UTech, Jamaica 2016-17 Annual Report

University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Page 7 Excellence Through Knowledge PRESIDENT’S OVERVIEW On March 31, 2017, the term of this annual repor t , my incumbency will have been a mere three months. My first few weeks have been spent developing an understanding of some of the varied issues and concerns of i nte rna l and external stakeholders. I have stated and repeated my intention to maintain very open channels of communication during this transitional phase and beyond, to ensure that all stakeholders are kept abreast and that we are all working in unison for the good name, reputation and advancement of UTech, Jamaica. All views are to be respected within the framework of our working together with the common vision of enhancing research, teaching and public outreach - the three pillars of our mandate, to propel UTech, Jamaica forward. Research and Publications The first order of business of any great university must include the substantial generation of research and publications. I wish to be part of the effort to drive and promote a renewed research thrust, keeping in our sights the fact that research is competitive and global. UTech, Jamaica lecturers must always place themselves in a position to undertake independent research to keep up with the latest developments in their respective fields. I acknowledge with pleasure the presence and the value of on-going research at UTech, Jamaica. As a relatively young university, one of our strategic objectives has been to build the Institution’s capacity for applied innovative research to support national development. Members of faculty and staff continue to be engaged in increasing the output of new knowledge through independent, applied research that is impactful on society. Important strides have been made in some areas. These include: • research on pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, • research on medicinal marijuana • research on food products, and food security • research on dietary disorders and diseases, public health issues, drug compliance studies, • research on a number of renewable and alternative energy projects such as solar- powered hydrogen gas for domestic cooking led by Dr. Earle Wilson • Preservation of endemic cockpit country plants led by Dr Andrew Lamm On Research, Technology and Innovation Day, the 15th such annual celebration, the University mounted an impressive display of some current research projects, among them: • Biodiesel production from algae as an alternate sustainable energy solution. • An investigation into the use of a Render Farm, a high performance group of networked computers, to improve the creation of images and/or animations; this is being applied by the Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD