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Science and technology in Jamaica

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Science and technology in Jamaica
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The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector in Jamaica is guided by two primary institutions—the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST) and the Scientific Research Council (SRC). Both operate under the direction of the Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology.

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History

Science and technology in Jamaica has a longstanding history. In 1879, the Governor created the Institute of Jamaica "For the Encouragement of Literature, Science and Art".[1] The country was among the earliest developing nations to craft a scientific law to guide the use of science and technology for the exploitation of domestic natural resources. It was one of the first in the western hemisphere to gain electricity, build a railway and apply research findings to boost sugar cane production.[2] In 1960, the Scientific Research Council (SRC) was established, with a mandate to "collect, collate and review information concerning scientific research schemes or programmes relevant to the development of the resources of Jamaica (and) to establish and maintain a scientific information centre for collection and dissemination of scientific and technical information".[3]

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Science and technology policy

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Background and Early Challenges

Since gaining independence in 1962, Jamaica has pursued national development through industrialization, education reform, and public sector modernization. Science, technology, and innovation (STI) have gradually emerged as strategic tools to support these efforts—particularly in improving productivity, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing service delivery. In 1990, the government formalized its commitment to STI through the National Science and Technology Policy, which laid important groundwork for integrating innovation into key sectors.[4] Yet in the decades that followed, systemic challenges—such as limited funding and fragmented governance—undermined progress. Since 2019, however, the government has renewed its commitment through a series of updated policies and national strategies aimed at modernizing infrastructure, increasing investment, and more effectively integrating STI into Jamaica’s development priorities. The overarching goal is to position the country as a more influential player in the fields of information technology and scientific innovation.

National Development Strategy and Digital Infrastructure

In 2009, Jamaica launched Vision 2030, a national development plan aimed at positioning the country to attain developed status by 2030. Among its key goals, National Outcome 11—“A Technology-Enabled Society”—emphasizes the use of digital innovation and technological advancement as drivers of sustained economic prosperity. To advance this vision, the government has introduced a range of national policies aimed at building and strengthening Jamaica’s digital capabilities and the frameworks that support technology-driven development. A key policy is the National Broadband Initiative, introduced in December 2020, which seeks to achieve universal access to high-speed internet by 2025, positioning connectivity as a public good. As of 2021, approximately 77% of the population had broadband coverage, with ongoing efforts to bridge the remaining gap.[5][6][7] Complementing this, the Public Wi-Fi Hotspot Programme, led by the Universal Service Fund, has dramatically expanded from just 13 hotspots in 2021 to over 380 by mid-2025. These hotspots offer free public internet access and now serve hundreds of thousands of users across major townships and underserved communities, reinforcing the government’s commitment to digital inclusion.[8][9] Together with the Data Protection Act, 2020—which came into effect in December 2023 to provide a legal foundation for responsible data management—these initiatives form a cohesive strategy to build digital trust, expand access, and enable innovation across sectors.[10]

Further reforms introduced between 2021 and 2025 focused on strengthening research capacity, public-private collaboration, and digital readiness. Key initiatives included the updated STI Policy (2022–2026),[11] the National Digital Transformation Strategy,[12] open data expansion,[13][14] and education recommendations targeting STEM learning and infrastructure.[15] Notably, the Coding in Schools Programme—initially piloted in 2021 and now integrated into the national curriculum—aims to equip students from an early age with foundational skills in logic, creativity, and digital problem-solving.[16][17] In parallel, the Amber HEART Coding Academy was launched in 2021 as a public-private partnership between the government and the Amber Group, offering intensive year-long residential training in software development and internships with industry professionals.[18][19] Alongside this, the STEM Ambassador Programme, led by the government’s Scientific Research Council, connects students with industry professionals and retirees who offer mentorship, career talks, and workshop support to foster long-term interest in science and technology.[20][21] Workforce development was also advanced through the Global Services Sector Project (2019–2024), which enhanced post-secondary training systems and supported the transition into high-value digital occupations.[22][23]

Intellectual Property Protection

Jamaica ranks among the strongest intellectual property (IP) protection regimes in Latin America and the Caribbean, placing 4th in the 2024 International Property Rights Index.[24][25] In January 2020, Parliament passed the Patents and Designs Act, a comprehensive reform of the country’s IP legislation. The law came into effect on 11 February 2022, replacing the Patent Act of 1857 and the Designs Act of 1937, both of which had remained largely unchanged for over a century.[26][27]

The new framework introduced a streamlined application process for industrial design protection, allowing applicants to submit a single application in one language with one set of fees, thereby simplifying access to international IP systems. The Act also incorporated provisions from key international treaties, including the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Hague Agreement, enabling Jamaican inventors and designers to seek protection across multiple jurisdictions.[26][27]

The legislation is expected to foster innovation and product development by strengthening legal safeguards for creators. According to The Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, who piloted the reform, the updated law enhances compliance with global standards and provides greater protection for local inventors, thereby promoting creativity and technological advancement.[28]

Nuclear Science and Regulatory Institutions

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Model of the SLOWPOKE-2 reactor core. Jamaica is the only country in the Caribbean to operate a nuclear research reactor of this type.

Jamaica has successfully operated a 20 kW SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor since the early 1980s—the only facility of its kind in the Caribbean. Managed by the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), the reactor supports neutron activation analysis across a wide range of disciplines. These include environmental monitoring, geochemical mapping, food composition studies, human health research, and agricultural investigations such as soil composition and trace element analysis that inform land use and crop management strategies.[29][30][31]

In late 2020, Jamaica launched its Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA), becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to establish an independent body dedicated to overseeing the safe and secure operation of facilities involving ionizing radiation and nuclear technology, including the SLOWPOKE reactor.[32] Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Audley Shaw, remarked that the move would allow Jamaica to "confidently forge ahead with engaging nuclear science and technology in all aspects of national development and wealth creation strategies".[33]

Building on this foundation, in 2024 Jamaica signed a memorandum of understanding with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to explore the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a long-term solution to high energy costs and fossil fuel dependence.[34][35] While deployment remains a long-term prospect, the move reflects a strategic effort to integrate advanced nuclear technologies into Jamaica’s energy and industrial policy—aligning with Vision 2030 goals to enhance energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support sustainable economic development through science, technology, and innovation.[36]

Despite its strategic potential, SMR development poses challenges including high upfront costs, complex licensing frameworks, and the need for robust disaster-resilient infrastructure, given Jamaica’s exposure to hurricanes and other natural hazards.[37] Ongoing consultation with the HSRA and international partners aims to address these concerns through phased research and capacity-building.[38]

Renewable Energy

While nuclear energy remains a long-term ambition, Jamaica is actively expanding renewable electricity through solar, wind, and hydropower. Key projects include:

Wigton Windfarm – Located in Manchester, it is the largest wind energy facility in the English-speaking Caribbean, with a capacity of 63 MW.[39]

Paradise Park Solar Farm – A 51 MWp solar facility in Westmoreland, among the region’s largest, generating over 80 GWh annually.[40]

Maggotty Hydropower Plant – A 7.2 MW hydro station commissioned in 2014, complementing solar and wind efforts.[41]

Regarding policy direction, the Electricity (Net Billing) Regulations, 2022 established a legal framework for households and businesses to sell excess solar power to the grid via standard offer contracts with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), approved by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).[42][43][44] This mechanism enables self-generators to receive credit for surplus electricity exported to the grid, supporting distributed renewable energy adoption.[45] This was followed by Cabinet approval of the Integrated Resource Plan 2 (IRP-2) in November 2024—a national roadmap prioritizing solar, wind, hydro, and battery storage technologies to achieve 50% renewable electricity by 2030. IRP-2 outlines procurement targets, transmission upgrades, and investment incentives to support both utility-scale and distributed renewable energy projects.[46][47]

Evidence of Policy Impact

While Jamaica’s output in science, technology, and innovation (STI) remains modest—reflected in its 79th-place ranking out of 133 economies on the 2024 Global Innovation Index[48]—recent developments suggest that STI policies are beginning to yield tangible results.

The software industry is gaining momentum, supported by targeted government policies and the emergence of a local tech ecosystem.[49][50] Initiatives such as the Coding in Schools Programme and the Amber HEART Coding Academy have helped grow Jamaica’s software sector by increasing the supply of trained developers and strengthening national expertise in software engineering. By early 2024, nearly 500 Amber graduates had completed training, with plans to reach 20,000 participants over five years.[51][52] These developments are broadening access to digital education, aligning with national STI priorities and supporting the growth of Jamaica’s emerging tech landscape.

Meanwhile, the global services industry is steadily diversifying beyond traditional Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), expanding into Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), IT support, healthcare, cybersecurity, finance, and data analytics. This transformation aligns with the Global Digital Services Sector Project (2021–2025), which prioritizes higher-value service segments and digital transformation.[53][54][55]

International recognition of Jamaican tech talent is also increasing. For example, BairesDev reported a 2,100% increase in hires from Jamaica between 2020 and 2022, citing the country’s expanding pool of developers and engineers trained through national programmes.[56][23] Platforms such as The Hive Careers are helping engineers and developers access global opportunities through certifications, job matching, and flexible work arrangements.[57]

In the renewable energy sector, by early 2024, Jamaica had licensed 436 solar systems under the Electricity (Net Billing) Regulations, 2022—adding 8.5 MW of distributed capacity to the grid.[46] Following Cabinet approval of the Integrated Resource Plan 2 (IRP-2) in November 2024, 99.83 MW of new solar capacity was competitively procured, with contracts awarded to Wigton Energy and Sunterra Energy Jamaica.[58][59] These developments contributed to a total installed renewable capacity of 188 MW by the end of 2024, accounting for approximately 10–15% of national electricity generation. Jamaica rose eight places in the Bloomberg NEF Climatescope power ranking—from 47th to 39th globally—and was ranked 10th in Latin America and the Caribbean for renewable energy investment attractiveness, reflecting progress in clean energy transition.[46][60]

Taken together, these developments offer growing evidence that STI policies are beginning to deliver measurable outcomes in Jamaica’s digital transformation and economic diversification. If sustained, this trajectory could position the country as a more significant presence in the fields of information technology and scientific innovation.

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Expenditure on research and development

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Public Investment

Jamaica’s investment in research and development (R&D) has long lagged behind global benchmarks, constrained by fiscal limitations and structural inefficiencies. In 2002, national R&D expenditure stood at just 0.06% of GDP—far below the global average of 2.03% at the time.[61] Although this figure rose to 0.7% by 2018, the gap remained substantial, as the global average had climbed to approximately 2.2% of GDP.[62][61]

A pivotal shift occurred in 2019 with the introduction of dedicated public funding for R&D— made possible by improved economic conditions following years of reform and consolidation. These efforts reduced public debt, restored investor confidence, and created room in the national budget for more strategic investment in science and technology.[63][64][65][66]

In 2020, R&D expenditure was formally incorporated into the calculation of Jamaica’s GDP—a decision Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke described as a step toward stimulating research investment and reinforcing the sector’s role in national innovation.[63] By the 2023/24 fiscal year, the government had allocated J$834.9 million to R&D, marking a 6% increase over the previous year. This included targeted funding for the Scientific Research Council to upgrade its analytical laboratories, expand testing capacity, and shorten turnaround times. While still below the national target of 1.5% of GDP, the increase reflected a sustained commitment to enhancing Jamaica’s research infrastructure and innovation capacity.[67]

Private Sector Participation and Incentives

Private sector expenditure on R&D remains modest and unevenly documented. Available data suggest that private firms contribute a limited share, primarily in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, and digital service. A 2019 editorial in The Gleaner estimated Jamaica’s total R&D spending at approximately 0.3% of GDP at the time—well below regional and global benchmarks—and noted the absence of systematic data on firm-level investment. Recent policy initiatives—including targeted fiscal incentives, innovation grants, and broader investment reforms outlined in the National Investment Policy (2022), which prioritizes innovation-driven sectors—aim to stimulate greater private sector participation in applied research and product development.[68][69]

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Scientific publications

Caricom scientists have a modest output in terms of scientific research papers. Between 2017–2019, CARICOM researchers primarily focused on health sciences, with Jamaica accounting for over 20% of published articles in that field. In terms of research density, Jamaica produced 114 publications per million inhabitants in 2019. Between 2014 and 2016, Jamaica ranked 4th in terms of average of relative citations (1.36). In terms of scientific co-authorship, between 2017 and 2019, Jamaica produced 379 publications in collaboration with the US, 118 with UK, 95 with Canada, 52 with France and 51 with Mexico.[70]

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Science activities

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Notable activities aimed at promoting science and innovation include:

Science Resource Centre & Innovation Laboratory: Opened in 2018, this facility supports the development of revenue-generating clean technology enterprises across the region. It is the first of its kind in the Caribbean.[71]

Public Wi-Fi Hotspot Programme: As of 2025, more than 380 public Wi-Fi hotspots have been established across Jamaica, providing free internet access and supporting digital inclusion initiatives.[9]

Science and Technology Fairs: These events offer students and researchers a platform to showcase innovations and engage the public in scientific exploration and learning.[72]

Innovation and Invention Competitions: Jamaica encourages grassroots innovation through national competitions that promote creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. These include the National Innovation Competition, organized by the National Commission on Science and Technology, as well as youth-focused invention challenges supported by public agencies and private sector partners. Such initiatives aim to identify promising ideas, support commercialization, and foster a culture of innovation aligned with national development goals.[73][74]

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Institutions

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Jamaica is home to several institutions that contribute to the country’s scientific, technical, and professional research capacity:[75]

  • Medical Association of Jamaica (est. 1877) — Offers a range of services including continuing medical education, seminars, and professional development workshops.
  • Institute of Jamaica (est. 1879) — Created to encourage literature, science, and art in Jamaica, it has served as a hub for cultural preservation and scholarly engagement for over a century.
  • Jamaica Institution of Engineers (est. 1940s) — Promotes the advancement of engineering through public engagement, technical outreach, and professional standards.[76]
  • University of the West Indies, Mona (est. 1948) — Hosts faculties of medical sciences and natural sciences, contributing to academic research and regional training.
  • Geological Society of Jamaica (est. 1955) — Supports earth science research and professional development across government, academia, and industry.[77]
  • University of Technology, Jamaica (originated as the Jamaica Institute of Technology in 1958) — Engages in applied research, particularly in engineering, computing, and architecture.
  • Scientific Research Council (est. 1960) — Based in Kingston, it coordinates national scientific research and fosters innovation in areas such as biotechnology and food science.[3]
  • Sugar Industry Research Institute (est. 1973) — Conducts research on agricultural technologies and practices to enhance sugar cane production.[78]
  • Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (est. 1975) — Serves the wider Caribbean region in agricultural research and innovation.
  • International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (est. 1984) — Operated by the University of the West Indies, Mona, ICENS manages the SLOWPOKE-2 research reactor and conducts multidisciplinary research in areas such as environmental geochemistry, climate change, and marine ecosystems. It supports neutron activation analysis for studies in health, agriculture, and the environment, and plays a key role in education and training in applied nuclear science.[79]
  • Caribbean Institute for Health Research (est. 1999) — Formerly the Tropical Medicine Research Institute, it is based at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and conducts multidisciplinary research on child development, nutrition, chronic diseases, and sickle cell disease. The institute comprises four major units—including the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit and the Sickle Cell Unit—and emphasises translating research into policy and practice. Its programmes, such as Reach Up, have been adopted in multiple countries, and its work has informed national health policies, school feeding initiatives, and chronic disease prevention strategies across the Caribbean[80][81]
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Recognition and awards

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Evan Dale Abel. He established the critical link between adipose tissue glucose transporter (GLUT4) and whole-body insulin resistance.

See also: List of Jamaicans - Science and medicine

The following is a selection of scientists of Jamaican heritage who have received international awards and distinctions for their contributions to science, technology, and innovation:

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Contributions

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See also: List of Jamaican inventions and discoveries

Those of Jamaican heritage have made numerous contributions across diverse fields of science and technology—including medicine, computing, climate science, astronomy, and astrophysics. Notable examples include:

Medicine and Health

The discovery of Kwashiorkor – Cicely Williams identified and named Kwashiorkor, a severe form of protein-energy malnutrition, and developed a treatment plan that saved countless lives. Her pioneering work corrected widespread misdiagnoses and helped reshape global understanding of pediatric malnutrition. She also fundamentally changed the global approach to the care of mothers and children—shifting it from centralized institutions to community-based support led by auxiliaries and lay health workers. This model laid the groundwork for maternal and child health to become a formal discipline, now taught worldwide—from training colleges to leading universities.[85][86][87]

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Skeletal structure of cilazapril, an antihypertensive drug featuring a piperazic acid-like motif—first identified in Monamycin, a natural product discovered in Jamaica.

The discovery of Monamycin – Jamaican chemist Kenneth Magnus discovered and co-synthesised the antibiotic Monamycin from Streptomyces jamaicensis, a bacterium found in Jamaican soil. Monamycin’s structural analysis led to the discovery of piperazic acids—rare amino acids that became key building blocks in the development of cilazapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor). Cilazapril was widely used to help patients manage high blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk. The piperazic acid framework has since influenced a range of medicines, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunosuppressant agents, underscoring its importance in modern medicinal chemistry.[88][89][90][91]

The development of ACRJ-PC28 – Simone Badal McCreath created the first Caribbean-derived prostate cancer cell line, addressing a critical gap by providing a model that better represents African-Caribbean genetics, historically underrepresented in cancer research. This breakthrough enables more accurate testing of cancer treatments for Black populations and marks a pivotal step toward equitable oncology research.[92][93]

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The Jaipur Knee

The development of the Jaipur Knee – Jamaican-born engineer Joel Sadler was the primary inventor and project lead behind the Jaipur Knee, a groundbreaking prosthetic joint designed to restore mobility to above-knee amputees in low-resource settings. Developed during his graduate studies at Stanford University, the device uses a polycentric, four-bar linkage system made from oil-filled nylon—delivering durability, flexibility, and stability at a cost of around US$20. Created in partnership with the Jaipur Foot Organization in India, the Jaipur Knee was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2009. It has since been distributed across many countries including India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, enabling thousands of individuals to achieve greater mobility and independence.[94][95][96]

Pioneering Sickle Cell Treatments – Yvette Francis-McBarnette was the first to use prophylactic antibiotics in the treatment of children with sickle cell anemia, dramatically improving survival rates. Her clinic screened more than 20,000 schoolchildren, enabling early detection and lifelong management that significantly improved quality of life. Her early intervention model—screening children and placing them on continuous treatment—created a paradigm shift in how the disease was managed in the United States. Her influence extended to national policy through her role in shaping the 1972 National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act, which institutionalized many of the practices she had already proven effective. Over time, her approach helped inform global best practices in sickle cell care, particularly in regions with high disease prevalence.[97][98][99] In a separate but equally significant development, Jamaica established the only comprehensive sickle cell unit in the English-speaking Caribbean and has played a pioneering role in global sickle cell research and care. Based at the University of the West Indies, the Sickle Cell Unit led one of the world’s most influential cohort studies, shaping international understanding of the disease’s natural history. It was also among the first globally to introduce newborn screening in a low-resource setting and developed a day-care model for managing acute pain crises—now recognized as a best practice. The unit’s research has informed WHO and UN policies, while its training programmes have helped expand care across the Caribbean.[100][101][102]

Identification of phasic insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus – Errol Morrison and his team characterized phasic insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (PIDDM), a malnutrition-related diabetes distinct from types 1 and 2, identifying its unique features like intermittent insulin needs and absence of ketosis. Their work, conducted in Jamaica, is often deemed the first to clearly elaborate the clinical features of this condition, also known as J type diabetes.[103][104]

The development of the ‘Goffe’ strain – Alan Powell Goffe created this attenuated measles strain, also known as the ‘Beckenham’ strain, which became the foundation for numerous measles vaccines used worldwide. Goffe also played a key role in refining early polio vaccines, improving their safety for use in Britain and beyond. His scientific contributions were instrumental in advancing vaccines that protected millions from the devastating effects of polio and childhood measles. He was also among the first to conduct large-scale studies of human papillomavirus (HPV), laying critical foundations for its later recognition as a cause of cervical cancer.[105][106][107]

Computing

The invention of Lingo – John Henry Thompson created this programming language for Adobe Director, empowering users to build animations and interactive content without advanced coding skills. His innovation helped democratize multimedia creation and influenced modern video games, web design, and interactive media.[108][109]

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Pioneer of spectroscopic tomography in astronomy – Mercedes Richards was the first to adapt medical imaging techniques to astronomy through spectroscopic tomography, a method that visualizes gas flow between stars in interacting binary systems. Her work helped advance research on Algol binaries and magnetic fields in stellar interactions, improving our understanding of how Sun-like stars influence the evolution of binary systems.[110][111][112]

Climate Science and Environmental Research

Jamaica has made significant contributions to climate science. The Climate Studies Group, Mona (CSGM), established in 1994 at the University of the West Indies, is Jamaica’s leading institution for climate research. Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Anthony Chen, the group has produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications and trained more than 30 graduate students, advancing regional expertise in climate modeling and resilience planning. Among its key innovations are solar and wind energy mapping, statistical models for seasonal rainfall forecasting, and the Caribbean Climate Interactive Database—developments that laid the groundwork for practical tools such as dengue outbreak early warning systems, customized seasonal forecasting models, and the State of the Caribbean Climate Report 2020, a resource widely used by Caribbean policymakers to guide climate adaptation and resilience strategies. CSGM researchers have played key roles in multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, including Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis and the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. Their work has informed national and regional policies on disaster preparedness, agriculture, public health, and renewable energy. Through international collaborations and significant research funding, CSGM has positioned Jamaica as a key contributor to global climate science.[83][113][114][82][115]

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