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New Scientist - Dr. Ruth Potopsing
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Dr. Ruth Potopsingh is a sustainable development expert with over 40 years of experience in the energy sector, having worked both in the petroleum industry and in renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, small hydro) energy efficiency and conservation. She is a pioneer in this field, particularly as a woman, since at the time she started the field was dominated by men. Dr. Potopsingh started her university life studying geography, graduating in 1975 from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Mona with a B.A. in Geography and a Diploma in Education. However, her work as a Physical Planner in the Town Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance and Planning starting in 1976 led her to obtain an M.Sc. in Urban Development Planning from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. She also studied at the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environmental Strategy. She eventually moved to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in 1993 where she worked in various technical management capacities culminating in her serving as the PCJ Group Managing Director for almost five years. During this time she was responsible for numerous projects that enhanced Jamaica’s energy efficiency, retrofitting several schools, hospitals and police stations with energy efficiency equipment. She was responsible for the implementation of the Petro Caribe Agreement with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which provided needed preferential crude oil prices to Jamaica. Dr. Potopsingh was one of the pioneers of Jamaica’s renewable energy transition beginning with commercial wind operations at Wigton, Manchester in 2004 and the removal of lead from gasoline in 2000 and later the introduction of 10% ethanol in gasoline. She was the founding member the Jamaica Solar Energy Association. She continued her studies over this period, earning an Executive Masters in Business Administration (1996) and a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development (2006), both from The UWI, Mona. Having been a part-time lecturer and external examiner at the University of Technology (UTech) in the 1990s, Dr. Potopsingh returned in 2010 as the Associate Vice President with responsibility for Sustainable Energy in the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship. At. UTech, Dr. Potopsingh pioneered several solar energy projects and the development of an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development and Climate Change. Dr. Ruth Potopsingh now works part-time as a Senior Technical Consultant at Environmental Solutions Ltd. She was recognised by CARICOM for her pioneering work with the Women in Sustainable Energy Award 2023 (Policy and Regulations). In 2025, she was one of four Jamaican women to proudly receive the Woman in Energy Award from the Government of Canada.
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New Scientist - Dr. Charah Watson
Mar 24, 2026

Dr. Charah Watson, Ph.D., EMBA, JP is the Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) where she started work initially as a Manager. Dr. Watson is an experienced research chemist with a focus on natural products and an entrepreneur with her own business, Kihara Cosmetics, which she started over 15 years ago to provide all-natural hair, skin and nail beauty and wellness solutions. Rounding out her science and technology education, Dr. Watson has also earned an Executive Masters of Business Administration and a Postgraduate Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation. Dr. Watson was born in Kingston, Jamaica and attended Excelsior Community College, where she developed her love for chemistry. She earned her B.Sc. in Food and Pure Chemistry from The University of the West Indies whilst working at tutoring and promotions, to cover her expenses. After a short stint as a high school teacher she returned to the Chemistry Department at The UWI, Mona to continue her post-graduate studies. She was able to work and study at the Natural Products Institute at The UWI where she completed her Ph.D. with a thesis on the use of certain natural products for the control of citrus pests in addition to assisting with research on the use of natural products for their potential in cancer treatment. Following the award of her Ph.D., Dr. Watson received several accolades including the Third World Academy of Science Young Scientist Award and The Principal’s Award for the Most Outstanding Research Activity for the Pure and Applied Sciences in 2011. She moved on to work as the Technical Director/Senior Research Scientist at the BioTech Research and Development Institute and in 2012 was presented with the Scientific Research Council’s Young Scientist of the Year Award. Dr. Watson eventually left her job as Managing Director at BioTech to join the Scientific Research Council in 2017 where she is now the Executive Director. Over her career, Dr. Watson has developed and commercialized multiple products, contributed to over 30 scientific publications, and is a named inventor on two international patents. She has also been part of teams that have won the National Innovation Awards on multiple occasions and was recognized by the United States Government as a Young Leader of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellow. As the head of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Watson is responsible for ensuring this statutory body achieves its mandate of fostering and coordinating scientific research and the promotion and application of its results. The SRC supports the growth and development of Jamaica’s agro-industrial sector through research, adaptation of available technologies, creation of new and appropriate technologies and the provision of training and technical assistance. Dr. Charah Watson has excelled at her work in both private and public sectors whilst establishing a successful company in the cosmetics industry and raising a young family. She is passionate about mentoring young scientists and demonstrating how science can be transformed into real-world solutions that improve lives. Dr. Watson continues to advocate for youth engagement and women in STEM, encouraging the next generation to use science, creativity, and innovation to shape Jamaica’s future.
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New Scientist - Mr. Trevor Forrest
Feb 27, 2026

Trevor Forrest is the founder and CEO of 876 Technology Solutions (876 Solutions) and also serves as Chairman of Lignum Security, a cybersecurity services provider. Known as a technology entrepreneur and digital transformation leader with over 20 year experience in ICT, he serves on numerous government and private sector boards. Mr. Forrest attended Jamaica College where he excelled in the sciences and mathematics and participated in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. He earned his B.Sc. in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1998. However whilst studying in this field he was introduced to computer science and after working part-time at the university in ICT, he realized that this was the field he wanted to work in. He eventually became the Network Systems Administrator for the University including 2 campuses and 120 teaching sites worldwide. From 2000 to 2005 he was the IT Manager for Brochure Displays-Digital Press where he soon realized that most of his work could be done remotely. This led him to found his own company, 876 Technology Solutions providing comprehensive technology solutions globally, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Mr. Forrest has wide-ranging experience particularly in cybersecurity, blockchain, web design, e-commerce and network security. He has advised the Government of Jamaica, served on boards such as the Spectrum Management Authority, eLearning Jamaica Ltd, Universal Service Fund, the UTech School of Computing and IT Graduate Advisory Board. He is a Certified Blockchain Architect and in demand as a speaker on digital transformation and emerging technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) and NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The latter are unique digital assets stored on blockchain but which are not interchangeable unlike cryptocurrency and which are used for original, digital art, music and other virtual property.
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New Scientist - Mr. Robert Rashford
Feb 20, 2026

Robert Rashford is an aerospace engineer with his own company, Genesis Engineering Solutions Incorporated, which he started in 1993 in Maryland, USA providing services to the Goddard Space Flight Centre amongst others. Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1957, Robert was said to have been a creative child – making a variety of toys for himself and later showing interest in science and mathematics at school. Rashford migrated to the USA and was awarded his B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Temple University, Pennsylvania in 1982. He earned his M.Sc. in Engineering and Management from the University of Maryland. Rashford worked closely with a team of scientists to repair the first Hubble Space Telescope. Together with Charles Rivera, Rashford developed a 3D non-destructive evaluation system that can detect flaws in air/space-craft materials and which has been used to maintain critical equipment including the Hubble Space Telescope. Rashford has worked with several companies including General Electric and Bechtel Corporation designing and developing spacecraft and spacecraft support systems for both commercial and military applications. He and his team at Genesis have been working on the development of an Integrated Science Instrument Module that will fly on board the James Webb Space Telescope spacecraft which is a replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope. Genesis Solutions Inc. has numerous other projects including Single Person Spacecraft which provide a safer alternative to the spacesuit and is based on his earlier invention of protective enclosures for transporting orbital replacement units and astronauts. Robert Rashford has received several awards from the US-NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for his work on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope and an award for Excellence in Science and Technology from the Institute of Caribbean Studies.
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New Scientist - Dr. Elaine Fisher
Feb 20, 2026

Dr. Elaine Fisher is a marine biologist who led Jamaica’s biodiversity conservation policy and strategy through her work at the Institute of Jamaica and The University of the West Indies and on several national and international committees. Born in Montego Bay, she studied at both Hampton and Wolmers’ High Schools, later attending The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. She graduated in 1965 with her Bachelors’ Degree in zoology and chemistry and became the Assistant Curator of the Science Museum, IOJ. Following a 3-year stint there, she returned to The University of the West Indies as a Research Assistant and moved up the ranks of Scientific Officer to Assistant Lecturer whilst studying a variety of marine invertebrates for her post-graduate degrees. Her M.Sc. focused on Corallimorpharia, sometimes known as Mushroom corals (they are related to stony corals but do not have stony exo-skeletons) and Actinara, commonly referred to as Sea Anemones. Her Ph.D. in Marine Zoology awarded in 1986 focused on the ecology and systematics of Jamaican Sabellids, popularly known as Feather-duster worms. Soon after being awarded her Ph.D. she returned to the IOJ as the Director of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica. She acted as Executive Director of the IOJ for several years but retired in 1999, a year after her formal appointment to the position. Dr. Fisher chaired the Committee which guided the development of Jamaica’s first Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (1998 – 2002). Her career focused on the conservation of Jamaica’s biodiversity and she served tirelessly on numerous national and international committees for this purpose. Dr. Fisher represented Jamaica at numerous conferences and meetings related to biodiversity and was the first Chairman of the National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica from its inception in 2014. Dr. Fisher was awarded the Silver Musgrave Medal for eminence in Science by the Institute of Jamaica in 2003.
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Individuals dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, and innovation, often with specialized training and expertise in specific scientific disciplines. They include researchers, educators, conservationists, and professionals who actively contribute to the advancement of science.

Publicize your work to a regional audience including government and industry members.

Individuals that are passionate about science but who may not hold formal scientific qualifications but possess an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. They are explorers, learners, and avid supporters of scientific endeavours.

Make contact with and learn about our local Scientists.

This account is for businesses to showcase their scientific services to a science community.

Free listing on the Fiwi Yellowpages.

This account is for educational institutions to display their work and workers in the scientific field.

Make unlimited posts to the Fiwi Events Calendar where your local events are exposed to a much wider regional audience.

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