To mark its 70th anniversary, McGill’s Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados hosted events Dec. 5-6 that brought together researchers, students, elected officials and community partners to celebrate its history and build momentum for the future.
Bellairs is Canada’s only teaching and research station in the tropics affiliated with a university. It was founded in 1954 thanks to a bequest to McGill from Commander Carlyon Wilfroy Bellairs, a British Royal Navy officer and politician. In the years since, Bellairs has hosted students and scholars from around the globe for academic semesters, field studies, workshops and research retreats in a range of subjects, including cutting-edge disciplines like robotics and artificial intelligence.
“McGill defines what it means to be a global university, and Bellairs is a real example of that commitment,” said McGill President Deep Saini, who attended the celebrations. “We are immensely proud of McGill’s steadfast presence in Barbados over the past seven decades and look forward to collaborating with our partners in government, business and the diplomatic community to further deepen our ties to the region.”
Important relationship
Sandra Husbands, Minister of State in the Barbados Ministry of Education, spoke of how her small nation values its relationships “with people of like mind – people who have a view of the world that says the world must be better and we will make it better.
“One of the ways in which we do that is through science, and therefore the relationship that we have here with the Bellairs Research Institute is an important one because it allows us to be partners on a journey to seek to improve what happens across the globe.”
The celebrations were organized by McGill’s Faculty of Science with support from the Office of the Vice-President (Global Engagement). They kicked off with a community science outreach event for local school children presented by Frederic Bertley, BSc’94, PhD’00, President and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), in partnership with McGill and the U.S. State Department.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) and McGill held a research symposium titled AI, Biodiversity, and Their Convergence to mark the occasion, where researchers presented their latest projects to an audience that included local academics, students, government officials, industry experts and community leaders. Speakers included Jeanese Badenock (UWI), Frederic Bertley (COSI), David Delaine (Florida International University) and McGill professors David Adelani, Frédéric Guichard, Courtney Paquette and Laura Pollock. The event was moderated by Denis Thérien (ServiceNow and Professor Emeritus at McGill).
At a separate event, students from McGill and UWI who took part in the Barbados Field Study Semester presented research on topics ranging from gullies and doves to corals and breakwaters.
Growing legacy
Speaking at a cocktail reception, Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, emphasized the vital role of scientific research in addressing the effects of climate change.
“It is a momentous occasion to celebrate such a milestone in this Canada-Barbados collaboration,” Wills said. “It reflects the Institute’s enduring value and highlights significant contributions to marine and environmental research, and the strong academic exchange that enriches our countries and extends beyond our borders.”
Professor Anja Geitmann, McGill’s Vice-President (Global Engagement), also highlighted the critical importance of international collaboration in tackling global challenges.
“We are privileged to have a presence here in Barbados that allows us to work not only across disciplines, but across borders, supported by a physical venue that facilitates collaboration. The next 70 years of Bellairs will build on its legacy as a hub of innovation, collaboration and learning,” she said. “We need to think how we can be strategic with initiatives that link our two countries because a research station is more than just a physical facility. It is really a testament to the sheer commitment of our institutions, and both of our nations, to creating the capacity to address the unprecedented challenges facing humanity.”