Densil Williams | UWI Mona: Home of scientific greatness

An uncomfortable conversation has emerged in recent times regarding the value of a university/university education today. The argument stems from a narrow -minded approach to economic development which posits that training for today is more important than education for tomorrow.

This thinking lacks an appreciation for futuristic thinking, which shapes the landscape for tomorrow, using scientific methods to predict the future while laying the foundation today so that we can adjust to changing circumstances tomorrow. The preoccupation with the urgency of now will not get us very far and will not advance our development as a people. There has to be institutional frameworks that provide a space for thinking beyond the today mantra.

The most important institutional architecture to balance the urgency of now with the futuristic thinking is, indeed, the university space. Universities do not have the luxury to focus on today only. For universities are a community of learners who consistently believe in continuous learning and innovation. That is why their mission goes beyond merely training for today’s workforce but instead, focuses on light, liberty, and learning.

It is this mission of the ‘Triple L’ that undergirds the work at The UWI Mona Campus. For this reason, the value of the UWI Mona cannot be measured using narrow metrics of bottom-line and fit-for purpose graduates in the workplace. Mona Campus being a part of a world-class university, our value lies not only in preparation of work-ready graduates, but also in futuristic research and pedagogy, which not only solves today’s problems but predicts the next big issues and provides high quality human resources to provide solutions. The UWI Mona is leading the way to reposition the human capital stock in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

TELLING OUR OWN STORY

One of the shortcomings of The UWI is that we do not tell our story well. We are ranked in the top three per cent of the best universities globally and are the only Caribbean university to be ranked by Times Higher Education, the most prestigious ranking agency globally, not by accident. These rankings emanate from careful strategic planning and execution of the institution’s portfolio of activities over many decades.

Despite our very limited resource base, The UWI Mona has been able to punch above its weight in global academia and owns its place as a globally respected centre for innovation and knowledge creation. We, however, do not trumpet these incredible achievements, and even some of our own doubt that they are part of greatness. The modesty of our world-class faculty belies the greatness that is happening on our campus and across the wider UWI system. In our faculty, we have tremendous academic capital that we will now be spending so that no one can question whether or not a first rate university like The UWI is needed to propel Caribbean development.

NOT ABOUT TALK

A close reading of the work of The UWI over the years shows that we are not just about talk and conversations and a shop for idea generation as some may want to believe. We are generating tremendous value within our academy that is changing lives and shaping the future of a society that will be ready to escape the unholy trinity of low wages, low growth, and technological unsophisticatedness.

CELL-LINE RESEARCH

At the Mona campus, researchers are working in cancer research to help people of colour to overcome the dreaded prostate and breast cancers. Our researchers have now developed the first cell line that is unique to black people from the Caribbean. They have since expanded this to six cell lines. Finally, blacks will have drugs that are specifically built to treat their cancers. This is groundbreaking and celebratory.

PSILOCYBIN

Psilocybin-rich mushrooms have important pharmacological properties, making them safe and efficacious in the management of various mental illnesses such as depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which are significant health burdens worldwide. UWI researchers are now working on developing a new strain of these mushrooms, which is more efficacious and acceptable in the global export market.

Tourists are now travelling to Jamaica to get access to this new strain of the mushroom to assist with mental illness issues. This will be an excellent contribution from Mona researchers to the social fabric of our society and the wider global economy.

NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The UWI Mona has the only nuclear reactor in the entire Caribbean. We are doing path-breaking research using nuclear science to derive solutions to major problems. For example, The UWI Mona used nuclear-based methods to map the distribution of toxic metals in soils, which has implications for human health and agricultural productivity. Further, The UWI Mona will install a gamma irradiator to safely render agricultural exports free of pests and open additional export markets for fruits, vegetables, and provisions.

Jamaica is a member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is supporting the work of The UWI Mona campus in the safe and secure use of nuclear technology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, including the establishment of a dosimetry laboratory for accurate and safe delivery of radiation for medical diagnostics and treatment of various ailments, including NCDs and cancer.

Also, it is through our biotechnology lab that the world now has mini-set yam and a new methodology for growing yam without the need of the traditional yam sticks. This has improved yield and has generated higher value added for our yam farmers in the export market.

MANGROVES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The UWI Mona is legendary for providing practical solutions to the current climate crisis. Our researchers have been at the forefront of the advocacy for the 1.5 to stay alive campaign. UWI Mona research led to the adoption of the 1.5 degree Celsius recommendation in order to cool global temperatures that will prevent massive swings in climate.

Further, through the work of Mona faculty, Clarendon is now on the cusp of restoring its mangroves and will benefit from increased yield in fish production, an important industry for many residents in the Rocky Point area.

MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN

Mona researchers are also designing new intervention techniques to deal with the global issue of malnutrition and impaired brain development in children. From these research outputs expected in 2025, the world will have an improved refeeding regime for malnourished children under two years old that is customized to improve brain development so that they can have a chance of living a healthy and productive life. This research will have global implications, especially in countries with high rates of severe acute malnutrition.

These are examples of value added that universities bring to nation building. This is a call for all of society to support our word-class university if we want to see a better and brighter future for Jamaica and the Caribbean. We must escape the unholy trinity of low growth, low wages, and low technology in order to give our citizens a better life.

Prof Densil Williams is the principal of The University of the West Indies, Mona. He is a professor of international business, former principal of the UWI Five Islands Campus, and also the former pro-vice chancellor, industry/academic partnerships and planning at the UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.