In Jamaica, there is the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), a 38-year-old complex of multidisciplinary research laboratories at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. It is an agency under the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology that helps to resolve critical socio-economic problems, including environmental protection and development.

The major goals of ICENS are to conduct multidisciplinary research related to the environment, help provide solutions to developmental problems, and contribute to the growth and retention of a cadre of excellent scientists and technologists. Nuclear technology enables ICENS to carry out groundbreaking studies in various sectors, including agriculture, health and the environment.

Head of the Nuclear Analytical Laboratory at the organisation Johann Antoine says the agency's pioneering works began in 1995 with a study on soil mapping. “This actually resulted in an accurate geochemical mapping of Jamaica, with several maps that show the distribution of many elements across the island, including some with potential profit. The entire island was examined using, primarily, a research reactor for analysis,” he said.