On November 7, 2025, representatives from The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Prof. Michael Taylor (Dean) and Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot (Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry), met with Dr. Bandiougou Diawara, Head of the Natural Sciences Sector at the UNESCO Office of the Caribbean, to formalize a partnership agreement. The collaboration will undertake a “Rapid Assessment and Prioritization”, of select STEM research laboratories affected by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 Hurricane, that made landfall in Jamaica on October 28th, 2025.

Led by Dr. Singh-Wilmot, this initiative represents Phase 1 of a broader programme, the Jamaica Science Infrastructure for Sustainable Development (J-SISD), which aims to guide the creation of a national strategy to climate proof, modernize, and expand Jamaica’s scientific research capabilities. Through J-SISD, the partners seek to safeguard Jamaica’s knowledge institutions, build future-ready scientific capacity, and secure long-term sustainable development outcomes for current and future generations.

Photo caption: Prof. Michael Taylor (left) and Dr. Bandiougou Diawara (right).