UTech, Jamaica 2016-17 Annual Report

University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Page 82 Excellence Through Knowledge Faculty of Science and Sport cont’d. Microbial Diversity in Water Bodies Associ- ated with the Riverton Landfill (Dr Aneisha Collins-Fairclough – Principal Investigator) This project seeks to identify the microbial diversity present at the Riverton landfill, located in the parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica. Funding for the project was obtained from the Research Development Fund (RDF) at UTech. This project is being housed and supported by the Natural Products Research Laboratory (NPRL). Sampling at the Riverton Landfill was completed at the landfill and DNA was extracted. The isolated DNA was sent overseas for sequencing and some data has already been generated. Data analysis is currently in progress. Investigation of Dolphin-Fisher Interactions in Jamaica and the Impact of Dolphins on Fish- ing in Jamaica (Miss ChristineO’Sullivan – Principal Investigator) The project seeks to identify whether or not dolphins have been turning over fish traps in Jamaica, impacting fishers’ catches as well as start a photo-identification catalogue for dolphins in Jamaica. Funding was obtained from the Research Development Fund at UTech, the Society for Marine Mammalogy and the United States Marine Mammal Commission. Equipment was purchased for the project and a research protocol and data sheet developed. Fishers at the three different study sites were engaged to discuss the project and determine the areas where the research would take place. Data collection was done and the results were successfully processed. The results of the research project were presented at UTech’s 2016 Research, Technology and Innovation Day, as well as the 4 th FOSS Scientific Conference. Integrated Optics and Photonics Laboratory (Mr Maurice McGlashan-Powell – Principal Investigator) The Integrated Optics and Photonics Laboratory was established in June 2010 at the main faculty buildings at 235 Old Hope Road. This laboratory is aimed at strengthening the research and teaching capabilities at UTech in integrated optics, photonics and experimental physics. Mr Maurice McGlashan-Powell (Research Fellow) manages the laboratory and conduct research in integrated optics and photonics with equipment valued at approximately US$202,000 that was donated by IBM, USA. A second set of equipment was received in June 2011 including some additional lasers and a scanning electron microscope. In spite of many delays over the years Mr McGlashan-Powell has been able to do significant work; produce patents; present his work at various fora; train students; and prepare manuscripts for publication. Natural Products Research Laboratory (Dr Andrew Lamm – Principal Investigator) The Natural Products Laboratory was established in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences with funding obtained from the UNDP Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica disbursed between July 2010 and March 2012. The successful grant proposals for the research project titled “Analyses and preservation of endemic Jamaican plants in the Cockpit Country region” were prepared by Dr Andrew Lamm, with the assistance of Dr Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, (formerly Director of CSRECS; now a lecturer at the UWI, Mona). Collaborators on the project also include Prof. Paul Reese (UWI, Mona) and Dr Omar Christian (McNeese University, Louisiana, USA). The NPRL hosts one graduate student (Mr O’Brien Brown), who has now completed his MPhil/PhD in Chemistry and graduated November 2016. Plant samples related to the MPhil student were sent to the Natural Products Institute (NPI) at UWI for