Dr Deanesh Ramsewak of The University of Trinidad and Tobago's (UTT) Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies (Marine Sciences Unit), was awarded a grant through the Our Shared Ocean Initiative, to attend the Ocean Science Meeting 2026 (OSM26), which was held in Glasgow, Scotland from February 22 -27, 2026. The initiative was administered by Ireland's Marine Institute.

At the conference, Dr Ramsewak presented his research on blue carbon mapping in mangrove ecosystems using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), demonstrating how advanced geospatial science and Earth observation technologies can support coastal ecosystem monitoring and climate-related research in vulnerable island environments. His presentation highlighted the growing importance of innovative digital tools for understanding and managing mangrove systems, which play a critical role in carbon storage and coastal resilience.

Dr Ramsewak's participation at OSM26 helped to showcase UTT's research at a major international scientific forum, while also reflecting the University's continued commitment to addressing pressing coastal and marine challenges facing Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region.