Professor Tara Dasgupta
Professor Tara Dasgupta has been attached to the Department of Chemistry at the UWI Mona for close to 40 years. His renown as a scholar and researcher has qualified him for mention in several biographical reference books such as Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in the Commonwealth, Dictionary of International Biography, International Book of Honour, Men of Achievement and Personalities in the Caribbean.
Appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 1980, Professor Dasgupta whose research interest lies in Renewable Energy, New Inorganic Materials, Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms, Solvation of metal ions and Transfer Chemical Potential, Synthesis and Reactivity of Novel Transition Metal Complexes, New Generation of Nitrovasodilators and Fate of Agrochemicals, has earned the respect of his colleagues for his tenacity and hard Work. Unbounded by the challenges of limited resources, Professor Dasgupta was able to establish a vigorous research programme in the Department of Chemistry. The findings from his research work form an impressive output of nearly 120 research publication in top international refereed journals, 80 papers presented at international conferences and form the basis of lectures delivered at more than 30 different universities worldwide. He has also supervised record number (50) of graduate students towards completion of Ph.D. and M. Phil. degrees.
Elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London and Caribbean Academy of Sciences, and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Professor Dasgupta has had the honour of being invited by the Noble Prize Committee of Sweden to nominate candidates for this prestigious award. He received Vice-Chancellor’s award, Principal’s award (for three successive years), Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists award for his outstanding research work. The title of “Professor Emeritus” was conferred on him in 2009; the title of “Honorary Research Fellow” was conferred on him in 2013 by the University of the West Indies and conferred the honour of the order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) in recognition of his significant contribution to Science, Education and Research in 2013.
Professor Dasgupta is a member of the American Chemical Society, Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists, Chairman of the National Adhering Organization (Jamaica) of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and President of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Jamaica. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Jamaican Journal of Science and Technology and in the Editorial Board of Prestigious international journal, Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms.
In addition, he has been invited to referee research proposals submitted for funding to such agencies as the National Science Foundation and the National Science Council of Canada and research publications from top international journals. His current interest in the area of new building materials and renewable energy, specifically in Photovoltaic cell made possible for him to secure a large grant (US$2.7 million) from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Inter-American Development Bank in collaboration with Professor Anthony Clayton, Institute of 2 Sustainable Development and nearly €500,000.00 equivalent of equipment and chemicals from EU to modernize the Pesticide Research Laboratory. Professor Dasgupta established the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Jamaica – an independent non-profit charitable organization legally registered with the Government of Jamaica – for promoting science and technology in Jamaica in 2010. Professor Dasgupta through this organization established recently Open Access Repository facility in the Campus with the financial help from UNESCO. This will open up the Network facility between scientists in the region.
Professor Dasgupta established the Pesticide Research Laboratory in 1995 at the Chemistry Department and secured an IDB grant to equip the laboratory. Since then 6 students completed Ph.D and 5 students completed M.Phil Degrees in the field of Food and Pesticide Chemistry. The laboratory also provides analytical services to the region especially in finding pesticide residues in food, environmental samples and various agricultural products. The laboratory is being accredited for ISO 17025.
Appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 1980, Professor Dasgupta whose research interest lies in Renewable Energy, New Inorganic Materials, Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms, Solvation of metal ions and Transfer Chemical Potential, Synthesis and Reactivity of Novel Transition Metal Complexes, New Generation of Nitrovasodilators and Fate of Agrochemicals, has earned the respect of his colleagues for his tenacity and hard Work. Unbounded by the challenges of limited resources, Professor Dasgupta was able to establish a vigorous research programme in the Department of Chemistry. The findings from his research work form an impressive output of nearly 120 research publication in top international refereed journals, 80 papers presented at international conferences and form the basis of lectures delivered at more than 30 different universities worldwide. He has also supervised record number (50) of graduate students towards completion of Ph.D. and M. Phil. degrees.
Elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London and Caribbean Academy of Sciences, and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Professor Dasgupta has had the honour of being invited by the Noble Prize Committee of Sweden to nominate candidates for this prestigious award. He received Vice-Chancellor’s award, Principal’s award (for three successive years), Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists award for his outstanding research work. The title of “Professor Emeritus” was conferred on him in 2009; the title of “Honorary Research Fellow” was conferred on him in 2013 by the University of the West Indies and conferred the honour of the order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) in recognition of his significant contribution to Science, Education and Research in 2013.
Professor Dasgupta is a member of the American Chemical Society, Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists, Chairman of the National Adhering Organization (Jamaica) of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and President of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Jamaica. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Jamaican Journal of Science and Technology and in the Editorial Board of Prestigious international journal, Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms.
In addition, he has been invited to referee research proposals submitted for funding to such agencies as the National Science Foundation and the National Science Council of Canada and research publications from top international journals. His current interest in the area of new building materials and renewable energy, specifically in Photovoltaic cell made possible for him to secure a large grant (US$2.7 million) from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Inter-American Development Bank in collaboration with Professor Anthony Clayton, Institute of 2 Sustainable Development and nearly €500,000.00 equivalent of equipment and chemicals from EU to modernize the Pesticide Research Laboratory. Professor Dasgupta established the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Jamaica – an independent non-profit charitable organization legally registered with the Government of Jamaica – for promoting science and technology in Jamaica in 2010. Professor Dasgupta through this organization established recently Open Access Repository facility in the Campus with the financial help from UNESCO. This will open up the Network facility between scientists in the region.
Professor Dasgupta established the Pesticide Research Laboratory in 1995 at the Chemistry Department and secured an IDB grant to equip the laboratory. Since then 6 students completed Ph.D and 5 students completed M.Phil Degrees in the field of Food and Pesticide Chemistry. The laboratory also provides analytical services to the region especially in finding pesticide residues in food, environmental samples and various agricultural products. The laboratory is being accredited for ISO 17025.