Georgetown : The University of Guyana (UG) awarded eight grants to the tune of US$329, 000 to teams of academic staff of the institution, towards research in Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) areas.
This research is part of the UG Science and Technology Support Project (UGSTSP), which is based on a US$10M credit from the World Bank to the Government of Guyana. The Ministry of Education in collaboration with UG is executing it.
The project is aimed at strengthening the faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences and Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Science to better prepare graduates for jobs in low carbon industries, and build sustainable capacity to operate the University and plan for its future growth.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the UG Education Lecture Theatre, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand congratulated the awardees, noting that this research is the beginning of a new culture that is to be developed at the learning institution.
“As we start off what we hope will become a culture at UG…we have a vast amount of talent residing in our human beings and we have always had resources that are waiting to be explored and to be discovered, so we have a combination of great talent and resources,” Minister Manickchand pointed out.
Minister Manickchand further stated that this research is part of Government’s commitment to ensure that the environment is provided where persons’ talent can be explored and utilised, which would not only benefit Guyanese, socially and economically, but the entire world.
Guyana’s LCDS has been recognised internationally as a model in terms of addressing climate change, an issue that many other developing countries have failed to recognise.
Over the next 18 months, a total of 22 academics will be working in eight teams on investigations in areas such as, carbon storage potentials of the mangrove forest in Guyana, the impact of artisanal and small scale mining and their associated road infrastructure on biodiversity in the Mahdia mining district, and the effects of bush medicine.
“We say we can make a contribution to the world, we have led in the area of low carbon development, and here we provide an opportunity partnering with the World Bank to allow our talented academics at the UG to lead and investigate in areas that can benefit the human race,” Minister Manickchand reiterated.
The eight groups were selected from among 19 proposals submitted.
Meanwhile, UG’s Vice Chancellor, Jacob Opadeyi urged the awardees to conduct considerable research so that at the end there must be something to show, and eventually their names can be placed on record.
The vice chancellor noted that already the Government of China has indicated its willingness to support the institution with an innovative package for research and development.
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