Two graduate research students, Patrice Plaza and Natasha Ramroop Singh, of the Department of Chemistry at UWI, St. Augustine, had the recent privilege of spending six weeks at St. John’s College of Oxford University. During their time at Oxford, Patrice and Natasha had the opportunity to take part in ongoing, cutting-edge research in organic synthesis under the supervision of the renowned Professor George W. Fleet.

This pioneering collaboration was brought about by the efforts of the new head of the UWI Chemistry Department, Professor Gurdial Singh, in conjunction with the Department of Graduate Studies and Research.

While at Oxford, Natasha and Patrice were exposed to the internal workings of one of the most esteemed chemistry research laboratories in the western world. At the CRL they found the attention to safety procedures striking.

Chemists are expected to follow rigorous protocol when carrying out experiments, and must write safety and risk assessments, along with all relevant Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) information and detailed experimental procedures to be followed in a lab book before starting any work. The use of fume cupboards, lab coats, eye goggles and gloves are strictly adhered to, and spot safety checks are carried out by safety officers of the college, in order to ensure precautions are carried out.

The equipment used at the CRL is routinely serviced and upgraded, so researchers spend less time fixing faulty machines. Administrative duties (such as clearance to obtain chemicals and solvents from stores) were carried out with extreme efficiency, reducing lag time to almost nil, allowing fast paced and smooth progress of activities in the lab.

Natasha and Patrice received free lodging and breakfast at St. John’s College, and the porters’ hospitality made their settling in much easier. They found the atmosphere at Oxford to be a good balance between serious and relaxed, and they were able to feel comfortable yet function at a high capacity.

Oxford itself is a city that is frequented by both students and tourists of many different nationalities, and the UWI students felt at home in the CRL, where many others hailed from different parts of the world. “It was amazing to see people of so many different cultural backgrounds assembled in one place,” said Patrice.

“Walking along the streets of Oxford we heard many languages, including Italian, Spanish, French and Japanese,” remarked Natasha.

They were impressed by the city’s famous architecture, particularly the “dreaming spires” of the different colleges, under which many of the world’s greatest minds have pondered the workings of the universe. The gardens and meadows of the colleges are well kept and the whole city is remarkably clean and green.

“My experience at Oxford, even though challenging at times, was eye-opening and refreshing,” said Natasha. “I can now appreciate more fully the value of my own research, and can apply what I have learnt to my own work here at home.”

She and Patrice are grateful to their supervisors for giving them the opportunity to be part of the dynamic research environment at the CRL, and to the UWI for funding. They hope that other students will have the same opportunity since it will make postgraduate research at UWI in all subject areas more pro-active, as well as safety conscious. This will encourage a more serious approach to research, and by extension, a more productive postgraduate body.