NOMINEE FOR the Scientific Research Council/Blue Cross Young Scientist/Technologist Award, Dr. John Lindo, developed a love for the sciences in his formative high school years, with a passion for Biology and Chemistry.
Hailing from Walkerswood in St. Ann, Dr. Lindo said that while attending Ferncourt High School he was stimulated by the nature work.
"This interest was further stimulated when I went to the University of the West Indies and was exposed to Zoology, and I became very interested in that particular aspect of Biology," he says.
Dr. Lindo's area of speciality, in which he pursued a Doctorate degree, is Parasitology. His interest was piqued by his exposure to this subject in the second and final year of his Zoology courses.
He says that he found it interesting "the way animals interacted with each other for a successful lifestyle, and how evolution allowed animals to coexist and exploit each other for mutual benefit," and he subsequently sought to enhance his scientific knowledge within the specific medical field.
Parasitology, he explains, is the study of parasites that the average person can identify in the form of commonplace human parasitic infections, such as worm infection. However, he notes that there is a host of other parasites outside the realm of human existence that span the animal kingdom.
To secure his doctorate degree, Dr. Lindo says he was required to study a particular worm infection, called strongyloides, which affected humans in tropical and temperate countries, causing diarrhoea and sometimes leading to fatalities. His study included researching the parasite's transmission characteristics, understanding how the body defends itself against the infection, and how to improve the diagnosis of the parasite.
The 39-year-old scientist has since successfully fashioned a career as a Parasitologist, and boasts an impressive list of publications on parasites, which he accomplished as part of a research group.
Dr. Lindo's other scientific undertakings include studying malaria in Guyana as well as studying the association between parasites and the infections with HIV.
In addition, the scientist manages to juggle his responsibilities as a senior lecturer at UWI with working as Head of the Diagnostic Laboratory, handling work for both the University Hospital and private laboratories.
Dr. Lindo, who was recently conferred the 2002 title of Young Scientist for the Caribbean, won the distinguished title from the Third World Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.
Motivation for him is an occupation that some cynics see as tedious, and comes "from the great satisfaction in understanding something for the first time and being a member of an international scientific community that debates issues."
Dr. Lindo is one of five nominees vying for the 2002 Young Scientist/Technological award. The award reflects the current year's theme of the National Conference on Science and Technology "Science and Technology for Economic Development: Towards Health, Wealth and Knowledge."
The winner will be announced on the last day of Science and Technology Month at an awards ceremony on November 30, at the Knutsford Court Hotel at 3:00 p.m.
