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FACULTY OF EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

(FEES)

Annual Report

[September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018]

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Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 PUBLIC & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ............................................................................................................... 6

3.0 TRAINING WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED ........................................................................................................... 9

4.0 RESEARCH .......................................................................................................................................................... 11

5.0 TEACHING PROGRAMMES .............................................................................................................................. 12

6.0 PUBLICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 15

7.0 NOTABLE VISITORS .......................................................................................................................................... 19

8.0 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................. 20

9.0 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................................... 27

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) is a relatively small, but very visible

and visionary Unit that was re-designated to its current academic status (as FEES) in recognition

of the Academic Unit’s outputs in respect of teaching and research, as well as potential for

accessing more grants and Consultancy contracts.

Vision Statement

The vision statement of FEES is as follows:

A Faculty that provides high quality teaching, research and learning experience that meet the

needs and aspiration of its students while contributing to the developmental goals of the broader

society.

Mission Statement

The Faculty’s mission statement is:

To develop a highly visible and stimulating intellectual environment in which our teaching and

research produce graduates with the technical skills and knowledge needed to support National

Development, while enhancing the viability and reputation of the Faculty.

Names of Academic Staff during Academic Year 2017-2018

Full-time

The four highlighted names of full time staff indicate that they joined the Faculty in 2017.

Paulette Bynoe, PhD; MPhil; BA; AA; Senior Lecturer and Dean

Denise Simmons BSc., MSc., Postgraduate Diploma, Lecturer II; Assistant Dean;

Coordinator, Online Programme - BSc. Environmental Management and Technology

Shanomae Rose, /Dip. In Med. Tech; BSc; MSc.; MPH/Lecturer II and Head,

Department of Environmental Studies

Dina Benn, MSc; Postgraduate Certificate; BA; Lecturer II and Head, Department of

Geography

Judith Rosales, PhD ; MPhil ; MSc ; BSc ; Professor and Coordinator of the PhD

programme (Biodiversity), Department of Environment Studies

Temitope Oyedotun, PhD; MSc (GIS), MSc (Geography), BSc; Reader, Department of

Geography

Rawle Edinboro, MSc.; BA; Certificate; Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography

Linda Johnson-Bhola, MSc., BA; Lecturer II, Department of Geography

Seon Hamer, BSc, MSc., Lecturer1, Department of Environmental Studies

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On Sabbatical Leave

Ramona Dabee-Johnson B.A., Grad. DipEd., Lecturer I; Head, Department of

Geography

Part-time

Ms. Claudette Foo

Ms. Vedyawattie Looknauth

Mr. Leslie Sobers

Chrisel Leitch-Shepherd

Mr. Ashley Adams

Mr. Isidro Espinosa

Mr. Bunnel Bernard

Mr. Ajay Arjoon

Mr. Vincent Alexander

Ms. Sandra Britton

Dr. Mark Bynoe

Mr. Teni Housty

Mr. Phillip DaSilva

Dr. Marlon Bristol

Dr. Patrick Chesney

Mr. William Harris

Ms. Jocelyn Williams

Ms. J. Ayana McCalman

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Names of Non- Academic Staff

Keshawna Garnett-Adams, Lavern Simon-Green Administrative Officer FEES Personal Assistant (ag)

Esther Benn, Secretary Nickeshia Sampson, Secretary

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Oswald Washington, Office Attendant

2.0 PUBLIC & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Members of Staff of FEES provided various public and professional services at the

international, regional and national levels, as highlighted below.

Dr. Paulette Bynoe

Guyana’s Lead Climate Change Negotiator for the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Member of Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Gender and Climate

Change Working Group

Contributory Author of Chapter for the IPCC World Ocean Assessment Report

Convenor, CXC CAPE Green Engineering Subject Panel

Executive Committee Member, Global Water Partnership_ Caribbean

Member, Peer Review Network for DFATD-funded 'Enhancing Knowledge and

Application of Comprehensive Disaster Management' (EKACDM) Initiative, The UWI,

Mona Campus

Co-Chair, Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

Education Sub-Sector Committee

Member, UG press Editorial Board

Member, Inter-American Development Bank Civil Society Committee

Member, National Steering Committee of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility,

Ministry of Natural Resources

Member, Working Group, UNCCD, Department of Environment, Ministry of the

Presidency

Member of Coastal Task Force assignment under the direction of Department of

Environment, Ministry of Presidency

Denise Simmons

Director, Board of Directors; Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency

Director, Board of Directors; Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (up to December 31,

2017)

Member, Technology Needs Assessment Committee, Office of Climate Change, Ministry

of the Presidency

Member of National Climate Change Committee, Office of Climate Change, Ministry of

the Presidency, 2018

UG/FEES Team Member, “Knowledge and Capacity Development for Inclusive Green

Development Transition in Guyana” project to support the research and analysis to

inform the elaboration of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), and to support

the work of the seven thematic Multi-stakeholders Expert Groups of the GSDS

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UG/FEES Team Member – Environmental Education and Awareness , “Strengthening

technical capacities to mainstream and monitor Rio Convention implementation through

policy coordinator”

Ms. Shanomae Rose

Director, Protected Areas Commission Board

UG 50 and Beyond: The Possibilities – Live the Dream/UG Faculty Promotion

Television Programme/16 January, 2018/NCN Ch 11

Career Guidance Session/ 1 February, 2018/Queen’s College

Beat Plastic Pollution/ Public Forum hosted by the Guyana Peace Council on the

occasion of World Environment Day/6 June, 2018/ Promenade Gardens

Ms. Dina Benn

Coordinator of observance activities for GIS Day 2017.

Dr. Temitope Oyedotun

University of Guyana's Alternate representative in the Coastal Task Force assignment

under the direction of Department of Environment, Ministry of Presidency, Cooperative

Republic of Guyana

National Hydrographic Coordinating Committee - University of Guyana representative as

Observer in the Ongoing Committee;

Journal Reviewer- The International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and

Sedimentation/The World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research

(International Journal of Sediment Research);

Journal Reviewer-International Water, Air and Soil Conservation Society (INWASCON)

- Journal Reviewer (Geology, Ecology and Landscape);

Journal Reviewer-European Water Resources Association (EWRA) - (Environmental

Processes).

Rawle Edinboro

Member, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Board

Member, Guyana Planning Association

Services rendered as part of the FEES team:

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- Co-ordinated inter-university collaboration exercise between the University of

Guyana and an urban planning team from the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology (November 2017 to January 2018).

- Worked with Dr. Paulette Bynoe on activities pertaining to the City Lab Car

project (‘engaging students in sustainable Caribbean Cities’) – a European

Union funded project that aims to stimulate innovation in teaching in higher

education institutions in the Caribbean through problem-based learning.

Ms. Linda Johnson Bhola

Established a STEM Laboratory at Eversham Primary School (Corentyne) for training

teachers and pupils to incorporate STEM methodologies

Member of Coastal Task Force assignment under the direction of Department of

Environment, Ministry of Presidency

Assistant Examiner for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate/CXC- Geography

Resource person for CSEC Geography School-Based Assessment (SBA)

Resource Person for Geography- Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE)

Participation at Graduation Exercise (Eversham Primary)

Ms. Linda Johnson-Bhola functioned as Guest

Speaker for the Grade 6 Annual Graduation at Eversham

Primary School, Corentyne on July 18, 2018.

Mr. Seon Hamer

Alternate Member, National Steering Committee of the Forest Carbon Partnership

Facility, Ministry of Natural Resources

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3.0 TRAINING WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED

Dr. P. Bynoe moderated a 3 day Green Engineering Training Workshop on January 3-5, 2018 in

Kingston, Jamaica with experts (invited by CXC, in consultation with the CARICOM Secretariat

and REETA Programme) to develop a digital toolkit for the delivery of curriculum on Green

Engineering. The training workshop, which was also supported by the Organization of American

States (OAS), should therefore be viewed as a very relevant and timely intervention in respect of

longer term capacity building to the teachers who are expected to deliver the lessons based on the

approved syllabus.

Dr. P. Bynoe with Caribbean Experts

As a follow-up to the January 2018 training workshop, Dr. P. Bynoe was recruited as Consultant

Facilitator of CAPE Green Engineering Boot Camp organised and financed by OAS/GTZ/CXC.

Montego Bay on April 4-6, 2018.

The Boot Camp aimed to apprise participants of the resources that had been created to support

the implementation of the CAPE Green Engineering Syllabus. At the end of the Boot Camp,

teachers were expected to demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of the syllabus;

demonstrate an understanding of how to implement resources in the teaching and learning

process; and use a range of resources to support diverse assessment strategies.

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Green Engineering Teachers who participated in the Green Engineering Boot Camp

Denise Simmons and Dawn Fox: Introductory Water Quality Sampling and Analysis

Training Course; July 2018

Shanomae Rose:Moodle Training Session for Staff – 30 July, 2018 held in the CIT

Building

Dina Benn: Workshop on Climate Resilient Agricultural Development on the Guyana

Coast - FAO-UG-CIAT, July 2018

Dina Benn: GIS Day Open Street Map Mapathon, University of Guyana, CH&PA, &

IDB, November 2017: As part of GIS Day 2017, hosted a public mapathon event using

the open source GIS platform Open Street Map at the University of Guyana.

GIS DAY MAPATHON EVENT

In observance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day and Geography Awareness Week,

the FEES, in collaboration with practitioners from the Central Housing and Planning Authority,

the Inter-American Development Bank, and Guyana Power & Light Inc., once again hosted a

GIS Day event in November 2017. The mapathon was held at the Centre for Information

Technology and was attended by approximately ninety-five (95) persons, comprising secondary

school students, University of Guyana students, and interested members of the public.

Participants were exposed to the web mapping platform Open Street Map, which allows any user

to contribute spatial data to its digital map platform to improve coverage in their communities.

GIS Day is observed annually to promote public awareness about the utility and benefits of

geospatial technologies. Through the mapathon, participants were introduced to basic digitising

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skills that enabled them to mark features such as key buildings, roads, landmarks, and other

points of interest in communities throughout Guyana. In total, 2,309 edits were made to Open

Street Map through the event, and the top GIS Day contributors were awarded tokens. Many

participants indicated their enthusiasm about learning about the importance of open data, open

web mapping platforms, and being part of the local community of mappers.

GIS Day Participants using the Open Street Map platform.

4.0 RESEARCH

4.1 Completed Research/ Applied Research:

Bynoe, P., Edinboro, R. & Benn, D.K. Confronting the Challenges of Managing Informal

Settlements: A Critical Review of the Case of ‘Plastic City’, Guyana. 2018

Bynoe, P. An Assessment of Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour Students of

Secondary and Post-Secondary Institutions in Guyana. 2018. (On behalf of UNICEF).

Bynoe, P. An Assessment of the Integration of Sustainability Issues in Nine CAPE Programmes

and Curricula. 2018 (On behalf of CXC and GIZ).

Oyedotun, T. D. T. Land use change and classification in Chaohu Lake catchment from multi-

temporal remotely sensed images. 2017-2018

Oyedotun, T. D. T. Multivariate statistical analysis for grain-size characterisation of intertidal

sedimentary facies in an estuarine environment. 2018

Rose, S. Manganese in Drinking Water in Matthew's Ridge.2017

Simmons, D. Contribution of field work to student learning: A Case Study of the Environmental

Studies and Geography programmes, University of Guyana. 2017-2018

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4.2 Research in progress:

Bynoe, P. Water Resources Management in Guyana (focusing on the Policy and Institutional

Framework for Water Governance in Guyana, the need for IWRM and the Way Forward.,

Knowledge/capacity gap analysis and political and cultural challenges) as a Contributor to Book

Chapter on Water in Guyana.

Benn, K. Perceptual-cognitive study of digital usability issues in animated heat maps.

Benn, K. Testing digital (mobile) and tactile augmented reality applications for urban

wayfinding and geospatial education.

Hamer, S. The contribution of Chlorophyta to carbon sequestration/ 2018

Hamer, S. A gradient study of aquatic microalgal communities in Guyana: from marine to

freshwater/ 2018

Hamer, S. Species distribution & diversity of Chlorophyta in Guyana/ 2018

Hamer, S.Microalgal response to varying environmental parameters due to climate change/

2018

Hamer, S .Carbon sequestration in aquatic micro-algal communities between Amazon &

Orinoco River Deltas/ 2018

Johnson-Bhola and Oyedotun, T. Integrated Assessment of Guyana’s Coastline Dynamics,

Coastal Land Use and Defence Structures

Oyedotun, T. D. T. / Morphodynamic impacts of land use change on large river-estuarine basins

of Asia, Africa and Southern America: a comparative geo-spatial evaluation / 2018

5.0 TEACHING PROGRAMMES

5.1 Student Enrolment

During academic year 2017-2018 students’ enrolment for the undergraduate Diploma/Degree

programmes was 217, for the MSc. programmes 40, and the PhD in Biodiversity Programme 4,

giving a total of 261 in comparison with 208 and 212 in the academic years 2015-2016 and

2016-2017, respectively. It is noteworthy that there was an increase in student enrolment by 23,

using the last academic year 2016-2017 as the reference point. See Table below.

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Moreover, FEES added to its lists of programmes an under-graduate Diploma in Land

Administration and Management, as well as a BSc in Environmental Science. Both programmes

were Faculty responses to stakeholders’ requests and analysis of gaps in human capital that is

required for effective environment management and protection in Guyana. Specifically, the

former programme, which was offered in collaboration with three lecturers from the Geo-

informatics Department of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, was

developed for technicians who are employed by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

During the academic year under review the SEES graduated a total of 38 persons. The table

below provides dis-aggregated data.

Programme Awards

2016

Awards

2016/2017

B.A. (Geography) 3

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B.Sc.(Environmental Studies) 23

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Post-Graduate Diploma 1 1

Master of Science in Environmental 5 4

Programmes 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018

Undergraduate Enrolment Enrolment Enrolment

Diploma in Land Administration and

Management

31

BA in Geo-Economics 2 1

BA- Geography (Education Minor)

BA- Geography 24 26 37

BSc. - Environmental Studies 142 154 142

BSc. - Environmental Sciences 7

TOTAL: 168 181 217

Post graduate

MSc –Environmental Management 14 17 24

MSc-Urban Planning and Management 17 7 16

TOTAL: 31 24 40

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

(Ph.D.) in Biodiversity 9 7 4

TOTAL: 9 GRAND TOTAL: 208 212 261

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Management

5.3 Student Prizes Awarded

FEES AWARD CEREMONY 2018

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) hosted its Annual Students’ Awards

Ceremony for the academic year 2016/2017 on Friday, April 21, 2018 at 16:00 hrs in the

Education Lecture Theatre (ELT).

The list of awardees consists of Ms. Bonita Bernard (1st year) – Bachelor’s of Science Degree in

Environmental Studies, Ms. Nikita La Cruz (2nd year) - Bachelor’s of Science Degree in

Environmental Studies, Ms. Benita Davis (3rd year) – Bachelor’s of Science Degree in

Environmental Studies, Ms. Afeefa Richardson (4th year), Mr. Jefferson Jaikissoon (Best

Graduating Student) – Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Environmental Studies Mr. Romario

Hastings (Best Research Project &) – Mr. Lakeram Singh (Best All Round Student) - Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Environmental Studies.

In addition, students were rewarded for their involvement in extra-curricular activities that aid in

the development of the Faculty. They were: Mr. Patrick Benjamin-Huntley, Ms. Alana Norville,

Mr. Nikita LaCruz, Nkofi Hodge, Madhavi Indarjeet and Lakeram Singh. These awards were

sponsored by Dr. Paulette Bynoe, AA, Dean of FEES. This year the FEES introduce two new

Awards for Sports Man and Sports Woman of the Year 2017. Mr. Jabari Joseph and Ms. Kezia

Austin were recipients of these awards which were sponsored by Ms. Denise Simmons, Assistant Dean and Ms. Shanomae Rose, Head of Department.

The Faculty, since its inception in 1993, (formerly the Environmental Studies Unit) recognized

the importance of rewarding students each year (and at each level) for their academic excellence.

A student, whom for his/her respective year, has attained the highest Grade Point Average (GPA), but not less than 2.7, is qualified for consideration.

The Faculty wishes to express sincere thanks to the sponsors (Conservation International Inc.,

Environmental Engineering Solutions, Shell Service Station, Development Policy &

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Management Consultants (DPMC), Environmental Management Consultants (EMC), E & A

Consultants Inc., Austin’s Book Store, and the Guyana Goldfield Inc.), the Guest Speaker (Ms.

Fazia Baksh) who is an alumnus of FEES and the Head of the Office of Climate Change,

Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. C. Nigel Gravesande (Registrar, University of Guyana), Ms.

Gwyneth George (University Librarian), and the parents and guardians of all the students who

received medals/awards.

FEES Awardees and Medalist for 2017

6.0 PUBLICATIONS

6.1 Journal Publications

Bynoe, P. The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Sustainable Living in the North Rupununi in

Guyana. Ecothinking. (Accepted for Publication, 2018).

Bynoe, P. Exploring the relationship between Biodiversity Use and Poverty Alleviation in

Surama, Guyana. Caribbean Geography: A Journal of Geography for the Region (Accepted for

publication, 2018).

Walter Leal Filho, Abdul-Lateef Balogun, Olawale Emmanuel Olayide, Ulisses Azeiteiro,

Desalegn Ayal, David Chavez, Gustavo Nagy, Paulette Bynoe, Othieno Ogugu, Yannick

Toamukum N, Mostafa Saroar, Chunluan Li. Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change in Cities

and their Adaptive Capacity. (Reviewed for Publication).

Johnson-Bhola, L. and Oyedotun, T. D. T. (2018) Coastal Defence Roles of Mangroves on the

Amazon-Influenced Coast of Guyana, South America: A Review of Intervention Project of an

Eroding Coastline. The Zone, pages 12 - 14.http://www.coastalzonecanada.org/wp-

content/uploads/2018/07/CoastalZoneNewsletterSpring2018_update.pdf

Oyedotun, T. D. T. and Johnson-Bhola, L. Vulnerability of Guyana’s Shoreline in the face of

Climate Change (Submitted for publication, 2018).

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Oyedotun, T. D. T. (2018) Land use change and classification in Chaohu Lake catchment from

multi-temporal remotely sensed images. Geology, Ecology and Landscape.

https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1481657

Oyedotun, T. D. T. (2018) Coastal and Estuarine Management in the UK: Review and Overview

of Perspectives. Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, Vol. 19, No. 2: pages 103 - 110.

https://doi.org/10.1504/IER.2018.093296

Oyedotun, T. D. T., Ruiz-Luna, A. and Navarro-Hernández, A. G. (2018) Coastline

morphodynamics and defences in Mazatlán, Mexico. Interdisciplinary Environmental Review,

Vol. 19, No. 2: pages 168 - 183. https://doi.org/10.1504/IER.2018.093303

Oyedotun, T. D. T., Ruiz-Luna, A. and Navarro-Hernández, A. G. (2018) Contemporary

Coastline changes and consequences at a tropical coastal domain. Geology, Ecology and

Landscape. Vol. 2, Issue 02, pages 104 - 114. https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1452483

Oyedotun, T. D. T. (2018) X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) in the investigation of the composition of

Earth Materials: a review and an overview. Geology, Ecology and Landscape. Vol. 2, Issue 02,

pages 148 - 154. https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1452459

Rose, S. and Corbin, Hisakhana (2018) Prospects and Constraints of Rehabilitating and

Expanding Guyana’s Road Network, Papers do NAEA, Paper No. 371

Akpinar-Elci, M., Rose, S., & Kekeh, M. (2018). Well-being and mental health impact of

household flooding in Guyana, the Caribbean. Marine Technology Society Journal, 52(2), 18-22.

doi:10.4031/MTSJ.52.2.3

Tracy Persaud, Oudho Homenauth, David Fredericks, Seon Hamer, Effect of Rice Husk

Biochar as an Amendment on a Marginal Soil in Guyana, World Environment, Vol. 8 No.

1, 2018, pp. 20-25. doi: 10.5923/j.env.20180801.03.

6.3 Conference Proceedings

Bynoe, P. Promoting Arts-based Environmental Education in Primary Schools in Guyana

(Reviewed for publication in the World Environmental Education Congress 2017 Volume)

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6.4 Project Reports

FEES Plus Team (Bynoe, P.; Edinboro, R.; D. Gobin; T. Housty,; H. Singh, V. Klass, D.

Simmons; and A. Adams) Stocktake Report for the Guyana Green State Development

Strategy. Version 2. August 2018.

Bynoe, P. Stocktaking Report for the Preparation of a Project Implementation Plan (PIP)

for Guyana’s Initiation Biennial Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change. April 2018.

Benn, D.K. (2017). Caribbean Territory Dossiers on the state of Invasive Alien Species

and progress towards Aichi Target 9 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. Georgetown,

Guyana: CARICOM Secretariat.

Drakes, O. & Benn, D,K. (2017). Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment of Potaro-Siparuni.

Georgetown, Guyana: Civil Defence Commission.

Drakes, O. & Benn, D,K. (2018). Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment of Upper Takutu-

Upper Essequibo. Georgetown, Guyana: Civil Defence Commission.

Drakes, O. & Benn, D,K. (2018). Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment of Upper

Demerara-Berbice. Georgetown, Guyana: Civil Defence Commission.

6.5 Technical Presentations

Denise Simmons and Ede Tyrell; Mass Drug Administration for Lymphatic Filariasis - Is this

Elimination Strategy working in Guyana?; 63rd CARPHA Annual Health Research Conference; St.

Kitts and Nevis; June 2018.

Denise Simmons; Contribution of field work to student learning: A Case Study of the

Environmental Studies and Geography programmes, University of Guyana - Denise Simmons; 9th

World Environmental Education Congress; Vancouver – Canada; September 2017

Denise Simmons and Shanomae Rose; The Quality of Undergraduate Research: The FEES

Experience; UG’s Second Annual Undergraduate Research Conferences; Guyana; April 2018

Paulette Bynoe; Building Urban Resilience: Getting Beyond Infrastructure. Panel Discussion on

Advancing Urban Resilience in the Caribbean: Lessons from Irma and Maria. University of

Technology, Kingston, Jamaica. June 28, 2018.

Paulette Bynoe; Sustainability and the Need for Green Engineering. Green Engineering Boot

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Camp, Montego Bay, Jamaica, April 4, 2018.

Paulette Bynoe; Where We Are, Where We Want to Go, and How We will Get There. Talanoa

(Facilitative Dialogue), Pre-SessionalMeeting of the Conference of Parties (UNFCCC), Bonn,

Germany. May 2018.

6.6 Major Research Projects Completed Undergraduate and Post-graduate Students during 2016/2017

Below is a list of selected undergraduate research projects that have been conducted by students of

FEES.

An assessment of food waste generation and management practices within

food establishment in Central Georgetown.

An Investigation of the Impacts of Chinese Seine in Artisanal Fisheries on

Marine Turtles.

Occupational Safety and Health - Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and

Risks in Salons and Barbershops in Georgetown, Guyana.

An assessment of two wetland Water Lily species (Nymphaea spp.) for the

phytoremediation of domestic greywater

An examination of some Physicochemical Water quality parameters of the

Rivers within the vicinity of Kaieteur National Park

Road Design as a cause of Road Traffic Accidents along Aubrey Barker

Road

The Socio-economic impacts of switching from LPG to biogas

- A Case Study of President’s College

The impact of energy saving bulbs on energy Consumption.

Palms community along Environmental gradients from Wallaba to Swamp

Forest at Pakuri lands.

An Analysis of the Socio-Economic and Environmental Consequences of

Informal Settlement Development: The Case of ‘Plastic City’, Vreed-en-

Hoop.

An evaluation of health promoting school practices at the Nursery level

based on WHO Framework.

Land Use Assessment for Sustainable Community Development at Pakuri

(St. Cuthbert's) Village

An Energy Audit of the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

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An Assessment of the Medical Waste Management system at a Health

Care Facility

Water Usage and Conservation in Somerset Court, Guyana

A preliminary characterization of mangrove communities on Leguan

Island

Occupational Safety And Health Hazards And Practices In Automotive

Body Workshops In Demerara Mahaica, Guyana

The effect of Nitrogen fertilizers on soil microorganisms in Parika

Microbial quality assessment of beef sold in Stabroek Market

The effects of household phosphate detergent on algal biomass and water

quality in freshwater systems

Occupation Safety and Health among welders in Bartica and Georgetown.

Investigation into the water and aesthetic quality of three (3) pit lakes at

Linden

Economic Benefit of Sustainable Housing Features and Practices in

Various Housing Schemes

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of construction workers with regards to

occupational safety and health.

7.0 NOTABLE VISITORS

During the period November 2017 to January 2018, the University of Guyana, through the

Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) was engaged with a team from the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT: Urban Planning and Urban Design post-graduate

students and Professor from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Massachusetts,

U.S.A) as part of an academic collaboration arrangement in support of the Inter-American

Development Bank (IDB) financed housing operation executed by Guyana’s Central Housing

and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The key aspect of UG’s collaboration was to support the MIT Team in the examination of

alternative concepts in housing, public space and infrastructure for the Sophia, Georgetown

community. The result of studies and community consultations in this area was intended to

inform operations of the IDB in the area of financing home improvement subsidies for low-

income households, as well as neighbourhood upgrading investments in CH&PA housing sites in

Georgetown, namely Sophia.

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The MIT team was led by Professor Adele Santos, Dean of the MIT’s School of Architecture.

Mr. Rawle Edinboro, Senior Lecturer, FEES led the University of Guyana team. The UG student

team comprised the following students of the post graduate Urban Planning and Management:

o Mr. Orin Boyce

o Mr. Lawrence Mentis

o Mr. Anthony Van Brook

o Ms. Shundel Durant

Community working group sessions held as part of the MIT/UG collaborative work in

Sophia, Georgetown

8.0 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

8.1 City Lab Erasmus Project

Erasmus

A new chapter in the European – Caribbean collaboration

The project “CITYLAB CAR” has been selected for the Erasmus+ Programme of the

European Union.

“CITYLAB CAR – Engaging students in sustainable Caribbean Cities” has been selected

for European funding under the Erasmus + Key Action 2 Programme; capacity building in

higher Education. The project aims to stimulate innovation in teaching in higher education

through problem-based learning in the Caribbean, to make higher education institutes and

students better prepared to deal with contemporary urban problems and challenges.

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The project, which commenced in October 2017, seeks to increase the societal relevance of

Higher Education Institutions in the Caribbean region through creating a more structural link

between universities and external societal actors such as public authorities.

The project is a collaboration between fifteen European and Caribbean Higher Education

Institutes: University of Antwerp (Belgium), Aalborg Universitet (Denmark), Universidad

Politecnica de Madrid (Spain), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), Vrije Universiteit Brussel

(Belgium), the university of the West Indies (Trinidad and Tobago), University of Trinidad and

Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago), University of Guyana (Guyana), Government Technical

Institute - Ministry of Education (Guyana), Institute for Graduate Studies and Research

(Suriname), Polytechnic College Suriname (Suriname), Universidad Iberoamericana (Domenican

Republic), Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (Domenican Republic), University

of Technology (Jamaica) and Caribbean Maritime Institute (Jamaica).

To date, several activities have been completed. These include the following:

An Inception meeting that was held at Anterpen University in January 2018

Establishment of ‘Champions’ at each of the named institutions. The UG Champions for

the project are:

- Dr. Paulette Bynoe - Convener, Faculty of Earth and Environmental

Sciences

- Mr. Rawle Edinboro - Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences

- Ms. Shanomae Rose - Head of Department, Environmental Studies

- Ms. Dina Benn - Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences

- Mr. Ewart Smith - Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

- Mr. Andrew Hicks - Faculty of Social Sciences

- Mr. William Harris - Faculty of Technology

- Mr. Maxwell Jackson - Faculty of Technology

A three-day training workshop on problem based learning that was held at the Jamaica

Institute of Technology, Kingstown, Jamaica on June 27 to June 30, 2018 and attended

by Dr. Paulette Bynoe, Mr. Rawle Edinboro, Ms. Dina Benn, Ms. Shanome Rose and Mr.

Ewart Smith.

8.2 World Water Day

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) received an invitation from Mr.

Samuel Wrights, Consultant for an activity in Linden in observance of World Water Day

Activity 2018. A team of staff and students from the Departments of Geography and

Environmental Studies participated in the World Water Day 2018 activities in Linden on

Thursday, March 22, 2018. At Linden, the team joined secondary school students, officials from

the Town Council, Regional Democratic Council and Ministry of the Communities. During the

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morning session, the team participated in field visits to the Dakoura Watershed, Wisroc Water

Treatment Plant and visit specific areas along the River while the afternoon session,

presentations were done by members of the FEES Team. The presentations were as follows:

∙ The Importance of Phycological Studies to water resources protection, monitoring and management - Mr. Seon Hamer, Lecturer, FEES;

∙ A Preliminary Investigation into the water quality of three pit lakes at Linden - Marisa Williams, Final Year Student, FEES; and

∙ Nature for Water - students of ENV 2206: Environmental Education, FEES

Geography Student explaining the Model

UG Team with Mr. Wright and Dr. Shako

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Student showing the Dakoura Creek Watershed sign

Mr. Wright briefing the Students

8.3 Open Career Day 2018

The University of Guyana held its Annual Career Day Event on Friday, February 16, 2018. The

Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences (FEES) participated in this event and attained 2 nd

place.

The FEES displayed various models that depicted global environmental problems such as global

climate change, water resource degradation, loss of biodiversity just to name a few. The FEES

took this opportunity to encourage students to apply for our current undergraduate programmes;

the BSc. in Environmental Studies, BSc. in Environmental Science and the BA in Geography.

This year the PhD in Biodiversity Programme was also on display in the booth. Moreover, the

staff of FEES discussed numerous career paths that can be undertaken after attaining a Degree

from the Faculty, and some alumnus of FEES spoke through video on their experience at FEES

which gave students an insight of the exciting experiences at FEES. Further, the FEES explained

some of the course contents to the students which allowed them to appreciate the programmes

offered by FEES.

Students in attendance

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FEES Students interacting with the participants

FEES Staff interacting with the students

8.4 Earth Hour 2018

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences partnered with a number of other agencies,

such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Youth Environment Network

(GYEN), under the coordination of the World Wildlife Fund-Guianas to observe Earth Hour

2018. This year, the Faculty’s Eco Trust Society joined with the University of Guyana’s Biology

Club to mount an exhibition on the Lawns of Guyana Stores Ltd. on March 21, 2018 during the

period 10:00h to 13:00h hours.

Models depicting aspects of sustainable development that were developed by students of FEES

were displayed. During the exhibition, the students explained the models to viewers of the

exhibits and also shared information on the Faculty’s programmes.

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Some of the Exhibits displayed

The Eco Trust Society collaborated with the UG Biology Club to host an Earth Hour exhibition,

a ‘talk’ and ‘light up’ on the UG main campus on March 22, 2018.

Finally, the Eco Trust Society joined with WWF and partners for the Earth Hour 2018 Main

Event which was the Lights Out Concert that was held at the National Park on Saturday March

24, 2018. Mr. Rovindra Persaud recited an “Ode to a White Rhino", while Ms. Sharai Sydia

Harris performed the Alicia Keys song "We are here". Both performances were well received by

the audience.

8.5 Off-Campus training- Lethem

Forty Geography students (years 1 – 3) participated in off-campus training from November 9 -

11, 2017. The purpose of the off-campus field exercises was to concretize many of the

theoretical concepts covered in the GEO 1105 - Introduction to Maps and Cartography, GEO

2106 - Foundation of Geographic Thought, GEO 2107 - Geography of Guyana, and GEO 3105 -

Advanced Geography of Guyana courses; for example, data collection procedures, data

processing, classification, display, and interpretation.

Students were able to collect and classify data to update the land-use map of Lethem, identify,

observe and sketch landforms between Linden and Lethem, guided by topographic maps,

identify the geomorphic processes which assist in shaping landforms at the study area, classify

stream flows (laminar and turbulent) by observation of stream systems, apply the inductive and

deductive approaches to undertake geographical research, identify the roles Geographers can

play and the contributions they can make in the development of the study area, observe and

explain the relationship between the physical landscapes and the distribution of settlements in the

study area, compare the development problems associated with the coast and hinterland areas,

and describe the main contemporary problems affecting indigenous peoples.

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Students measuring stream velocity and collecting soil samples for analysis

8.6 Graduate Students Participation in Caribbean Urban Forum

Three graduate students of the MSc Programme (Urban Planning and Management) present their

research at the 9th Caribbean Urban forum in Kingston, Jamaica in June 2018.

Dannibelle Mohabir and Lawrence Mentis

Traffic Management Measures in the Upgrading of Informal Settlements: The Case of Sophia,

Georgetown

Chrisandrea Limburgh - Fernandes

Informal Settlements in Georgetown: Implications for Urban Economy

Dannibelle Mohabir and Lawrence Mentis Chrisandrea Limburgh - Fernandes

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8.7 FEES Orientation Day 2018

The Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences (FEES) held two (2) Orientation Sessions on

August 24, 2018 at 09:00h and 17:00h, respectively.

The under-graduate students’ orientation exercise was held at 09:00h. Approximately forty (40)

students attended this session and listened to various presentations on Plagiarism, the use of

Moodle, and a Desirable Approach to your Programme of Study. Students were also informed of

the two existing clubs/societies in FEES. A similar orientation exercise was held for 15 graduate

students. Both sessions were successful and all the questions and comments from students were

addressed.

Undergraduate Session Graduate Session

9.0 CONCLUSION

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences has seen enhanced performance in all thematic

areas of the report, particularly Research and Publications. One notable development in

2017/2018 was the commencement of the Diploma in Land Administration Programme, with the

first cohort of twenty-eight students drawn from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

(16), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (10) and the Central Housing and Planning

Authority (2). The significance of this Programme is associated with the fact that it represents a

timely intervention by the Faculty to respond tangibly to the training needs of key land sector

agencies as a practical means of filling an institutional capacity-building gap.

Together, Faculty members will continue, by the grace of God, to build upon their achievements

during the academic year 2017-2018.