super-cold facilities and associated electronic and computational instruments needed to 'interrogate' and 'receive information' from novel molecules. He conducted extensive landmark work on the use, handling and disposal of hazardous materials such as asbestos in Jamaica. Through his work, both public and private sector companies have developed asbestos management and removal processes and inventories of hazardous material and wastes. He developed a new suite of BSc, MSc, MPhil and PhD programmes in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health (OESH). He was active in public policy areas and was a part of the seven-member UWI Mona Strategic Transformation Team given the responsibility of repositioning the UWI to face the challenges of the 21st century. Professor Kahwa received numerous distinguished awards for excellence in research and public service, including the Gleaner Honour Award for Science and Technology in 2003 and the Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research and Public Service in 2004. He was Dean of the Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences from 2008 to 2013.