Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

97 Environment and Nature PETER BACON (1938-2003) P rofessor Peter Bacon was a well-known wetland specialist. A certified Professional Wetland Scientist, his knowledge of coastal and wetland ecology was highly valued both locally and internationally. He was also a dedicated educator for over 30 years at the University of the West Indies (UWI), where he trained many young scientists. England-born, he migrated to Trinidad and Tobago where he taught while studying for his doctorate at UWI. Bacon produced the first study of the ecology of the Caroni Swamp and was the first PhD graduate in zoology from the St. Augustine campus in 1969. He began lecturing in zoology at UWI, Mona and then at St. Augustine. He served as Professor and Head of the Department of Life Sciences. He helped to improve student facilities and was one of the creators of the first Master of Science programme in Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine. Professor Bacon started research at the St. Augustine campus on the ecology of coastal wetlands and invertebrates, developmental impact assessment in tropical islands, as well as the management and protection of Caribbean wetland environments. He supervised research on the Caroni and Nariva Swamps in Trinidad and important wetland areas in Tobago. He also studied the biology and conservation of leatherback turtles in the 1970s and 1980s. During his life, he wrote several scientific papers, manuals and books including “ The Natural Resources of Trinidad and Tobago and Flora and Fauna of the Caribbean.” JOHN A. BULBROOK (1881-1967) A geologist, he did a lot of archeological work digging up early evidence of Trinidad’s history from the time he arrived here from