Tribute to Professor Emeritus Tara Prasad Dasgupta, CD

The Institute of Jamaica, which was established for the encouragement of Literature, Science and Art, awarded Professor Tara Prasad Dasgupta the Silver Musgrave Medal in October 2019, for outstanding merit in the field of Science. He was one of ten awardees for 2019 and one of three persons receiving the silver medal.

Professor Tara Dasgupta joined the staff at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona in 1974 as a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry.

In 1980 he was appointed the Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and was able to pursue his research interests in Renewable Energy, New Inorganic Materials, Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms and the Fate of Agrochemicals.

In 1995, Professor Dasgupta established the Pesticide Research Laboratory (PRL) at the University of the West Indies, Mona. The PRL received international accreditation and was awarded the ISO 17025 status in 2016. This laboratory offers analytical services and conducts research on modern aspects of pesticide science and assists both governmental and non-governmental organizations in monitoring pesticide levels in agricultural products and organic pollutants in the Jamaican environment.

He has had several professional assignments in the Caribbean and other countries including being Coordinator of the British Council CICHE Programme from 1987 to 1994.

While serving as President of the Caribbean Academy of Science from 2006-2010, he established the Jamaica Chapter of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. This independent non-profit charitable organization legally registered with the Government of Jamaica is aimed at promoting science and technology in Jamaica and is providing more networking opportunities for scientists in the region.

The Musgrave Medals in Gold, Silver, Bronze and the Musgrave Youth are awarded by the Institute of Jamaica in recognition of notable contributions to Literature, Science and Art.

The Musgrave Award was founded in 1889 and is one of the oldest awards of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

The Institute of Jamaica would like to express its deepest condolence to the Professor’s family.