Dr Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona, is helping to advance opportunities for Caribbean women researchers and innovators through WINGS Caribbean—Women Inspiring New Generations in Science.
Launched by the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean, WINGS Caribbean will support outstanding mid-career and advanced-career women whose work addresses pressing regional challenges. These include climate and environmental resilience, disaster risk reduction, digital innovation, applied scientific research, social development, governance, social entrepreneurship and community-based research.
The initiative will award two fellowships valued at US$10,000 each—one in STEM and the other in Social Impact. The selected fellows will have up to 12 months to develop projects capable of delivering practical and measurable benefits to Caribbean communities.
WINGS Caribbean is being implemented by UNESCO in technical collaboration with the Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI, Mona, and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.
For Dr Singh-Wilmot, the partnership represents an important investment in the region’s scientific talent and its ability to develop home-grown solutions.“It invests in the Caribbean’s own capacity to solve its problems,” she said.
Dr Singh-Wilmot also highlighted the barriers that continue to limit the reach and influence of women’s work across the region. “Caribbean women are already doing excellent work, but limited resources and uneven pathways to visibility, leadership and influence too often restrict the impact of that work. WINGS responds by supporting them and advancing solutions that are scientifically sound, socially grounded and relevant to Caribbean lives.”
Her involvement reflects FST’s continuing commitment to strengthening women’s participation and leadership in science, supporting research with real-world impact and building partnerships that respond directly to Caribbean needs.
WINGS Caribbean aims to increase the visibility of women in research and innovation, strengthen scientific excellence and develop a regional network of women whose work is contributing to a more resilient, innovative and sustainable Caribbean.
Applications close on September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Jamaica time.
For further information, contact the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean at
kingston@unesco.org.
Photo caption: Dr. Ainka Brown, Chemist in the Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona conducting an experiment.
