ICENS is a complex of multi-disciplinary research laboratories founded in 1984 on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica and covers a diverse range of the geochemical, environmental and nuclear sciences. In 1984 it brought into operation a small Slowpoke-II research reactor provided by the European Economic Community (now the European Union).
Located in a pleasant green area of 2.64 km2 (653 acres) situated at the foot of the spectacular Blue Mountains about 20 km from the Norman Manley International Airport, ICENS occupies an attractive, modern and purpose-built air-conditioned building of 950 sq. m. area.
ICENS works mostly on applications that are relevant to Jamaica as "Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy” and its main research programmes investigate environmental geochemistry, particularly its relation to health and the safety of Jamaican foodstuffs, and to mineral exploration, with the overall objective of contributing to critical socio-economic challenges challenges including environmental protection, development of natural resources and the development and retention of local scientific talent.
ICENS is one of the nodes of an international network of 18 research and training centres under the aegis of the Commission for Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and it is jointly funded by the Jamaican Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and the University of the West Indies.
ICENS is part of the Faculty of Science and Technology. It is not a teaching institution and does not provide formal academic courses but welcomes short-term collaborations from postgraduate researchers who wish to investigate specific topics in relevant disciplines: those interested are invited to make initial enquiries to the Director General at: icens@uwimona.edu.jm
The primary goals of ICENS are to:
To be a centre of excellent and forward-looking scientific research providing the data, information, know-how and methods needed to resolve present and future challenges to the environment, natural resource base and international competitiveness of Jamaica.
To maintain a scientific information baseline and capabilities in interdisciplinary science and technology innovation (STI) for enhancing the quality of life in Jamaica by guiding sustainable development of natural resources, remediation of the environment and the life systems and industries that it supports.
Our 7 faculties and 12 professional schools offer more than 200 programmes to some 18,000 graduate, undergraduate and continuing studies students.
The UWI, Mona ranks first in Jamaica among accredited tertiary-level programmes. In 2012, the University was again one of Jamaica’s Top 100 Employers.
