UWI honorary graduand Dr Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted urged graduates of The UWI St Augustine’s Faculties of Science and Technology and Food and Agriculture to think and learn globally and act locally as they explore life outside the institution.
An honorary doctor of science (DSc) degree, honoris causa (as a mark of esteem), was conferred on her by the university for her dedication, scientific genius, and immeasurable contribution to global well-being.
At the graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Thilsted, who was born in Reform Village, remembered her graduation ceremony. She said when she graduated in 1971, all UWI faculties were able to graduate in one day.
[caption id="attachment_982882" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Honorary graduand Dr Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted delivers an address at Thursday's graduation. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]
She said, presently the global situation is dominated by the disruptions and hardships caused by covid19, conflicts, and climate change. She said at the UN Food Systems Summit 2021, there was a unified call for transforming food systems for nourishing people and the planet, with a particular call to focus on youth.
“Your short-term goals for yourself and the more long-term goals for contributing to all people, including your community, your nation, and our planet can surely complement each other. Build on the support of your family and friends and make full use of the networks and platforms which you have developed. Make full use of the present-day data technologies, science and innovations which are accessible to you, however, combine them with the richness and diversity of traditional and local knowledge and culture to arrive at the best solutions that are appropriate for you. Think and learn global and act local. There are many opportunities to do this, learning about the innovations and solutions from islands in the Pacific as well as countries in Caricom.”
She said when she graduated, she realised she had the opportunity to explore many pathways, including untraditional ones.
“I decided to work as an agricultural officer in Tobago, in the field, with small-scale farmers. I was the only female agricultural officer in Tobago. This work experience showed me new horizons, and gave me the opportunity to spread my wings further afield, and with higher education, being comfortable to take on global assignments. My first, after acquiring my PhD, was as a junior professional officer with FAO posted in Tanzania. You can do the same as I did.”
[caption id="attachment_982880" align="alignnone" width="712"] Ashaki Jones, a former student of the Faculty of Science and Technology, shows off her mortarboard after she graduated on Thursday from the University of the West Indies at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]
UWI public orator Dr Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw said Thilsted is the winner of the 2021 World Food Prize, an award considered to be the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture. Her
