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UG academics secure grants for investigative research
With funding amounting to US$329,000, nearly two dozen academics from the University of Guyana (UG) will, within the next 18 months, be working towards completing a number of investigative projects.
The privileged academics will be divided into eight groups tackling research work ranging from ‘the carbon storage potential of the mangrove forests in Guyana’ to ‘the impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining and their associated road infrastructure on biodiversity in the Mahdia mining district’.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand (at centre) is flanked by the academic awardees and the Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi (four) and Permanent Secretary within the Education Ministry, Delma Nedd (five).
Team leaders of each group gathered in the University of Guyana’s Education Lecture Theatre on Friday, along with Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Opadeyi, to sign agreements to undertake the projects which once successfully completed are expected to help market the tertiary institution.
The research undertaking is gaining funding from the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support Project (UGSTSP) which is based on a US$10 million loan from the World Bank to the Government. The project is being executed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the University of Guyana.
The project is also catering to strategic reform and civil works at the University which is also gaining funding from the programme. Earlier this month contracts valued at US$800,000 were handed over by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, for the reform and civil works.
As part of the continuance of the execution of the UGSTSP, the eight grants awarded on Friday, one to each team, are intended to facilitate the stimulation of research in Low Carbon Development areas.
The objectives of this component of the project, according to Project Coordinator, Vedyawattie Looknauth, are to encourage the generation of knowledge products which will directly contribute to Guyana’s LCDS and support the development of a broader research and knowledge generation,
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, said that the research project “is yet another milestone in our efforts to transform this University into an international University of substance.”
“This initiative to provide over US$300,000 for our colleagues to undertake research is the beginning of more things like that to happen. I really feel sorry for those who won the grant because you have to ‘blaze a trail’ for others to follow.”
And since there will be something of substance to show at the end of the research projects, he disclosed that “your names will be placed in the records as a forerunner who did substantial research that the World Bank, the whole country will be proud of.”
It is expected that the results of these investigations will lead to the formulation of public policy recommendations; the development of LCDS-relevant services and products; generation of field research skills among academics at the University and the production of baseline information against which the impact of economic activities can be measured.
The initiatives are therefore designed to provide an enabling environment for sustainable research and knowledge generation not only at the University but also at a national level.
Minister Manickchand who lauded the move towards academic research expressed her conviction that the University is embarking on something that will become a culture.
“We know Guyana has an amazing amount of talent; we have always had an incredible amount of talent residing amongst us…and we have always had resources that are waiting to be explored, waiting to be discovered,” said Manickchand.
Within the next two weeks a second call for proposals will be published and academic staff of the University will be allowed a period of three months to prepare and submit proposals for consideration. Overall, it is estimated that a total of 40 grants will be funded under the UGSTSP, according to Looknauth, who disclosed that a study is also expected to commence soon for the establishment of a research and innovative fund at the university.
The objective of the UGSTSP is to strengthen the four science and technology faculties at the University of Guyana (Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences and Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences), to better prepare graduates for jobs in low carbon industries and build sustainable capacity to operate the University and plan for its future growth.
The project is focused on improving the quality of science education through curriculum reform, support for research in Low Carbon Development areas, improved physical infrastructure and capacity building.
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