On May 28, 2025, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) announced the promotion of four academics to the rank of Professor, including two from the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Mona Campus: Professor Venkateswara Penugonda and Professor Ina Vandebroek.

Professor Penugonda has over 30 years of experience in glass science, with research focused on photoluminescent materials and bioactive glass. His work connects fundamental science with applications in medical devices and photonics. He has received several honours, including the UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching and multiple Principal’s Awards for Research. He is also active in science outreach and education, working with physics teachers and the UWI Mona Astronomical Club, and collaborates with more than 18 institutions worldwide.

Professor Vandebroek is an ethnobotanist whose research focuses on the cultural and medicinal uses of plants in the Caribbean. She has published extensively, including four books and over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and has co-authored international policy documents on the conservation of useful plants and traditional knowledge. Her work has been featured by organisations such as National Geographic and the United Nations, and she leads the graduate programme in Ethnobotany and Ethnobiology at UWI. These professorial appointments reflect the strength of the Faculty of Science and Technology and its role in advancing high-impact research, education, and regional relevance.