Trinidadian Zahra Gomes is the latest recipient of the Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship.
She was chosen from a field of six candidates who were interviewed at Government House by the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee.
The committee, chaired by Gov.-Gen. Sir Elliott Belgrave, also included Secretary Peter Goldson, Felice Swapp, Prof. Evelyn O’Callaghan, Dr. Chantal Onanaiwu, Richard Skeritt and Prof. Bridget Brereton.
Gomes, who holds a bachelor of science in mathematics and physics from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, will pursue a master of science in cosmology at the University of Oxford in October next year.
Explaining that cosmology is theoretical physics and the study of how the universe began, Gomes said her field of study could have “a great impact” on the Caribbean and as it is not currently widely studied, her goal is to expand research in the science in the region.
The other applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship hailed from Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada.
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil J. Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. Each year, one Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship is awarded, with a separate Rhodes Scholarship for Jamaica.