Technical Papers
Buckland, S. (2020). Effective Communication for Climate Information Services: A Jamaican Case Study Assessment Using Perspectives from Multi-End-User Stakeholder Feedback. CCRIF SPC Technical Paper Series Vol. 4. Available at: http://www.ccrif.org/sites/default/files/publications/studentpapers/Buckland_UndergraduateThesis_Article.pdf [Accessed: 29/12/20].
Taylor, M.A., Stephenson, T.S., Clarke, L., Charlton, C.S., Stephenson, K., Brown, P., Rankine, D., Campbell, J.D.,Stennett-Brown, R., Whyte, F., Brown, A.A., Maitland, D., Douglas, C., Grant, D., Buckland, S.F., Walters, R., Daley, A., Van Meerbeeck, C.J., Trotman, A., Scott, W., Mahon, R., Allen, T., Brown, G., Brathwaite, C., Kerr, K., Nissan, H., Centella-Artola, A., and Bezanilla-Morlot, A. (2020). State of the Caribbean Climate Technical Report. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347442472_The_State_of_the_Caribbean_Climate_Report#fullTextFileContent
Campbell, D., Constable, A., Scott, L., and Buckland, S. (2020) Socio Economic Assessment of the Yallahs and Hope Watershed Management Units report under the Integrated Management of the Yallahs and Hope River Watershed Management Areas Project. National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). Kingston, Jamaica.
Conferences and Seminar Presentations
| What determines awareness, access and use of agro-climatic services? Insights from farming communities in Clarendon, Jamaica. | 3rd Latin American Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation (Virtual Presentation) Tecnológico de Monterrey, Puebla, Mexico. | Mar 2020 |
| Exploring Entry Points for Effective Farmer Engagement in Agro-Climate Services: Lessons From Clarendon, Jamaica. | Graduate Seminar: Department of Geography & Geology | Nov 2018 |
| ‘Exploring Patterns & Potential Drivers of Drought Adaptive Decision-Making Across Clarendon, Jamaica | Graduate Seminar: Department of Geography & Geology, UWI Mona | May, 2018 |
| “Exploring Pathways to Effective Drought Adaptation in Crop Production Systems: Lessons from Clarendon Jamaica” (Poster Presentation: Orally demonstrated) | 11th Faculty of Science and Technology Conference, UWI Mona. | Apr, 2018 |
| Towards an Assessment of the Vulnerability and Resilience of Crop Production Systems to Drought in Clarendon, Jamaica – A Socio-Ecological Approach.” | University of the West Indies, Mona Research Days [Featured on Postgraduate Wall of Excellence, 2018 (Poster Display)] | MPhil Upgrade Seminar: Department of Geography & Geology, UWI Mona | Feb 2018 | Oct 31, 2017 |
| “Assessing Historical Mid-Summer Drought in Jamaica using Remote-Sensing Data: Implications on Agriculture Sustainability” | University of the West Indies, Mona Research Days 2017 [Poster Display]| World Meteorological Day ACDI/VOCA Expo [Poster Display] | LICJ-GIS Technical Seminar, U.W.I. Mona [Oral Presentation]. | Jan, 2017 | Mar 2016 |Nov, 2015 |
| ‘Assessing socio-ecological vulnerabilities to drought in Jamaica’s agriculture sector: Case studies of selected farming communities in Clarendon.’ | Graduate Seminar: Department of Geography & Geology, U.W.I., Mona. | May 2016 |
| “An evaluation of the efficiency of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and its implications on the effective mitigation of agro-meteorological hazards.” | 10th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Science and Technology, U.W.I., Mona | June 2015 |
| “Family Structure and Youth Behaviour: A Case Study from Select High Schools within the Corporate Area” | National Youth Conference, Department of Government, U.W.I., Mona. | Nov. 2014 |
Environmental & Social Science Research Profile
Sarah’s present PhD research focuses on the resilience of crop production systems to drought in Clarendon, Jamaica. This research comes immediately following the 2014/15 drought event, one of the most devastating droughts in Jamaica’s recent history. The research combines biophysical and socio-economic factors related to drought exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity in Clarendon, one of Jamaica’s most intensive and expanding agricultural regions.
The research offers potential practical contributions to enhance anticipatory planning and decision-making at the farm and policy-levels. Some of the most pertinent factors and locales of vulnerability are highlighted, which could inform targeted and efficient resource allocation for future drought adaptation projects. Seasons with the highest drought probabilities are underscored, with potential implications for the sustainability of traditional seasons of planting and reaping that farmers have followed over the years. Farm-level feedback also brings attention to issues which could inform future climate service communication. The research also probes best practices for cost-effective drought mitigation among local farmers, which can serve as a basis for improving local extension services.
Motivated by faith in God, family support and a zeal to positively influence society, aspects of Sarah’s academic work have also received recognition through the CCRIF-UWI Scholarship (2014-2015), UWI Postgraduate Scholarship and the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in Academics (2017).
Sarah Fay Buckland 