Kalifa Forrest, class of 2025 was awarded a BSc Environmental Biology with First Class Honours from  The University of the West Indies, Mona. She is now pursuing an MPhil in Environmental Biology, researching natural pesticides under the supervision of Dr. Dwight Robinson and Dr. Aisha Bailey. 

Born in Kingston, Kalifa’s love for biology was nurtured from an early age. Her grandfather, Morrel Raymond, a former Agricultural Science teacher turned farmer in St. Elizabeth, played a major role in shaping her path. She was further inspired by nature documentaries introduced by her cousin, Dr. Tannice Hall, a UWI lecturer—sparking a lifelong appreciation for the natural world. 

Kalifa attended Campion College for seven years (2015–2022). A defining influence was her CAPE Biology teacher, Ms. Amma Spence, whose ecology module helped Kalifa realize that biology was her calling. Ms. Spence also encouraged her interest in science communication, a path Kalifa continues to consider alongside her research ambitions. Above all, she credits the unwavering support of her family and friends for guiding her journey. 

During her undergraduate years, Kalifa excelled academically, earning Academic Commendation (2022–2023), the Vincent Hugh McKie Prize (2nd Year Zoology), the Lloyd Coke Prize for Plant Physiology (2023–2024), and placement on the Dean’s Honour Roll (2023–2024). She is also a Gold Member of the Life Sciences Honour Society for three consecutive semesters and delivered the response to the Dean on behalf of awardees at the FST awards ceremony. 

Facing challenges, including math and molecular biology, with humour and persistence, Kalifa continues to stand out as a future leader in environmental science, driven by ambition, curiosity, and a deep love for learning.