The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 will be shared, in two equal parts, between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. for their collaborative efforts to gather, develop and propagate knowledge about man-made climate change and its effects, in addition to providing recommendations to help offset this phenomenon. Dr. John Agard, of the University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus will share in this extraordinary achievement along with Professor Anthony Chen, a retired UWI Professor of Physics at UWI Mona and Dr. Leonard Nurse, a lecturer in Coastal Management at UWI Cave Hill.

The three UWI lecturers have been recognized for their contributions to the IPCC’s fourth scientific assessment report also referred to as the AR 4. Dr. Agard was a member of Working Group Two and a lead author of Chapter 16 of Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, focusing on small islands, Dr. Nurse was coordinating lead author of the same chapter. Dr. Chen was a member of Working Group One and lead author of Chapter Eleven, titled “Regional Climate Projections”, in Climate Change 2007, The Physical Science Basis.

Dr. Agard, a Trinidadian, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at the St. Augustine Campus and is also the Chairman of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

The following are congratulatory remarks from the Vice Chancellor, the PVC’s for Graduate Studies and Planning and Development and the Campus Principal.

"This achievement by our three UWI Academics, Dr John Agard, Dr Leonard Nurse and Professor Anthony Chen builds admirably on two other UWI persons who have won Nobel prizes - Derek Walcott(alumnus) and Sir Arthur Lewis( former Vice Chancellor). Dr Agard and colleagues demonstrate that Caribbean people have every capability of producing work that can be relevant to our Region and at the same time have profound global importance."

Vice Chancellor Professor E. Nigel Harris

“This achievement of Dr. John Agard, Dr. Lennard Nurse and Professor Tony Chen from the St. Augustine, Cave Hill and Mona Campuses respectively, of The University of the West Indies, represents the significant contribution that newer Universities like the UWI can make to global knowledge once they remain steadfast to the pursuit of quality and impact.

The UWI has developed considerable strength in many areas of the Environment with dedicated, passionate scholars like Dr. Agard, and the world will continue to take notice of us in the years ahead.  UWI, truly a light rising from the West!”

PVC for Graduate Studies, Professor Clement Sankat

“I am overjoyed at the fact that John Agard of the Department of Life Sciences at UWI St. Augustine is sharing the Nobel Prize with other colleagues from UWI at Cavehill (Dr. Leonard Nurse) and Mona (Professor Anthony Chen), and another Trinidadian Roger Pulwarty who is also linked to the University of the West Indies although operating in the United States.

At the University of the West Indies we have been striving very hard to work through the United Nations on the issues associated with global climate change because the implications are so grave for small islands like ours. John Agard himself has been working on both the Northern Range in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Caribbean Sea which surrounds all our islands in collaboration with the Cropper Foundation and at the St. Augustine campus we are involved with major projects related to biodiversity both terrestrial and marine. We are committed to establishing a Centre for Biodiversity specializing in small island developing states. This is a wonderful boost for all of us at the University who are focused on a pathway forward, not only to build on these particular achievements but to pave the way for other Nobel Prize winning achievements to emerge.”

PVC for Planning & Development, Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie

“The St. Augustine Campus is delighted at the recognition given to Dr. John Agard as a contributor to the work of the IGPCC, co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.  He richly deserves all the commendations.  We note he is also the co-leader (with Senator Angela Cropper) of the Caribbean Sea Assessment Report, launched here at St. Augustine on November 1, 2007.  My sincere congratulations to Dr. Agard.”

Interim Campus Principal, Professor Bridget Brereton