The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona has launched a bold new public engagement initiative titled ‘Food for Thought’, transforming the Toyota Coffee House into a hub of intellectual exchange and public awareness.

Through a series of visually striking table toppers, the initiative brings cutting-edge social science research directly to the public in a relaxed, everyday setting, extending UWI’s research mission beyond the campus walls.

The launch comes as UWI prepares to host its annual UWI Research Day on March 26, 2026, a university-wide showcase of innovation, inquiry, and impact across disciplines. ‘Food for Thought’ serves as an early, public-facing preview of the type of impactful scholarship that will be highlighted during Research Day, reinforcing UWI’s commitment to research that addresses real-world Caribbean challenges.

“At Toyota Coffee House, we believe great conversations start with great coffee and now with thought-provoking ideas,” said Sashena Pennant, Manager, Toyota Coffee House. “Partnering with UWI Mona’s Faculty of Social Sciences allows us to turn every table into a gateway to knowledge that matters.”

Each tabletop graphic features provocative questions and QR codes inviting café patrons to explore research conducted by FSS scholars. Topics range from energy poverty and climate migration to adolescent substance use, inequality, and the use of social media data in public health, all reflecting the depth and relevance of social science research emerging from UWI Mona.

“Research should never stay locked away in journals; it should live where people are,” said Francesca Lloyd-McDavid, Marketing Officer, Faculty of Social Sciences. “With Food for Thought, we are bringing the big questions of social science into everyday spaces and sparking conversations that matter for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. As UWI hosts Research Day on March 26, this initiative demonstrates how our research connects directly with society, informing policy, shaping behaviour, and improving lives.”

“Food for Thought” embodies the Faculty’s role within UWI as a bridge between academia and the public. By situating research in a familiar, social environment, the initiative encourages curiosity, dialogue, and critical thinking, core values also at the heart of UWI Research Day. Each table topper is designed not only to inform but to invite discussion, turning the café into a space, where ideas flow as freely as coffee.

Highlighted research includes:

• Dr. Shinique Walters on energy poverty among women in low-income Jamaican communities
• Dr. Ayesha Facey and Dr. Gillian Mason on substance use among adolescent girls
• Dr. David Tennant and team on the relationship between economic growth and inequality
• Dr. Suzana Russell, Prof. Lila Rao-Graham and Dr Maurice McNaughton on using social media data to inform public health policy
• Dr. Natalie Dietrich Jones and Clarence Henry on climate migration in Caribbean small island states
• Jevon Henry, Oniel Jones and Troy Cardwell on the performance of Jamaican business incubators

Looking ahead, the Faculty of Social Sciences aims to expand the ‘Food for Thought’ experience beyond Toyota Coffee House, with a vision of placing these conversation starters across restaurants and eateries throughout Kingston. The initiative complements UWI Research Day by extending the life of research beyond a single event, building a citywide network of spaces where scholarship, conversation, and community intersect.

“Food for Thought” is more than décor; it is a conversation starter, a bridge between academia and society, and a celebration of research with purpose.

Visit Toyota Coffee House, 93 Old Hope Road, Kingston, to experience the series.