Among four persons awarded for their achievements and outstanding contributions toward social, democratic and scientific developments in Guyana, Dr. Suresh Narine was presented his award by President Bharrat Jagdeo in Guyana on Sunday, October 23, 2011.
“One of the greatest honours in our lives relates to being recognized by one's country,” said Professor Narine, director of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research and professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “For me, this award from President Jagdeo, with whom I have had the distinct pleasure to work closely on developmental activities related to science and technology in Guyana, is more of an endorsement of the values associated with patriotic duty, global citizenship, and the social responsibility of science, than it is of my person. I believe that this award helps to celebrate and to punctuate the importance of the Guyanese diaspora in the development of our country. Celebrating, as it does, nearly six years of involvement in Guyana, the award also recognizes the value of Canadian - Guyanese partnerships, and the value of an approach which places social development at the forefront of science and technology policy.”
Present for the awards ceremony were Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent University's president and vice-chancellor and Dr. Neil Emery, vice-president Research & International, who were in Guyana for the purpose of signing a Letter of Intent regarding collaboration opportunities between Trent University and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology in Guyana.
Prof. Narine is the director of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research at Trent University and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology. He was awarded a $1.25 million Ontario Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Engineering from the Council of Ontario Universities, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 2010. He was also awarded a $3 million senior industrial research chair in biomaterials from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2011.