Biography
W. Nelson completed her MSc in Environmental Science at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1998, through a British Gas/Chevening/University of Strathclyde Scholarship. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and is currently pursuing an MBA in General Management at the Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.
Ms. Nelson has been employed as a Research Officer in the Environmental Quality Programme (formerly the Marine Chemistry Department) at the Institute of Marine Affairs for the past 18 years. During this time, she was able to source and introduce new technology and methods for the preparation of environmental samples for trace metals analysis, as well as for the analysis of these samples.
Ms Nelson has successfully designed and implemented research projects on trace metals in the coastal and marine environment over the years. Her research has taken her to the Caroni and Godineau Swamps, and across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago. Her most rewarding field experience was leading a research cruise around Trinidad and Tobago for an assessment of sediment quality in the nearshore coastal environment. In addition to water and sediment quality assessments, Ms. Nelson has conducted research on biota including commercial shellfish, demersal and pelagic fish species, and sponges. She has authored technical reports and has published the results of her research in reputed journals.
Ms Nelson has served on national committees established to address various issues including the development of ambient water quality standards, the development of trade effluent standards and the testing of fish samples internationally for the government. She has delivered presentations on behalf of the IMA at various local, regional and international meetings/ workshops. She was also the country representative at the 15th meeting of the UNICPOLOS at the UN Headquarters in New York in 2014 and most recently at the Blue Economy Caribbean 2018 Event in Miami, Florida.
