Dr. Claude McNamarah, Lecturer in the Physics Department and one of the leaders of the Alternative Energy Research Group within the Department recently participated in the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum held in Montego Bay from October 15-16, 2009.

The forum brought together key persons with the necessary influence to effectively revolutionise the uptake rate and implementation of renewable energy within the region. The se included energy ministers and ministry personnel from across the region, multilateral funding agencies, technology developers, renewable energy companies, engineering and legal firms. The tenet of the forum was that while communication/internet technology has been the primary drivers of the past decade, the current and future decades are going to be defined by energy accessibility.  Hence it was seen as imperative that the region positions itself to maximise the harnessing of its energy resources in the order to ensure the sustainable development of the societies, poverty alleviation and the improved quality of live for the citizens. The development is also essential to help stem the advancement of global warming and to mitigate against the effects of climate change which would have dire consequences on island states as typifies the region.