Q. What were you doing when you received the news?
A. Just reading the newspaper on Friday 12th October

Q. I know that it was awarded as part of a committee effort but what implications does the award have for you personally.
A. Personally, I felt that at least, this report and award will help the world to become more aware of the significant risk of global warming affecting all of us.

Q. How do you feel to be part of something so grand?
A. I feel great, more for the opportunity to work with an international, inter-disciplinary team, some of whom are among the brightest minds in the world. Being associated with Al Gore is fantastic - he's a great promoter of our science. But being able to work with the scientists themselves, and brining this most important message of what humanity everywhere can do to prevent the future horrows of climate change, puts the icing on the cake!

Q. Any thoughts on how the money should be used.
A. Since there were 2,500 scientists that worked on the IPCC, the prize, if it were divided wouldn't go very far. For the sake of humanity, the money should go to further promote the awareness of the significance of global warming that will affect us all - and generations to come if we don't act appropriately!

Q. How did your work at CAREC influence your involvement on the panel?
A. Vector-borne diseases at CAREC helped me take an interest in environmental impact of Climate Change. At CAREC, I had initiated a research project on "An Assessment of the Impact of and Adaptation to climate Change (AIACC)”, in association with the University of the west Indies (Mona) and (St Augustine). We studied the impact of Climate change and Climate Variation on Dengue Fever in the Caribbean. The report has just been published as a book (2007):-“Climate Change Impact on Dengue: The Caribbean Experience", by A Chen, DD Chadee and SC Rawlins. (Available at CAREC’s Library)

Q. How long have you been on the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change?
A. I was on the panel for about 3 years.

Q. Tell us a bit about the work of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
A. The UN IPCC started the Fourth Assessment Report some 30 months ago. The final report was presented in Brussels about three months ago. It can be accessed on the IPCC web page, as a major work. Prior to this there was the Third Assessment Report (TAR), 2001 Prior to this there was the Second Assessment Report (SAR), 1995 First there was the first Assessment Report (FAR), 1988. All these reports were an improvement on the previous ones, with the later reports, providing updated information.

Q: How did you become interested in entomology and parasitology? A: I did a first degree in Zoology at the University of London and became interested in Parasitology and Medical Entomology. Many of the tropical diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes, and I concentrated in these since I wanted to come back into the Tropics. Then I went on to do a Masters in Medical Parassitology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Universityof London). I found it interesting and challenging that just one of these diseases, namely Malaria kills 1 -2M people every year, world-wide, especially children. I thought that there would be a need for skill in the management of these diseases in the Topical world.

Q. What changes have you observed in the Caribbean that can be attributed to global warming?
A. The impact of global warming most noticeable in the Caribbean - thus far - is the impacts on coastal erosion. Rising coastal waters have caused shrinkage of beaches, and thus the size of the islands. Thus some islands once had beaches of a width of near 100yds; now have to place boulders to prevent sea water running over onto the streets. Coral reefs are also being submerged, by the rising coastal water. This will impact on biodiversity of the sea shore etc. In my area of research, dengue fever, there has been a significant increase of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever in the last 20-30 years. We attribute this significant increase to global warming permitting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to become super abundant -in numbers and diversity of habitats. It has also permitted the virus to be replicated much more greatly, and thus the increased transmission of the organisms.

Q. What should Caribbean Governments do to reduce their national contributions to global warming?
A. Caribbean Governments could reduce their contribution to global warming by: Reduce dependence on Carbon fuels - and thus the production of Green house gases - principally Carbon dioxide Educate all communities to play a role in this mitigation Reduce rather than increase the reliance on motor vehicles Invest in wind-generated power Invest in solar energy

Q. What changes can we expect in 50 - 75 years if nothing is done to curb our contribution to global warming?
A. We can expect: An increase in ambient temperatures of 1-2 degrees Celsius Coastal erosion - smaller islands Water problems Agricultural problems Reduced biodiversity - loss of some species Diseases which did not once present a significant burden. E.g. malaria could once again become highly prevalent in the islands, Vectors which are not now prevalent on the islands could become common; Food and Water-borne diseases such as cholera may become common in our region. Heat stresses could be a major cause of mortality - as it was in Europe in 2003 - when there was over 150,000 excess deaths due to heat stress!

Q. Other than a decrease in temperature, what other benefits could be derived by reducing global warming?
A. There may be environmental advantages e.g. Those immediately above The world's Carbon fuels may be utilised over a much longer period! Reduced droughts Reduced severe storms and surges etc.

Q. What can the average Caribbean man or woman do to stop global warming?
A. The average Caribbean person can see that it's not just first world people who are contributing to global warming: we all are. We can:- Educate ourselves to seek opportunities to prevent green house carbon emission Seek ways to access other energy sources: Mitigation Adapt: If it can be demonstrated that global warming is associated with mosquito production and thus dengue transmission, because of the need of environmental sanitation, we can adapt by reducing the poor sanitation and thus the risk of disease transmission.