An extended-held imaginative and prescient of Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, MD, Ph.D., Okay.C.S.L. was to participate in establishing an impartial educational academy in Saint Lucia. This was realized in 2025 with the incorporation of The Saint Lucia Academy of Technology, Science, and the Arts.
The basis for this initiative started in March 2022, when Laurencin mentioned the matter with St. Lucia’s Prime Minister, Honourable Philip J. Pierre. Laurencin expressed his deep appreciation and a want to contribute to Saint Lucia which was his father’s homeland. He proposed a nationwide initiative that will contribute to the nation’s long-term improvement: the institution of an Academy of Science, Technology, and the Arts. “The Prime Minister has a deep commitment to science, technology and the arts,” stated Laurencin. “National Academies can also contribute to national development as independent sources of advice.” Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre acknowledged, “Dr Laurencin must be credited for his lead role in establishing the Saint Lucia Academy of Science, Technology and Arts, which will undoubtedly bring immense benefits to Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean community.”
The Saint Lucia Academy of Science, Technology and the Arts is devoted to:
- Conducting impartial scientific analysis and partnering with nationwide academies worldwide to offer authorities and non-governmental businesses with evidence-based analysis on vital points of nationwide improvement.
- Inspiring younger Saint Lucians by cultivating an setting that encourages curiosity and careers in science, know-how, and the arts, together with the humanities.
- Promoting an innovation-driven ecosystem to draw worldwide enterprise start-ups, promote analysis and improvement, and facilitate enterprise progress in collaboration with world-class academia and analysis establishments.
- Recognizing exemplary contributions by Saint Lucians in science, know-how, and the arts via induction into the Academy.
In bringing the Academy to fruition, Laurencin labored intently with the Government of St. Lucia and a number of distinguished Saint Lucian leaders, together with: Her Excellency Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy, Ph.D., GCSL, GCMG, DStJ, Governor-General Emerita and former Governor-General of Saint Lucia; Sir Winston C V Parris, KCSL, CMG, MD, a distinguished Saint Lucian doctor and a famend professor emeritus at Duke University; and Javed Samuel, MEng, MSc, a Rhodes Scholar, outstanding Saint Lucian cybersecurity professional, cryptographer, and educational who has considerably contributed to technological improvement each domestically and internationally. All are Founding Fellows.
Emeritus Founding Fellows are the late Sir Owen King, Nobel Prize Winner, the late Sir Arthur Lewis, and Nobel Prize winner, the late Sir Derek Wolcott.
Laurencin was elected the first President of the St. Lucia Academy of Science, Technology and the Arts. Laurencin is the first surgeon in historical past to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Inventors. In 2025, Laurencin turned Knight Commander of the Order of St. Lucia, conferred underneath the auspices of King Charles III via the Governor General. His contributions to Saint Lucia embody establishing the UConn JUMP Saint Lucia program to assist assist public well being and wholesome dwelling, Chairing the First World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in January 2025 and Chairing the Second World Congress in January 2026, each held in St. Lucia. He additionally acquired the St. Lucia Medal of Honor in 2022.