Lyford Cay Foundations Partners with the University of The Bahamas and the University of Virginia to Advance Access to Public Data for Education and Research

(NASSAU, BAHAMAS) – Leading academics, public sector data specialists, and regional experts convened on November 20th for the Validation Workshop on Increasing Access to Basic Data for Educational and Research Purposes in The Bahamas. This was a milestone event aimed at strengthening the availability, usability, and governance of public data to support academic research and national development.

Hosted by Lyford Cay Foundations (LCF) in partnership with the University of The Bahamas (UB) and the University of Virginia (UVA), the workshop brought together key stakeholders committed to advancing a more robust, transparent, and researcher-friendly data ecosystem.

Opening the session, Dr Nicola Virgill-Rolle, Executive Director of Lyford Cay Foundations, emphasised the importance of collaboration to unlock the potential of public data for evidence-based decision-making.

          “This workshop marks a pivotal step toward creating a strong research infrastructure in The Bahamas,” she said. “By improving access to reliable data, we empower researchers whose work informs policy, strengthens institutions, and contributes to national progress.”

Participants engaged in dynamic presentations, structured discussions, and hands-on training led by national and international experts, including:

• Michael Wright, Data Commissioner, who outlined the legal and ethical frameworks governing data protection, providing clarity on compliance for researchers and academic institutions.
• Lane Rasberry of the University of Virginia, who introduced the Data Mapping Project, a collaborative initiative to catalogue existing public datasets and promote shared standards for open data.
• Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Bahamas National Statistical Institute, who presented the vision for a modernised data infrastructure to support policy planning and academic inquiry.
• Jose Luis Saboin Garcia and Dr. Diether Beuermann Mendoza of the Inter-American Development Bank, who shared regional perspectives and case studies highlighting best practices in data-driven governance.

Complementary sessions explored research funding pathways for scholars, the role of data in advancing the National Development Plan, and the lived experiences of academics navigating public sector data systems.

Interactive breakout sessions allowed participants to identify gaps, propose solutions, and collaboratively shape recommendations for improving access to datasets across government agencies. The day concluded with a practical workshop on data visualisation, equipping participants with tools to communicate insight-driven research effectively.

The event also spotlighted the contributions of emerging Bahamian researchers. UB students and project interns, Saniyya Sands and Khyla Jones, presented data visualisations developed through their work on the Data Mapping Project, demonstrating the value of hands-on learning and capacity building for the next generation of scholars.

This initiative is supported by a grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to Lyford Cay Foundations.