PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Professor Brian Copeland has been named as the new principal of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The announcement was made at the end of the Conference of the University Council meeting here on Friday night.

Copeland, who replaces the Guyanese-born Professor Clement Sankat, takes up his new appointment in October.

Professor Copeland, who has served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering since 2007, joined the Department in 1981.

The co-ordinator of the Real Time Systems Group, Copeland’s research interests are in the areas of Digital Electronics, Controls and Steel Pan technology.

According to a statement on the UWI website, the highlights of his distinguished professional career include being a joint recipient, along with the G-Pan team, of a Chaconia Medal Gold, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s highest national awards.

In 2011, former attorney general Anand Ramlogan had alleged that Copeland’s firm, Panadigm Innovations Limited, was making and selling special steel pans to which the Government owns the patent.

Ramlogan later said that the lawsuit would be withdrawn, as the parties had agreed to a settlement.

Under the terms of the mediation agreement, the ownership of the pan will be vested in the UWI, the regional university. The UWI is to set up a private company to exploit the patent in order to make profits. The State will be entitled to one third of the profits, with UWI enjoying one third and Copeland enjoying the remainder.