The BCS Team presented across a wide spectrum of priority areas, including climate impacts on fisheries (Ms Simone Merchant and Mr Martin Weekes – undergraduate students); antimicrobial resistance in seafood and environmental systems by Keishanna Williams (Mphil candidate), Dr Thea Scantlebury-Manning (Head of Department) and Dr Kelly Brathwaite (Lecturer); biodiversity and species distribution modelling by Dr Darren Browne (Lecturer); and coral reef and marine baseline assessments by Mr Robert Bourne (Mphil student). The inclusion of advanced approaches such as predictive modelling, environmental monitoring, and sustainable material innovation presented by Dr Srinivasa Popuri (Senior Lecturer) underscores the department’s commitment to cutting-edge, solution-oriented science.

The CAGRI team further strengthened the research symposium with their interdisciplinary contribution, particularly in the areas of food security, circular economy innovation, and sustainable resource use. Groundbreaking work led by Dr Michele Singh (Director), in collaboration with Dr Fradian Murray (Lecturer) and Dr Sarah Arneaud (Part-time Lecturer), examined the implications of sargassum influxes and arsenic contamination on national food production, while complementary research advanced pathways for transforming marine biomass into sustainable products. Additionally, Dr Michele Singh and Mr Rakesh Bhukal  (Subject Matter Expert) highlighted nature-based solutions using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology for fish waste management, demonstrating innovative “blue to gold” approaches that convert waste streams into valuable resources for agriculture and industry.

Collectively, these contributions reflect the full participation of BCS and CAGRI, showcasing research that is both scientifically innovative and directly responsive to national development needs. The work presented offers practical, evidence-based solutions to support government policy, environmental management, and private sector innovation, reinforcing UWI-BCS and CAGRI (FST) as leaders in advancing sustainable development in Barbados. The event was well represented by a strong cohort of students and staff members across all levels of the department.