Sophia Point Inauguration, 29 August 2023
The University of Guyana hosted a historic event which saw the unveiling of a plaque to inaugurate the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre. The event also featured an important and timely conversation with Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and Former British Prime Minister, the Rt Honourable Tony Blair on Guyana’s role in addressing Climate Change ahead of the COP28 in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
University of Guyana’s Vice-Chancellor, XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin hosted the conversation at the University’s George Walcott Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus. In her brief introduction, the VC welcomed President Ali and Mr Blair and noted that the University of Guyana was very pleased to host this important conversation on the environment.
Sophia Point’s co-founder, and University of Guyana (UG) Envoy David Lammy, provided a brief background of the Sophia Point project and our future plans in terms of research and development. Mr Lammy said that he recognised that young people often have a desire to understand and explore the world around them, but that having access was not always straightforward. He noted that after he first visited Sophia Point, he knew instantly there was “enormous potential for something very exciting”.
Mr Lammy said: “On this journey, we have been spurred on by the enthusiasm and excitement at every level across the country for what Sophia Point could represent - a space for young Guyanese to be inspired, and inspire others, to better understand and protect vitally important rainforest and to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to champion their environment for generations to come.”
He noted that Sophia Point hopes to add to that effort, working together with those who have blazed the trail already. “Together I hope we can help transform Guyana into the interconnected set of environmental research, education and conservation centres of excellence that it deserves,” he said.
Mr Lammy told the congregation about our progress toward building a solar-powered, environmentally conscious centre to host teaching, training and research at Sophia Point and noted that the Centre has been designed in consultation with academics, field practitioners and locals to ensure the space will support the best in field research and teaching whilst, meeting the needs of Guyanese first.
Mr Lammy said: “From the start, it has been a priority that Sophia Point is not about Western scientists flying in and flying out of Guyana. We want to help bring an end to that extractive, parachute science model. To build capacity at University and community levels so Guyanese can own their research, their solutions and their future.”
Mr Lammy added: “Now feels like a time of change in Guyana, and we have the opportunity to do something rare in environmental efforts, to take action to prevent rather than cure, and to deliver a transformation in how we live with nature. I believe that this is only possible through education, advocacy and empowerment. A better studied, better understood and better protected, rainforest is of benefit to all in Guyana and across the planet. And the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre offers to be a part of that. A project with a small footprint but, we hope, an outsized impact.”
President Ali lauded the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre for its significance to Guyana and to global eco-tourism. He noted: “This project is so critical because the ecotourism that is going to be developed is going to be second to none. This project is going to be second to none because inherent in this product must be an education component and these are the facilities that will allow us to build education into that product, and that is what is going to separate it and make it different.”
Speaking on the point of education and the standardisation of education especially in relation to artificial intelligence, President Ali posited that innovative research and development will always be a human endeavour and that is why facilities like the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre and UG are important.
Former British Prime Minister, the Rt Honourable Tony Blair in supporting the launch and significance of the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre expressed the importance of developed nations’ financing major projects like these. Mr Blair said: “The developed world has to help with the financing of these projects.”
On the point of educating the nation and its people, the Former Prime Minister noted that “education leads to a better environment because around the world the single most important thing in a nation is the education of its people”. Mr Blair further added, “As Guyana develops rapidly the education of its people will become dramatically important. Additionally, today, education is about teaching people to be creative and that is why this centre is important because you will be able to teach the people and the people will then, in turn, be able to utilise that education to benefit the world around them...”
David Lammy expressed thanks to the vision and hard work of his wife Nicola Green as Chair, and a board of committed trustees including UG’s Head of the Biodiversity Centre, Dr Gyanpriya Maharaj, Jon Polledri and Rene Edwards. He also acknowledged the work of the Centre’s Director, Sam Airey. He noted that the partnership being developed between UG and Sophia Point will prove to be beneficial for all stakeholders, including students and the country as a whole.
Mr Lammy said: “The Centre will make that environment accessible, providing a platform for students and researchers to study this overlooked and undervalued country. A location which offers potential for terrestrial, freshwater and marine research. It is also a site to facilitate education beyond the biological sciences, to engage with local and indigenous communities, music and the arts and to tie into the existing, vibrant and committed community of conservationists in Guyana, amplifying efforts already underway.”
