• image1 A sampling site in Spitzbergen, located in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica.
  • image2 The quiet calm of Frenchman's Cove in the Parish of Portland, Jamaica
  • image3 A group of basic school children from one of many schools screened for lead contamination

Analytical and Support Facilities

ICENS is located on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, about 20 km from the Norman Manley International Airport. It occupies an attractive modern air-conditioned building of 950 sq. m. area.  There are a diverse range of modern laboratories covering several aspects of the geochemical and nuclear sciences. Our research covers a variety of applications, including environmental health and pollution, energy, radiation safety, and land use and development. Our analytical facilities are described below.

Nuclear Laboratory
The Nuclear Laboratory at ICENS operates two very powerful complementary nuclear techniques which provide enormous analytical power for a wide range of elements. These techniques are Neutr

on Activation Analysis and X-Ray Fluorescence.

Solutions Analysis Laboratory

This laboratory analyses samples in solution.  In addition to the instrumental techniques, standard wet chemistry methods such as titrations and pH measurements are carried out as required.

Sample Preparation
All samples collected by ICENS are logged, processed, labelled and stored in the sample preparation facility prior to analysis. The facility processes a range of materials including rocks, sediments, soils, food, solutions and human tissues.
Information Systems
The Information Systems Unit was formed in 1986 with a mandate to capture, maintain and make available in a digital medium, all the georeferenced data collected and generated from the various projects along with any other relevant information.
Thermoluminescence Dosimetry

The TLD unit at ICENS provides thermoluminescence detection services to ICENS and external users of ionizing radiation (dentists, X-Ray technicians).