Release to U.W.I. Public Relations Officer

During the period 4-8 January 1982, the Chemistry Department hosted the Ninth in a series of Natural Products Symposia (conferences) which take place every other year and began in 1966. The Symposium which was opened by Senator Dr. Ronald Irvine was considered to be a great success. There were about thirty overseas participants and about an equal number of local chemists. Those from overseas came from many countries including: Barbados, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago, U.K., U.S.A. and Venezuela. The political crisis in Poland prevented the participation of one of the major chemists from that country. The Symposium provided the occasion for a visit by Professor L.J. Haynes who was Head of the Department during the period 1957 and 1969 and was one of the founders of the series of Symposia. He is now a Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Open University (U.K.) and retains links with U.W.I. as an External Examiner in Organic Chemistry.

During his visit, he held discussions on Organic Chemistry courses and made recommendations and also offered advice in government circles on distance teaching (i.e., education by radio, T.V., etc.) The Symposium series covers the chemistry of substance from plants and animals of interest for industrial, pharmacological, clinical and nutritional reasons and has provided spin off in the community through the expertise of the participants.

Postgraduate students also benefitted by having the opportunity of talking shop with the world's leading chemists in this field and by improved opportunities to secure overseas postdoctoral experiences. By the improved relationships developed at the symposia, the Department enjoys an improved ability to have access to up-to-date instrumentation, which is beyond its ability to purchase. The over-all effect is that both by the intellectual contacts and by the availability of the latest technology the symposia helps to keep the Department in the main stream of Natural Products Chemistry.

The Symposia would not be possible without the financial assistance which has come to us both from university sources and from the community. On this occasion the assistance from the community came from the following sources (in alphabetical order). Berger Paints Jamaica Ltd.; British Council (Higher Education Division) U.K., Desnoes and Geddes Ltd., Esso Standard Oil (Jamaica) Ltd, Grace Kennedy and Company Ltd, Jamaica Racing Commission, Shell Company (West Indies) Ltd., J. Wray and Nephew Ltd.