Dr. Peter is a natural product chemist with many years in chemical education and plant
research.

On leaving her post as Head of the Department of Chemistry at the Barbados Community College, she established the non-profit organization, the Biocultural Education and Research Programme. The non-profit works to promote conservation of indigenous Caribbean plant resources and the embedded traditional knowledge, with focus on the related issues of food security and health.

She sees biocultural education and research into the healing power of plants as pivotal for building resilience and response mechanisms for the impacts of climate change on SIDs. Using a citizen science platform, she has established a living library of MAPS of value to historical and contemporary traditional medicine practice (in collaboration with Andromeda botanic Gardens), developed a biocultural education kit for junior level, a digital advocacy campaign for seniors, published the plant heritage book, Yabisi Guada (Tree Garden),
and launched the biennial symposium Plants and Planting for the Future.

Her research interests include the nutritive value and phytochemistry of underutilized plants, with a focus on structure activity relationships of flavonoids. She has been awarded a certificate of recognition for her promotion of biocultural education from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Caribbean Chapter, and the Phyto-innovation Award by Export Barbados Inc. for the development of Flavonoid Plus, a medicinal formulation for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

Her publications can be found in scientific journals, including the Journal of Natural products, Phytochemistry, Environmental Health and Nature. She is also the author of the book ‘Seed Under the Leaf ‘(2 nd edition pending), producer of the documentary ‘Healing Roots’, awarded
Best Documentary at Barbados’ National Festival of Creative Arts 2024, and co-founder of the award-winning brand of ‘Cooling Teas’, Heritage Teas Barbados.