Alston Miller of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) College of Natural and Applied Sciences is one of two Jamaican educators recently awarded the 2009 award for junior faculty from the Caribbean and Central America, by the United States Department of State.

Awardees will participate in an eight-week faculty enhancement programme, offered under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Enhancement Act for junior faculty in mathematics, natural or physical sciences. Five junior faculty members from four Caribbean countries and nine from Central America were selected after a highly competitive process.

Participants will be involved in an academic exchange programme consisting of pedagogical instruction and the opportunity to attend classes in their field of study, at the Harvard Summer School, between June and August 2009. Awardees will also join in field-related research or serve as teaching assistants under the mentorship of United States professors. They will contribute to the Boston community through volunteer work.

Commendations

Miller has a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and a Master of Science degree in molecular biology, both from NCU. Since joining the faculty of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Allied Health Sciences in 2003, Miller has served as vice-president of the faculty senate in general welfare and development. He has also received commendations for chairing the Northern Caribbean University Science Symposium.

In 2008, he wrote a paper titled 'Chemical and Microbiological Analysis of Potable Water in Jamaica'. This was recommended for publication by reviewers of the Pan American Journal of Public Health. Miller continues to work on toxic metals in drinking water in Jamaica, in particular, the island's southern region.

NCU's vice-president of academic administration, Dr Beverly Cameron, believes Miller will be an exemplary representative of the university and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

"The College of Natural and Applied Sciences, has over the years, placed itself as a strong force in promoting the sciences in Jamaica," said Cameron.