DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
FACULTY BOARD REPORT - OCTOBER, 2015
STAFF
The Department welcomed Dr. Marvadeen Singh – Wilmot who was off on sabbatical leave for the
2014/2015 academic year. Dr. Camille Bowen - Forbes is on sabbatical leave for the 2015-2016
academic year; she has been replaced by Dr. Patrice Peart. Other new members of the academic staff
are Dr. Nickeisha Stephenson and Dr. Debbie – Ann Gordon – Smith. On 1st June 2015, the
Department welcomed Ms. Toni – Ann Pinnock (Secretary III). She has been performing well and
has added a special spark to the Secretariat.
Mrs. Tracia Johnson – Blair and Mr. Vaughn Brown are currently on leave for three months (study
leave and assisted passage leave respectively). During their absence, Ms. Camelia Campbell has
assumed the position of Acting Senior Administrative Assistant with the added responsibility of
giving oversight to the female members of the service staff while Mrs. Mitzie Samuels acts as Senior
Secretary. Mr. Ian Johnson has been giving oversight to the male members of the service staff.
As of 30th September, Prof Robert Lancashire would have reached the age of retirement; he however
will remain in the Department on a voluntary basis. His thirty – six (36) years of service to the
Department has been remarkable. Prof Henry Ellis and Dr. Anthony Greenaway also arrived at the
age of retirement; their contributions have also been priceless and the department is truly grateful
for their efforts.
Congratulations to the following members of staff upon completion of the following degrees. They
will graduate in the upcoming graduation services.
- Ms. Camelia Campbell – M.Sc. Development Studies
- Dr. Nykieta James – PhD Chemistry
- Dr. Norda Stephenson – PhD Chemistry
DEPARTMENTAL SEMINARS
DATE
NAME, TITLE, AFFILIATION
03/09/2014
Prof. Subramaniam Sathivel
Prof of Food Engineering, Department of
Food Science, Louisiana State University.
Visiting Lecturer, MSc. FAPT, UWI, Mona
TITLE OF SEMINAR
Engineering Applications in a
Food System.
10/09/2014
Mr. Jaosn McKenzie
Acting Director, Student Services
The UWI, Mona Campus
Creating a Campus Climate
through Professionalism and
Service
14/09/2014
Mr. Basil Fernandez
Managing Director
The Water Resources Authority
The Water Resources of Jamaica,
Scarcity or Availability
24/09/2015
Dr. Mark Lawrence
Independent Researcher
Pyridyl-carbothioamides as noninnocent ligands in transition
DATE
01/10/2015
NAME, TITLE, AFFILIATION
Department of Chemistry, The UWI
Mrs. Dionne Clarke-Harris,
Tropical Entomologist,
Caribbean Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (CARDI)
TITLE OF SEMINAR
metal complexes: On the path to
the activation of small molecules
for energy applications
Roles for Chemical Experts
in the Development of
Sustainable Agricultural
Industries
CHEMISTRY HONOURS SOCIETY
On 24th September, the Department hosted the Induction Service for the Chemistry Honours
Society. The Guest Speaker was Dr. Paul Aiken. Seven (7) students received the Bronze Award,
while eight (8) received the Silver Award. Special thanks to the team which ensured that the event
was successful.
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
Drs. Andrea Goldson – Barnaby and Roy Porter attended the 250th ACS Conference held in Boston,
August 16 – 20, 2015. Two undergraduate students, Marcel Denny and Shaquilla McNab were also
in attendance.
NEW PROJECT
Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith and Dr. Vaughn Rattray have undertaken a project entitled “Impact
of Submarine Groundwater Discharge on the Nutrient and Trace Metal Budgets of Discovery Bay,
Jamaica”. The project began August 2015 and will continue until July 2016. It is funded by the New
Initiative Grant ($1,500,000.00). Collaborators are Prof. William Burnett, Florida State University
and Dr. Richard Peterson, Coastal Carolina University, USA.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
The department welcomed nine (9) MPhil Chemistry students for enrollment in the 2015/2016
academic year. They are:
1. Modupeola Abayomi
2. Annaleise Aiken
3. Kadane Coates
4. Raylee Dunkley
5. Natasha Dyer
6. Sonal Gupte
7. Dwight Messam
8. Chevanese Morgan
9. Mark Rambaran