Ocean Acidification

The Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, officially launched the Water, Analytics, Tracing and Environmental Research (W.A.T.E.R.) Laboratory on June 5, 2026, in the Department of Chemistry which coincides with  World Environment Day. The establishment of the laboratory represents a significant investment in interdisciplinary research aimed at improving the understanding, monitoring and sustainable management of freshwater, coastal and marine environments in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

The W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory is headed by Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, who also serves as its Research Lead. Her grantsmanship, research leadership and development of strategic partnerships were instrumental in securing the resources and institutional support required to establish the facility. Dr. Gordon-Smith’s research interests include water chemistry and pollution, coral reefs, ocean acidification, groundwater–surface water interactions, the use of radioactive and stable isotope tracers, and climate change. These areas of expertise guide the laboratory’s scientific direction and its efforts to address some of the Caribbean’s most pressing water and environmental challenges.

Photo caption: Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon Smith. 

The launch was attended by senior University representatives, researchers and key external stakeholders, including Dr. Donna Minott Kates, (then) Head of the Department of Chemistry; Professor Michael Taylor, (then) Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology; Professor Marvin Reid, Deputy Principal of The UWI Mona; and Mr. Geoffrey Marshall, Deputy Managing Director of the Water Resources Authority. Also in attendance was Dr. Anthony Greenaway, Dr. Gordon-Smith’s graduate research supervisor, whose research interests span environmental pollution and industrial chemistry. His presence highlighted the importance of academic mentorship and the contribution of established researchers to the development of the next generation of Caribbean scientists.

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Advancing Water and Ocean Sustainability

The mission of the W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory is to generate high-quality scientific knowledge that supports the sustainable management of aquatic environments across Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Its research places particular emphasis on understanding biogeochemical processes, ecosystem health and the ways in which freshwater, coastal and marine environments respond to natural and human-induced pressures. Through field-based observations, laboratory analyses and regional monitoring initiatives, the laboratory will strengthen scientific capacity, support evidence-based policy and management decisions, and contribute to regional and global discussions on water and ocean sustainability.

Interdisciplinary Research with Regional Impact

Water pollution chemistry is a core research area of the laboratory. Its work examines nutrient dynamics, isotopic tracers, climate impacts and other environmental drivers of change within aquatic ecosystems.

Researchers at the laboratory use radioactive and stable isotope techniques to trace biogeochemical pathways, identify sources of nutrients and pollution, and examine the connections among groundwater, rivers, estuaries and marine environments. Coastal research focuses on the effects of land-based pollution and other environmental pressures on Jamaica’s vulnerable coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. The laboratory also conducts analyses of marine sediments to investigate historical geochemical processes and the long-term effects of climate change. Ocean acidification is another key and expanding area of research. This work includes assessments of carbonate chemistry, the monitoring of ocean-observing capacity, and the evaluation of ecological and biogeochemical responses to changing ocean conditions.

The laboratory is also conducting detailed assessments of major freshwater systems, including the Rio Cobre, Rio Grande and Black River. These studies examine hydrology, water chemistry, pollution, land–water interactions and the movement of water between groundwater and surface-water systems.

Collectively, these research areas support a more integrated understanding of how Caribbean aquatic environments are being affected by pollution, climate change and other natural and human-induced pressures.

Laboratory Tour Highlights Research Capabilities

The official opening also included a guided tour of the W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory, facilitated by two of Dr. Gordon-Smith’s research students, Mr. Andrew Green and Ms. Pearl Bergan.

During the tour, guests were introduced to the laboratory’s research facilities, equipment and analytical capabilities. The students also provided insight into the scientific techniques used to examine water quality, environmental pollution, aquatic chemistry and the movement of chemical and isotopic tracers through freshwater, coastal and marine systems. The tour provided attendees with an opportunity to see firsthand how the laboratory will support field-based research, laboratory analyses, student training and collaborative environmental monitoring initiatives.

 Building the Next Generation of Scientists

 In addition to advancing scientific research, the W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory provides an important platform for graduate training, undergraduate research and international scientific engagement.

The laboratory currently supports three locally based postgraduate students—Ms. Pearl Bergan, Mr. Andrew Green and Mr. Kadane Coates—as well as undergraduate students and international researchers.

Students are actively involved in fieldwork, laboratory analyses, data interpretation and collaborative research projects. Their participation contributes to local and international scientific outputs while building the technical expertise needed to address emerging environmental challenges.

The involvement of Mr. Green and Ms. Bergan in facilitating the laboratory tour also demonstrated the central role students will play in the laboratory’s research, public engagement and knowledge-sharing activities.

Strengthening Partnerships and Research Capacity

The W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory maintains strong local, regional and international partnerships that expand its research capacity and scientific reach. Local collaborators include the Water Resources Authority, the National Irrigation Commission and several non-governmental organisations. International partners include The University of Texas at Austin and the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States; the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Germany; and Liverpool John Moores University, University College London, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in the United Kingdom. These partnerships support knowledge exchange, capacity building, student development, shared research methodologies and comparative studies across diverse aquatic environments.

Through its research, training and partnerships, the W.A.T.E.R. Laboratory is positioned to become an important centre for aquatic and environmental research in the Caribbean. Its establishment further strengthens the Department of Chemistry and the Faculty of Science and Technology’s contribution to addressing some of the region’s most urgent water, climate and environmental challenges.

The University of the West Indies, Mona, 5 August 2026. Full article.