Tracy-Ann Hyman - Fulbright NEXUS Scholar
Home Country: Jamaica
Grant Dates: 2012/2013
Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Tracy-Ann Hyman is currently a Researcher with the Climate Studies Group in the Department of Physics, University of the West Indies, Jamaica. She is responsible for providing technical research support to the Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Jamaica. This project is managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the United Nations Environment Programme, and is funded by the European Union. The project’s objective is to increase resilience and reduce risks associated with natural hazards in vulnerable areas, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Jamaica.In 2008 Tracy-Ann received a Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT), which allowed her to obtain a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science from the University of Tokyo, Japan. Her thesis focused on Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for operations along the coastlines of Jamaica and Asia. For this, she won the ‘Best Paper Award’ at the 2010 Asia Pacific Forum in Beppu, Japan. Her time is Japan was integral in exposing her to Climate Change Issues and the implications for developed and developing countries.
From 1995 to 1998 she attended the University of the West Indies where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management. Between 1998 and 2001 she attended the University of Technology, Jamaica where she obtained a diploma in Business Administration. During that time, she developed a strong interest in the sustainable use of natural resources for coastal communities and the tourism sector. Having worked in Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Japan, Tracy-Ann gained extensive work experience in climate change vulnerability and adaptation, project and environmental management, community development, safety and emergency management, hotel and tourism management, market research, and administration. She has received several awards for work in these areas, one of which includes the Jamaican Prime Minister’s Award for the Preservation of the Natural Environment, June 2004. She is an active member of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, and sits on the Education Sector Sub Committee for Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Governance Mechanisms, in the Caribbean.
Her main research interest lies in Disaster Management and Community Resilience for Caribbean coastal communities. This approach highlights the need for promoting a Community Empowerment Approach (CEA) towards disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, sea level rise etc. It encourages local residents to be involved in all four stages of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Cycle (CDM) namely mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Here, disaster management is ‘everybody’s business’ and not solely that of the government.
As a NEXUS Scholar, she intends to promote a network of safety and self reliance within coastal communities so that losses from natural disasters are minimized. With this in mind, there is synergy between the CEA and the Nexus Program, as both seek to tackle hazard mitigation, through generating and strengthening people-powered early warning systems. Additionally, both are geared towards establishing best practices for sustainable community developments in the Caribbean Region and the Western Hemisphere.