Caribbean Research programme receives boost of more than 7 million euros. Funding for KITLV to start large research programme in cooperation with the Universities of Curacao, St. Maarten and Aruba and Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI).

During the annual consultation with the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, Ingrid van Engelshoven, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, has announced that more than 7 million euros has been awarded to two projects within the NWO programme Caribbean Research: a Multidisciplinary Approach. In this funding round, the emphasis is on the structural strengthening of the knowledge system and the embedding of scientific research in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. NWO wants to realise that objective by means of these two large multidisciplinary research programmes that will be realised and embedded in the Caribbean region. The research programmes focus on issues that are of great societal and scientific importance for the Caribbean region, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge via education and outreach. This is the first time that NWO has funded programmes of this size in the Dutch Caribbean.

The two awarded projects are:

SEALINK

Programme Chair: Prof. dr. Mark Vermeij (University of Amsterdam, CARMABI Curaçao).

Land, Sea, and Society: The SEALINK Program will create the first comprehensive understanding of ocean pollution and coral reef health in the Dutch Caribbean. We will follow water and pollutants (including sewage, fertilizer, and human pathogens) from land to sea, and track how water motion and marine organisms move and change these substances. We will also measure coral reef growth in 3D. This information will be used in computer simulations to create new conservation scenarios with community input. We will also study how community members use scientific information, which will help improve coral reef education and conservation globally.

Island(er)s at the Helm

Programme Chair: Dr. Francio Guadeloupe (KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies; University of Amsterdam)

Since the first occupation of the islands, hurricanes and the devastation of coastal areas have significant ecological and social implications for the (Dutch) Caribbean. These are deeply impacting the basic living conditions (water, food, shelter) and heritage of the island inhabitants. This requires immediate action! Island(er)s at the Helm brings together researchers and societal partners to combine technical, traditional, and contemporary knowledge practices to co-create sustainable and inclusive strategies for social adaptation to these climatic challenges. In parallel, a trans-Atlantic academic platform and regional expertise center, will be developed fostering research-based education on climate challenges for the islands.

Photo: @Jay Haviser. Part of the ‘Island(er)s at the Helm’ team. Left to right: Tibisay Sankatsing Nava (KITLV), Charissa Granger (Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam), Liliane de Geus (UNESCO workgroup Bonaire), Corinne Hofman (KITLV/LU), Andrea Richards (CHSolutions), Menno Hoogland (KITLV), Francio Guadeloupe (KITLV/UvA), Antonio Carmona Baez (President University of St. Martin), Denisio Wyatte (ECO St. Maarten Agricultural Research & Development Foundation), Jay Haviser (Director SIMARC, SABARC, BONAI) and Sharelly Emanuelson (UNIARTE).

Source: NWO (ENG).

Bron: NWO (NL).

In the media

stmaartenagriculture.com, ‘Caribbean Research Programme Chair Assigned to Francio Guadeloupe‘, 9 January 2021.