Climate Studies
Balancing natural and social sciences
Thoughtout our campuses, we have implemented pure and applied sciences and social sciences programmes. Here are some of our climate-focused programmes in the respective campuses.
Cave Hill Campus
BarbadosResearch specialisations in biological and chemical sciences, hydrogeology and meteorology.
Mona Campus
JamaicaResearch-driven programmes in marine sciences, environmental management and climate studies and environmental biology.
St Augustine Campus
Trinidad and TobagoBringing a social science perspective
Sciences are not the only crucial element in the fight. Strong management and leadership skills are also necessary to manage projects, lead innovative projects, and balance profit with people and planet issues.
As a result, the social sciences have also been integrated as a prime disciplinary partner. Here are some examples of how we have integrated climate change into our social sciences curriculum:
- Courses such as Climate Change: Policy and Economic Options for Small Island Developing States are offered as an elective within the MSc Global Studies programme at the Institute of International Relations, St. Augustine Campus.
- The Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, also at St. Augustine, offers a Master’s and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. Students receive training that equips them to become entrepreneurial leaders of sustainable energy projects, and support economic diversification, as energy-reliant economies transition from an oil and gas energy sector to sustainable and renewable sources.
Doctoral programmes
The UWI’s PhD students conduct original research and produce innovative solutions.
For example, meet Holly Trew, PhD candidate and Demonstrator in Biology. Holly is researching the degradation of coral reefs from marine sponge erosion, enhanced by human activity and coastal nutrient run-off. Her work highlights the destructive activity of these sponges on Barbados’ reefs, which are an important resource for the island’s tourism, and function as natural barriers against wave action and storms. Her research was featured in a mini-film series entitled “Youth Action on the SDGs”, which was funded by the United Nations Development Programme.
