Krystal Penny Bowen
Sep 4, 2018 · 3 min read

Dr. Harold Gibbs: Scientist, Innovator, Entrepreneur A son of the Soil

By Krystal Penny Bowen

With a casual swag, a white T-shirt, jeans and his tam covering his dreadlocks style, people would not be able tell that they were in the presence of a scientist. The Barbados Advocate spoke to the man who in his lifetime has become an author, game maker, researcher, entrepreneur and mentor committing his career to the development of Barbados through education and innovation. For his dedication, he received an award of excellence from his secondary school at its recent speech day and prize giving ceremony.

Born and raised in the Black Rock, St. Michael area, Dr. Harold Gibbs, an Ellerslie alumnus, under the tutelage of a Jamaican Rastafarian, adopted his natural love for mathematics and pursued a degree in the sciences at University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. With a background in Chemistry, Biology, Bacteriology, Dr. Gibbs has done extensive work on water pollution (bathing areas) on South and West Coast area and research on the chemical profiles of soil and the pathogens which affect specific cash food crops. He highlighted that his work focused on White Lisbon yam, a root crop susceptible to anthranose, a fungi which cause disease in the plant. Using this type of research, Dr. Gibbs completed his Ph.D and continues this work today looking at the detrimental transition from organic fertilizer to inorganic fertilizer and its impact on agriculture in Barbados. The scientist explained that despite all the concerns about global warming, the soils on the island over the years is “dead” due to the use of inorganic fertilizer and the loss of beneficial fungi and bacteria which are not there to protect the crops. In addition, all the chemicals used to treat the harmful pathogens are not only harmful to crops but through run-off can negatively affect plant and fish life in the sea.

For the past fifteen months, Mr. Gibbs explained that his team were examining the benefits of using a molasses by product called vinasse as a fertilizer in improving the yield of crops. Experiments are being done to see if this type of organic fertilizer is safe and economical in comparison to inorganic ones. Vinasse is considered to have several minerals, vitamins and organic acids which would be beneficial to the crop production. After six to eight weeks after the application of the organic fertilizer, the scientists will also test to see if the vinasse can affect ground water near the crops. Presently, the project is being conducted with the Barbados Agricultural Management Company and five canefields. Another problem. which Dr. Gibbs focuses on is seeking to find a solution to inconsistent or disportionate distribution of fertilizer in soils across the island. He is currently working alongside a MPhil student at the university on this project.

Author & Launching Educational Games

In addition to his work in the fields and the lab, Dr. Gibbs has written a book called “Recrystallisation Into the New Age Black Man” and he has created two word board games, AnaWords and World of Words (2010), WOW which won the Barbados National Innovation competition in 2012 and will be available in board game format and online in app format early 2017.

Sustainability, Environment and the Youth

Dr. Gibbs is also passionate about teaching and he has done this through community projects of education about agriculture i.e. creating compost and working with the West Terrace Primary about recycling and organic farming with the assistance of United Nations’ programme called Live Earth. Working with the environment, Dr. Gibbs is cognizant that due to our present disposal habits, it is important. to reduce our waste to the landlfill.

“Barbados is a land scarce place so you got to educate the people about understanding the benefits of actually sorting out garbage and sending the least amount as possible to the landfill,” said Dr. Gibbs.

Krystal Penny Bowen

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A woman of wonder, of dreams trying to make sense of this crazy world.