The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, carries a rich and enduring chemistry legacy - one rooted in scholarly excellence, regional relevance, and global engagement. Since the early days of the Mona's Chemistry Department has played a central role in advancing scientific knowledge across the Caribbean, producing generations of scientists whose work spans natural products, environmental chemistry, medicinal chemistry, materials science, and chemical education inter alia. This tradition of inquiry and impact has consistently positioned the Department of Chemistry as a hub for rigorous research, meaningful collaboration, and the translation of science to societal benefit.

 

That legacy was powerfully reaffirmed with the staging of the 30th Mona Symposium: Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry, hosted by the Department of Chemistry from Monday, January 5 to Thursday, January 9, 2026. First organized in 1966, The Mona Symposium is a flagship, biennial chemistry conference that marked two major milestones with this edition - its 60^th anniversary and 30^thstaging. The symposium showcased both continuity and evolution within the discipline, bringing together participants from the UK, Australia, Japan, the USA, and Canada, alongside colleagues from The UWI’s sister campuses at St Augustine and Cave Hill.

 

A powerful reminder of the Symposium’s enduring legacy was the presence of two distinguished UWI graduates, Dr. Earle Roberts and Dr. Shirley Thomas, who had attended the inaugural Mona Symposium in 1966 and returned for the opening session on January 5 this year.

 

 

The breadth of topics highlighted the Department’s forward-looking vision while remaining grounded in regional priorities - from microbial bioremediation of heavy metal contaminants to AI-enabled tools for automating the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Support from the American Chemical Society and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (Jamaica Chapter) ensured strong participation by FST graduate and undergraduate students, reinforcing the Symposium’s role in mentoring the next generation of chemists. In a gesture that underscored the Faculty’s commitment to community engagement, sponsorship also facilitated a donation to William Knibb Memorial High School, which suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Melissa; staff and students received books, a mobile whiteboard, and other essential teaching and learning tools.

 

The successful execution of the 30th Mona Symposium is attributed to the organizing committee including Paul Reese, Roy Porter, Winklet Gallimore, Nadale Downer-Riley, Ainka Brown, Marcel Denny, and Ronnique Blair (Department of Chemistry), with Peter Ruddock (Department of Basic Medical Sciences) and Patrick Gordon (Oregon State University).  Together, the Department’s history and this landmark symposium illustrate how chemistry at The UWI Mona continues to honor its past while shaping the future of scientific research in the Caribbean and beyond.