The Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Scince and Technology at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, recently hosted an international research team as part of an ongoing collaborative project focused on climate and storm history in Jamaica. Dr. Michael Burn, Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, and Dr. Lucy Roberts, Lecturer at University College London (UCL), along with postgraduate student Sophie McSherry (UCL), visited the Department from January 6 to January 28, 2026.
During their visit, the team worked closely with Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith to conduct fieldwork and laboratory analyses in support of their joint research project titled “Re-evaluating Late Holocene Storm Reconstructions in Jamaica Following the Passage of Hurricane Beryl.” The project examines how recent extreme weather events can refine and improve interpretations of past storm activity, contributing to a deeper understanding of long-term climate variability and coastal hazard risk in the Caribbean.
This collaborative research is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), United Kingdom, with funding awarded in April 2025. The project highlights the value of international partnerships in advancing climate and environmental research, while also strengthening UWI Mona’s role as a regional hub for high-impact scientific investigation.
Photo caption: Researchers convened for sampling in Manatee Bay, St Catherine under the collaborative research project with Liverpool John Moores University.
