Science

Former Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing and his wife, Dr. Dawn Perry-Ewing, donated scientific equipment to H.J. Robinson High School in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The couple officially delivered resources, including microscopes and an interactive whiteboard, on 8 October 2026 to strengthen practical Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. The donation, facilitated through the Youth HELP Foundation and the Hamilton Education Community Foundation, aims to bolster laboratory learning. The handover ceremony included the Honourable Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, and school principal Mr. Berkley Williams. Dr. Ewing, a former student and laboratory technician at the school, stated, “Science education must go beyond textbooks and theory.” The new equipment will provide students with essential tools for hands-on experimentation and scientific discovery, allowing teachers to deliver more engaging practical lessons. Dr. Ewing expressed his intention to extend similar support for STEM programmes and science laboratory development to all high schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands. He indicated a desire to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and other community partners to achieve this goal. The Ministry continues to welcome such partnerships, which are intended to advance educational excellence and prepare students for future careers in science, healthcare, and technology.

Two months after launching its public record, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences (BAS) has translated five decades of research into active policy and engagement. The organization has published its first peer-reviewed paper and delivered a strategic policy brief to the government to improve national scientific capacity. The Academy’s inaugural publication in *Gulf and Caribbean Research* analyzed 12,113 scholarly records from 1975 to 2025. The study highlights deficiencies in groundwater and renewable energy research. In September, BAS President Dr. Krista Sherman presented findings to the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources. This brief proposes ten strategic priorities, including a national environmental data repository. BAS representatives also brought expertise to Climate Week, emphasizing the vulnerability of the archipelago’s islands to sea-level rise. The Academy’s public awareness campaign concludes its collaboration with local creators on 30 November. Upcoming initiatives include a classroom event for students, the launch of a video-podcast series, and a practical statistics course scheduled for early 2027.

Researchers at The School for Field Studies (SFS) Center for Marine Resource Studies have spent over a decade monitoring South Caicos reefs to determine if deeper waters offer better survival chances. Their findings, released on September 28, 2026, indicate that while deeper reefs may act as vital biodiversity reservoirs, the entire ecosystem faces a concerning drop in coral cover. Since 2012, the team has tracked reef health at three depths using permanent transects. Shallow reefs are productive but vulnerable, while 20-meter sites exhibit higher diversity and stability. However, pressures like Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, pollution, and heat are impacting all areas. Dr. Heidi Hertler, Center Director, noted that “Deeper reefs may provide important refuges for coral diversity.” The study analyzed data collected between 2012 and 2024 to distinguish long-term trends from short-term fluctuations. SFS scientists will continue comprehensive monitoring across the reef gradient to inform conservation strategies. The Center for Marine Resource Studies welcomes public support through donations or educational tours at their South Caicos campus. For further information on these research and conservation initiatives, contact Dr. Heidi Hertler directly.

Dr. Camelia Clarke, Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit in the Ministry of Health and Human Services, represented the Turks and Caicos Islands at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 26 to July 31, 2026. The gathering explored long-acting treatments, digital health tools, sustainable financing, and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. The topic closely aligns with TCI's recent World Health Organization validation for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B. Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles noted that the event offered valuable insights to sustain the country's achievements and advance equitable healthcare. The Ministry stated that insights from the conference will inform local work to sustain surveillance, widen testing and integrate services, strengthening HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care and support services across the islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) in the Turks and Caicos Islands has been testing medicines through the Caribbean Public Health Agency's post-market surveillance programme since 2021, and 20 of the 21 samples submitted — 95% — met required standards. The ministry says the results reflect the quality of medicines entering the TCI market. The TCI's national pharmacovigilance programme, the Turks and Caicos Islands Pharmacovigilance Programme (TPP), began in 2019 under the National Pharmaceutical Policy. In 2021 the ministry partnered with the Caribbean Public Health Agency Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (CARPHA MQCSD), submitting its first sample for testing on July 29, 2021 and receiving its first certificate of analysis on November 11, 2021. Samples include antihypertensives, an antidiabetic, an analgesic and a corticosteroid, rising from 2 samples in 2021 to 15 in 2025. The ministry has issued media releases to raise awareness, and growing adverse drug reaction reports show the programme gaining traction. The MoHHS uses an Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form to gather reports of suspected reactions and substandard or falsified medicines, guiding which medicines warrant testing, and remains committed to building the legislative framework to keep medicine testing permanent for residents.

A report released on June 8, 2026, warns that offshore oil and gas exploration in Jamaica’s Walton-Morant block threatens key marine ecosystems across the Caribbean, including areas near regional neighbours such as the Turks and Caicos Islands. Environmental research organisation Earth Insight produced the study alongside the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and 10 other civil society groups. Their geospatial analysis found the exploration zone intersects with approximately 99 per cent of Jamaica’s south coast coral reefs and 97 per cent of its seagrass habitats. The project's mapped risk area covers roughly 11,070 square kilometres of ecologically significant marine waters, representing nearly 18 per cent of Jamaica’s most vital marine habitats. JET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie warned that Jamaica's waters face strain from climate change, pollution and overfishing, urging officials to protect ocean resources. The authors published the findings ahead of the Our Ocean Conference, scheduled for June 16–18, 2026, in Mombasa, Kenya. The report calls on policymakers to prioritise ocean conservation and alternative energy models over offshore fossil fuel projects.

In an advice column published in May 2026, certified Holistic Health Coach Monica Uttamchandani explained how routine morning habits leave residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands feeling exhausted. She noted that chronic stress builds through constant stimulation and lack of recovery rather than major emergencies. Skipping breakfast, relying on coffee, and checking phones immediately upon waking force the body to run on cortisol, triggering anxiety, brain fog, and poor sleep. Uttamchandani advised interrupting this cycle by eating early and adequately, taking pauses, lowering evening stimulation, and keeping predictable routines. Residents can find further guidance on Instagram at @balancedbymonica or consult with Uttamchandani in person at The Elephant Rooms in Salt Mills, Providenciales.

In an advisory published on 27 April 2026, certified Holistic Health Coach Monica Uttamchandani explained that metabolic swings, rather than primary endocrine problems, frequently trigger symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and mood changes for residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Uttamchandani noted that rapid glucose fluctuations prompt the body to release cortisol, which subsequently disrupts progesterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones. This pattern frequently stems from skipping breakfast, drinking coffee on an empty stomach, and experiencing intense evening hunger cravings. To balance blood sugar and lower cortisol, Uttamchandani advises eating regular meals, adding protein such as eggs or yoghurt to breakfast, and pairing carbohydrates with fats and fibre. She provides additional education via @balancedbymonica on Instagram and conducts in-person consultations at The Elephant Rooms in Salt Mills, Providenciales.

In a health column published on 20 April 2026, certified Holistic Health Coach Monica Uttamchandani explained how chronic conditions like diabetes and hormonal disorders develop quietly long before a clinical diagnosis. She noted that early warning signs often get dismissed as stress or ageing in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These early indicators include declining sleep quality, unpredictable digestion, low energy, and intense cravings, which stem from a gradual loss of metabolic flexibility. Skipping daytime meals and relying on caffeine causes blood sugar to drop and cortisol to spike, pushing the body into survival mode and increasing long-term risks of chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. Uttamchandani advises adopting daily rhythm through consistent meals, regular sleep schedules, and physical stress reducers like walking or breathwork to naturally restore balance. Residents seeking in-person consultations can visit her at The Elephant Rooms in Salt Mills, Providenciales, or find educational guidance on Instagram at @balancedbymonica.