News

Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) presented its Sargassum Advisory System at this year’s third staging of the UWI Sargassum Symposium which took place at the UWI Cave Hill campus, Barbados.

MGI showcased its new & innovative sargassum prediction system to assist in sargassum management for Jamaica, at the UWI Sargassum Symposium in Barbados.

The presentation highlighted the research and work carried out by MGI under the “Teleconnected SARgassum risks across the Atlantic: building capacity for TRansformational Adaptation in the Caribbean and West Africa” (SARTRAC) project, which is a 3-year programme of research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

MGI’s Romario Anderson presenting on recent developments to the MGI-engineered Jamaica Sargassum Early Advisory System (JSEAS) which will be used to predict sargassum landings across the island

Research Officer,

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MGI’s Dr Ava Maxam presented on challenges and successes of building a STEM career at the International Women’s Day Conference hosted by the Bureau of Gender Affairs March 8th, 2023, at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.

MGI Director Dr Ava Maxam speaking-on solutions to STEM issues at International Women’s Day Conference 2023

Under the theme “DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”, Dr Maxam highlighted the importance of gender parity in mainstreaming STEM education of young girls and boys by building knowledge and skills from early formative years instead of waiting until high school to introduce STEM principles.

MGI’s Dr. Ava Maxam (L) with Hon. Olivia Grange MP, CD (2nd R; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport) with other STEM Talk participants at International Women’s Day Banner Event 2023, Read more  

The Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) MGI continues transformational work under SARTRAC by participating in the SargSnap! initiative to conduct Sargassum monitoring in Ghana.

MGI’s Act. Director Dr. Ava Maxam with Prof Kwasi Appeaning Addo of the University of Ghana, both part of the SargSnap! team in Ghana, documenting impacts of sargassum on local residents in Beyin, Ghana

The MGI team along with researchers from the University of Southampton (UK), University of Ghana and Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency travelled to the Western region of Ghana, in January 2023, to share our knowledge on the causes and biology of sargassum, as well as possible management and usage opportunities. The team shared their learning from similar sargassum experiences in Jamaica, and presented our work on the Jamaica Sargassum Early Advisory System (JSEAS).

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Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) solidified its partnership with SOS Carbon of the Dominican Republic by signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the MGI office in Kingston during Dominican Republic Week in Jamaica.

-MGI signs MoU with SOS Carbon for exchange of technologies and strategies tackling sargassum invasion affecting hotel and coastal industries in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

MGI met with CEO & Co-Founder of SOS Carbon, Mr. Andres Bisono Leon to discuss the ways in which collaboratory efforts may strengthen existing relations between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Mr. Andres Bisono Leon, CEO & Co-Founder of SOS Carbon (left); Mr. Darren Fletcher of MGI (second-left); Mr. Romario Anderson of MGI (second-right); and Dr. Ava Maxam, Read more  

The Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) travelled to Ghana, western Africa, January 2023, to conduct social surveys with local school children and teachers under a new project, spawned from the SARTRAC legacy, entitled SargSnap! – a citizen science initiative using photography to monitor sargassum.

MGI Team & SargSNAP! In Ghana

During this exercise, MGI teamed up with our colleagues from the University of Ghana and the University of Southampton to engage with the local communities to document photographic evidence of sargassum beaching and its impacts on their livelihoods.

MGI’s Romario Anderson with Prof Kwasi Appeaning Addo of the University of Ghana, both part of the SargSnap! team in Ghana, documenting impacts of sargassum on local school children in Beyin, Read more  

The Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) travelled to Ghana, western Africa, January 2023, to participate in field activities under a new project, spawned from the SARTRAC legacy, entitled SargSnap! – a citizen science initiative using photography to monitor sargassum.  

MGI’s Act. Executive Director, Dr. Ava Maxam, part of the SargSnap! team in Ghana showcasing innovative technologies in remote sensing for monitoring sargassum invasion on the beaches of the African west coast

During this exercise, MGI teamed up with our colleagues from the University of Ghana and the University of Southampton to activate monitoring stations at three locations along the coast of Ghana which will be used by the local communities to document photographic evidence of sargassum beaching and its impacts on their livelihoods.

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The Mona GeoInformatics Institute team presented at the 7th International Marine Debris Conference hosted in South Korea, highlighting deteriorating health of mangroves in relation to solid waste debris. MGI’s presentation by Ms Ajani Bissick explained our methodology, as part of the KHEAM Project, of Monitoring the Effects of Plastic Marine Debris on the Growth and Health of Mangroves within the Kingston Harbour.

MGI GIS Research Associate, Ms. Ajani Bissick, presented research findings on the effects of plastic marine litter on the growth & health of mangroves within the Kingston Harbour, Jamaica

We shared with conference attendees work done using remote sensing and our recently developed plastics litter debris detection algorithm. Results point to a strong correlation between marine debris accumulation and deteriorating mangrove health.

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On the 18th September 2017, Dominica was struck by category 5 Hurricane Maria. Lives were lost, families traumatised, homes and livelihoods were damaged. The team presented at a post-research symposium held in the United Kingdom showcasing MGI’s involvement in mapping hurricane recoveries, resilience and repair in a four-year post hurricane environment.

For more information about the project, visit the project’s website at https://survivingstorms.com/.

Pictured is MGI’s Acting Executive Director – Dr. Ava Maxam (centre), GIS Research Associate – Ms. Gabrielle Abraham (left) and CCCP project lead Dr. Adom Philogene Heron (right) Read more  

MGI leads a site visit with the JPS Foundation, introducing them to KHEAM and the fight to save the essential Kingston and Port Royal Mangrove ecosystems.

Key objectives of the Kingston Harbour Ecosystems Adaptation Measures (KHEAM) Project are to restore and rehabilitate mangrove ecosystems within the Kingston Harbour through reducing solid waste accumulation on our mangrove ecosystems.

Mangroves are vital in the protection of the city of Kingston against coastal erosion, storm surge and tsunami, as well as provide a natural habitat for our marine life.

Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI), along with our KHEAM project partners the GraceKennedy Foundation and Newer Worlds, showcased field sites to representatives from the Jamaica Public Service Foundation of our solid waste mitigation efforts to preserve the mangrove ecosystems of the Kingston Harbour.

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White sandy beaches, integral to the Caribbean way of life, are being engulfed by Sargassum, transforming these pieces of paradise into a repugnant state, with rotten stenches and unsightly piles of algae that not only release toxic fumes but are also highly efficient at trapping waterborne solid waste litter. The precarious nature of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is exacerbated by Sargassum inundation as it is highly disruptive to both fishing and tourism sectors, two of the region’s major contributors towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With climate change, pollution and natural climatic systems continuing to drive the influx of seaweed into the region, the harsh truth is that Sargassum is here to stay. Caribbean nations will have to find innovative and preemptive measures to reduce the impact of the seaweed on livelihoods.

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