The 2^nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress was held on May 23-25, 2023, at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago. The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST)/UWI Mona campus was represented by the Caribbean Academy of Sciences Jamaica’s Chemistry Chapter (CASJA) delegates: Dr. Andrea Goldson-Barnaby (Senior Lecturer and President, CASJA), Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon Smith (Lecturer), Dr. Nadale Downer-Riley (Senior Lecturer), and Dr. Ainka Brown (Lecturer) and three Early Career Chemists (ECCs) from the Department of Chemistry: Mr. Jermaine Smith, Mr. Jordan McKenzie, and Ms. Shaunté Cotterell.

The ECCs delivered poster presentations on their research. Mr. Jermaine Smith who is supervised by Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot (Associate Dean, Student Experience and Senior Lecturer, FST) presented a poster and three-minute flash talk entitled “Rare-Earth Perhalogenated Terephthalate Metal-Organic Frameworks: Fluorescence Sensors for Iron, Copper, and Nitroaromatic Explosives” in the scientific theme of Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13). Mr. Smith was recognized as one of the two best poster winners. This achievement signifies the high quality and potential impact of Mr. Smith’s research. Mr. Jordan McKenzie who is supervised by Professor Emeritus Paul Reese presented a poster and three-minute flash talk entitled “Investigating the scope of steroid transformation using free and immobilized filamentous fungi” in the scientific theme of Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). Ms. Shaunté Cotterell who is supervised by Dr. Nadale Downer-Riley and Dr. Ainka Brown presented a poster entitled “A more versatile sulfur-mediated multicomponent synthesis of thioamides” in the scientific theme of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3).

Dr. Andrea Goldson-Barnaby gave a keynote address in the scientific theme of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3) entitled “Strengthening food security, food safety and the entrepreneurial spirit within the region and beyond”. Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith gave a keynote address in the scientific theme of Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13) entitled “Water resources and nutrient contamination in Jamaica’s freshwaters: application of environmental tracers”. Dr. Ainka brown chaired several sessions in the congress

The Congress was the first in-person event since the founding of Commonwealth Chemistry. It brought chemists from across the Commonwealth under the banner of equality for all, to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthen scientific capacity, inspire, and elevate the role of the chemical sciences to society and policy makers, and celebrate achievements in chemistry. To ensure equal representation, inclusivity, and participation among all Commonwealth nations at this Congress, over 30 Commonwealth countries (either through a society member or associate member of Commonwealth Chemistry) nominated delegates and early career chemists to attend.

Photo caption: FST/UWI Mona campus representatives on the occasion of the 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress held on May 23-25, 2023. From left to right - Dr. Nadale Downer-Riley (Senior Lecturer), Mr. Jordan McKenzie (Graduate Student), Dr. Andrea Goldson-Barnaby (Senior Lecturer and President, CASJA), Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon Smith (Lecturer), Dr. Ainka Brown (Lecturer), Mr. Jermaine Smith (Graduate Student) and Ms. Shaunté Cotterell (Graduate Student).

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