A senior regional meteorology official says Barbados is facing a critical shortage of ocean science specialists, at a time when understanding marine conditions has never been more urgent.
Principal of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), David Farrell, issued the warning on Tuesday as marine experts launched a state-of-the-art ocean glider off the coast of Barbados. The glider is part of a regional science field experiment designed to improve hurricane forecasting, ocean monitoring, and disaster resilience.
Farrell said more must be done to expose young people to this field of study.
“We’ve got a shortage. We have an incredible shortage—not of talent, but of experience and exposure,” he said at the launch of the glider in Aquatic Gap, St Michael.
The meteorologist said CIMH, based in Husbands, St James, has gradually expanded its focus over the last decade to include marine science, recognising its role in food security, job creation, and economic development for small island developing states (SIDS).
“Most of our wealth is actually tied up in the ocean space. It’s not tied up on land. But the oceans are the big unknown for us. So one of the things that we’re trying to do is to resolve that big unknown—to make it better known,” he said.
Farrell described the ocean as the next scientific frontier for the region, stressing that improved marine science is vital to better forecasting and reducing losses from climate-driven disasters like hurricanes.
“Beryl taught us about the ocean space. It taught us the need to get it right—to understand the forecast, to understand the deficiencies in the forecast, and to generally understand the terminologies that people use… storm surge, significant waves, and so on.”
He said the launch of the glider, part of the Vetlesen Caribbean Hurricane Ocean Glider Mission, is not just a scientific milestone but a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of Caribbean oceanographers.
“This is a really good starting point. We have a really good group of young students here that I hope to convince some of them that they should become the next generation of ocean scientists.”
Fifteen students and interns from schools and other institutions, such as Harrison College, Queen’s College, Combermere, Lester Vaughan School, Parkinson Memorial Secondary, Barbados Community College, the Ministry of Environment and CIMH, participated in the launch event and witnessed the deployment first-hand.
Farrell said initiatives like these are part of CIMH’s broader strategy to expose young people to marine careers through camps, internships, and hands-on projects.
“We are working a lot with camps—we have a water camp going on, and we have these students here. We also have a lot of interns coming in and out of CIMH, not just nationals of Barbados but regional young people.
“Most of the products and services that you may see at CIMH, many of them are actually built by young people. They come in for one-year internships that turn into four- or five-year internships and make valuable contributions, not just to the region, but globally,” the CIMH principal explained.
But Farrell believes the region needs to go even further, by cultivating innovators and entrepreneurs who can build marine-based businesses around local solutions.
“I think a good opportunity is in the marine space, to be honest with you. If we can get to that point, then I think we would have achieved a lot in this region—and I could retire in a few years feeling good about myself,” he said.
Dr Lorna Inniss, regional coordinator of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, also called on the region’s youth to take up the mantle of marine science.
“We are in the departure lounge in terms of retiring. It’s time to hand over and ensure we have a cadre of marine scientists and oceanographers who are au fait with new technologies, artificial intelligence—and willing to commit to keeping the ocean healthy,” she said.
Farrell encouraged students to pursue partnerships with institutions like Rutgers University, which has collaborated with CIMH and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the glider project and other regional research efforts.
(SZB)
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