The Special Issue of the Journal that represents the publication of a selection of papers from The Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference 2022 is now available. Click here to access publications.

The Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference 2022 was hosted on August 10-12, 2022. The Science and Technology Faculties of University of The West Indies (Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses) in collaboration with the University of Technology, Jamaica hosted the first FORECAST Virtual Conference under the theme,“Science and Technology: A D.R.I.V.E.R. of Transformation”. The Conference, being the first of its kind, encompassed:

• The 6^th Faculty of Science and Technology Conference of The UWI, Cave Hill Campus,
• The 12^th Faculty of Science and Technology Conference of The UWI, Mona Campus,
• The 1^st Faculty of Science and Technology Conference of The UWI, St. Augustine Campus
• The 6^th International Science Conference of the UTech, Ja.
• The 2^nd Student Grand Innovation Challenge.

The main objective of the FORECAST 2022 Conference was to emphasize the significant role ofscience and technology, as a pillar for regional transformation. Science and technology produces new thought, discourse and foundational knowledge and skills, by driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and resilience which is crucial in the pursuit of greater development. The conference brought together a wide range of students, academics and professionals from tertiary institutions, the public and private sectors of the wider Caribbean. On display was some of the work that is being done across the participating regional institutions and a few that have resulted from other, international collaborations. The conference represented an opportunity to form strategic partnerships between three of the campuses of The University of the West Indies and the University of Technology, Jamaica along with public and private sectors which would hopefully encourage collaboration and synergies as the Caribbean region seeks to reach its development and growth targets in a sustainable manner in the face of the ever-present and dynamic challenges facing the region.

A total of one hundred and fifty-seven (157) participants attended the conference from seven (7) universities and eighteen (18) organizations across the Caribbean and the USA. The Conference consisted of three (3) plenary sessions, one (1) high-level panel discussion, five (5) workshops, sixty-five (65) abstract submissions selected from a total of seventy-eight (78). The sixty-five accepted submissions were comprised of thirty-eight (38) poster presentations and twenty-seven (27) oral presentations. The conference’s events included the finale of the 2^nd Student Grand Innovation Challenge. Nineteen (19) private/public sector institutions from Jamaica, Cave Hill, St. Augustine and Germany provided sponsorship for the conference.

Follow the Faculty of Science and Technology on Instagram @uwimona_fst and on Facebook at The Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona. For enquiries, WhatsApp us at 1-876 552-4691, call us at 1-876-977-1785 or email us at fst@uwimona.edu.jm.