The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) recently participated in an international symposium that brought together scientists from various parts of the world to the Caribbean. The gathering aimed to explore the future of science and technology in the region, highlighting the skills and expertise of its resident scientists as well as those in the diaspora. Leading physicists, computer scientists, astronomers, technologists, entrepreneurs, policy makers, conservationists, and other stakeholders gathered to engage in discussions, events, and collaborations to envision the future of science and technology in the Caribbean.
The symposium provided a platform for participants to synergize conversations, collaboration, and networking. It aimed to create new connections and opportunities between Caribbean scientists, students, and the larger scientific community. One of the key objectives of the symposium was to establish a hub for relevant science, including radio astronomy, in the region through collaborations between scholars from around the world and academics from the Caribbean. The overall goal was to facilitate collective growth and development in the scientific field.
Professor Shirin Haque from the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago played a significant role in coordinating the symposium. Having completed her Ph.D. with UWI and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville under an IDB fellowship, Professor Haque has been a longstanding collaborator with NRAO. UWI and NRAO have collaborated on programs that provide access and training in radio astronomy to underrepresented individuals, including initiatives like the Radio Astronomy Data Imaging and Analysis Lab (RADIAL) program and the NINE program. Several UWI undergraduates, including three this year, have participated in the RADIAL program.
The symposium was initiated by Trinidadian diaspora Professor Stephon Alexander of Brown University, chief strategist Everard Findlay of EIME Corp in the USA, and Professor Shirin Haque of UWI as the local chair. The event received generous support from the Simons Foundation to UWI. Participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions, collaborations, and networking activities with the aim of advancing science and technology in the Caribbean region.