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Dr. Alfred Sangster

Dr. Alfred Sangster, OJ (1929 - 2025) was a chemist by education but is best known for his lead role in transforming the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) into the University of Technology (UTech) during his 26 years as Principal and later President. He was born in St. Elizabeth and went to school at Munro College where he excelled in athletics, cricket and tennis and left in 1946 with his High School Certificate in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. He earned his B.Sc. (First Class Honours) in chemistry from the Queens' College, Belfast, Ireland and returned to Jamaica as a chemistry lecturer at The UWI in 1952. In Dr. Sangster obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1958, under the guidance of Professor Cedric Hassall (first Head of Chemistry Department). He was an Assistant Lecturer then Lecturer in Chemistry, and supervised several research projects up to 1970, before leaving to take up the position of Principal of the then CAST. During his lifetime, he was heavily involved in giving service to society, via chairmanships, directorships, memberships, and consultancies to a variety of institutions and societies. He is the founding father and Chairman of Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections, (CAFFE) and for this initiative he received the Gleaner’s Special Award in 1999. He was a recipient Musgrave Gold Medal from the Institute of Jamaica and in 1982 received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) and in 1995, the Order of Jamaica (OJ).

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New Scientist - Mr. Gregory Ffolkes
May 14, 2025

Gregory Ffolkes is an aerospace engineer working with Boeing to manage the production of a variety of space vehicles. He grew up with his grandparents in Spanish Town before joining his mother, a nurse, in New York when he was 10 years old. His aptitude for mathematics led him to study it at junior college however he began to learn about the field of engineering and so he enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta and graduated with a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering in 1984. His under-graduate programme included the study of aerospace propulsion systems and so although his first jobs where in telecommunications he eventually joined Grumann Aerospace as a flight engineer which included test piloting fighter planes produced there. He later joined Rocketdyne which specializes in manufacturing engines for spacecraft and that company was eventually purchased by Boeing. After earning his post-graduate degree in engineering management from the University of Central Florida he moved swiftly up the ranks within Boeing and has led several projects producing rocket engines and spacecraft components. One of his most recent and significant projects started in 2020 and was Boeing’s manufacture and successful testing of a rocket system to transport astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station. In a February, 2022 interview with the Daily Gleaner his message to Jamaican youth was: “You are the only one who has control over your destiny. There will be many obstacles and you can choose to go over them or around them, but keep your eyes on the prize”.
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New Scientist - Dr. Paul Peart
May 9, 2025

Dr. Paul Peart is a Jamaican who studies mathematics at The University of the West Indies including to the Ph.D. level. He was a lecturer at The UWI, Mona from 1982 to 1986 and joined Howard University as Assistant Professor in 1986. He became as Associate Professor in 1992.
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New Scientist - Dr. Joshua Allensworth Leslie
May 9, 2025

Dr. Joshua Leslie was born in Savanna-la-Mar in 1933 and migrated to New York, USA as a child with his family in 1936. As a student he excelled in mathematics and chemistry but in deciding what to study at university, Plato's assertion that, "mathematics is the perfect form of human reasoning" resonated with him. Joshua therefore pursued a B.Sc. in Mathematics at the University of Chicago and completed the degree in 1954. Before graduating he met a French mathematician Henri Cartan when he did a guest lecture at UChicago. Young Leslie had the opportunity to travel to France for his graduate studies at the University of France, Sorbonne. Dr. Leslie was awarded his Ph.D. in 1960 and was employed as a professor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he lectured for several years before moving to Northwestern University, Illinois, USA. Dr. Leslie became a professor of mathematics at Howard University in 1990 where he remained until his retirement. His main area of research was in the application of topology and group theory to solving differential equations and he developed new branches of mathematics from his studies.
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New Scientist - Mrs Kareen Parks-Swaby
May 6, 2025

Mrs. Kareen Parks-Swaby is the Assistant Education Outreach Officer at the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (a Division of the Institute of Jamaica). In this position, she is responsible for assisting with the implementation of the Education Programme which aims to increase the awareness of various target groups about science with an emphasis on biodiversity and Jamaica’s natural environment. Mrs. Parks-Swaby has a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from The UWI.
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New Scientist - Ms Shemere Laws
May 6, 2025

Ms. Shemere Laws is the Research Officer at the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (a Division. In this position, she is responsible for assisting with the implementation of research programmes and the dissemination of information from research. Ms. Laws has a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from The University of the West Indies.
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Thu, June 5, 2025 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

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