Sarah Buckland-Reynolds

Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds is an interdisciplinary science researcher with a background in Geography (PhD, high commendation) and Geomatics (postgraduate diploma). She has served in both academia and government, including as the former Senior Research Analyst at the Jamaica Productivity Centre, Ministry of Labour and Social Security. She is also a former Geography lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus where she coordinated various interdisciplinary research courses, as well as lectured on the topics of World Economy, Agriculture and Food.

Her academic background also includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography (Major) and Spanish (Minor), with first-class honours (BSc, Cumulative GPA: 4.06). She presently serves as a Chapter Scientist for Chapter 3 in WGII of the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report, and an Associate Editor on the Editorial Board of the Weather, Climate and Society journal. She also supports the work of the UWI Mona Climate Studies Group as a Technical Consultant for the Climate STRIDES Project (2026).

Motivated by her faith in God and zeal to positively influence society, Dr. Buckland-Reynolds strives for excellence, with her work being internationally recognized, including being awarded the 2024 Editor’s Award by the American Meteorological Society for her reviewing service in the Weather, Climate and Society Journal. She was also selected as one of two recipients of the 2023 L’Oreal/UNESCO Women in Science Caribbean Award, the 2023 ICETEX International Experts Exchange Award for study in Colombia, and with her PhD research in drought management also being shortlisted in the top 10 globally for the 2023 Allianz Climate Risk Award by Munich Re Insurance, Germany.

She also received journal awards, including Best Paper by a Graduate Student from the Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography (2022), with her paper having among the top 10% citations by Wiley Publishers in 2022.

Dr. Buckland-Reynolds continues to mentor young women in science in partnership with the UWI-UNICEF Walking in Her Footsteps Mentorship Programme. She is also extensively involved in outreach and ministry, including founder of a registered Jamaican charity, and a board member of the Caribbean Network of Christian Scholars. She hopes to inspire others through her journey and positively contribute to her nation and region’s productivity and development.