Summer Research in The Bahamas
BIOL 296: Directed Research II [4 Credits]
SUMMER 2017
Instructor: Tami LaPilusa, M.S.
Section Title: CCRABSS: Creating Collaboration in Research Among Bahamian and SUNY Oneonta Students
Course Dates: May 15—June 30, 2017
Trip Dates: May 22—June 21, 2017
Application due January 18, 2017
The Objectives are:
Introduce students to fishery management issues in The Bahamas
Conduct Land Crab burrow survey for density analysis in four areas of North Andros Island, The Bahamas.
Observe & understand factors affecting fishery management in small-island-nations
Observe & understand historical and cultural approaches to fishery management
Complete independent student developed research project
Present an oral report summarizing own research project
Produce a poster summarizing project for display at SUNY Oneonta
Experience cultural immersion while undertaking scientific data collection with international peers to enhance
opportunities in becoming global citizens
Course Description
CCRABSS Section Summary: Students will gain an understanding of small-island-nation fishery management constraints while experiencing
cultural immersion and experiential learning in a small-group setting on a minimally developed island in The Bahamas. Students will be active
participants in data collection to aid in monitoring the land crab fishery while completing partner projects on a topic approved by the faculty instructor.
Potential project topics could include: current issues in Bahamas Fisheries, small-island-nation resource consumption, historical and cultural
perspectives of conservation, local ecological knowledge, among others, based on students’ interest. Students will maintain the class blog and present
a summary of their project at the close of the International Field Experience and submit electronically a poster of their project for display at SUNY
Oneonta.
NOTE: This is an applied & service-learning study abroad course which requires a 30-day trip to The Bahamas and 33 hours of service-learning for the Bahamas Agricultural and
Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), Bahamas National Trust (BNT), and Forfar Field Station (Forfar) on Andros Island, The Bahamas. Follow up includes presentations that link
student’s in-country research project to STEM capacity building.
Requirements:
1) Application (includes sample blog post)
2) Good Academic Standing
3) Sophomore Standing
4) BIOL 181 Course Prerequisite
5) Program Cost: Airfare, lodging, meals, in-country transportation to conduct research, cultural
activities, and excursions to National Parks & Preserves. approx. $3300
6) Tuition Cost SUMMER 2017: 4 credit course (approx. $1100)
Research Project Summary: The land crab is a culturally and economically important fishery
resource throughout The Bahamas. Land crabs inhabit multiple habitat types during their life cycle, including elaborate
burrows in the hardwood, pineland, and mangrove forests. Students in this course will conduct land-based habitat studies,
as part of an international research team, to assist in determining the density of land crab burrows in the different forest
types. The data collected will aid in determining land crab fishery stock abundance on North Andros Island as a means of facilitating science-based
dialogue among stake-holder groups and fishery managers to enable long-term, sustainable harvests of this economically and culturally important
fishery species.
In-Country Partners
International Field Studies (IFS), Inc.
Forfar Field Station, IFS’s educational field station, is located on the eastern shore
of Andros Island in Blanket Sound. Established in 1968, the land-based marine education
facility serves groups with interests in marine biology, island ecology, geology, and island
culture. Land and water transportation, resource materials, and trained, on-site instructors
and dive masters assist students and educators housed in rustic cabin-style facility.
http://www.intlfieldstudies.org
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT)
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is a non-profit organization created by an Act of
Parliament in 1959. This historic legislation authorized the BNT to hold, maintain and
manage “lands, tenements and submarine areas of beauty or natural or historic
interest…as open spaces, or wildlife sanctuaries, or places of public resort.” The BNT’s
mission is to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through
stewardship and education for present and future generations. The BNT manages the
country's twenty-seven national parks, protecting over 2 million acres of Bahamian
biodiversity. http://bnt.bs
Itinerary
In-Country accommodations (28 nights): Forfar Field Station, Blanket Sound, Andros Island, The Bahamas.
Monday May 22, 2017: Meet at Albany, NY Hotel
Tuesday, May 23: Travel Day to Forfar (ALB-NAS-ASD)
Wednesday, May 24: Research Methods Workshop
Thursday—Saturday, May 25-27: Research: Blanket Sound
Sunday, May 28: Local Service Project; Visit Crab Farm
Monday—Wednesday, May 29-31: Research: Red Bays
Thursday, June 1: National Service Project
Friday, Saturday, Monday, June 2, 3, 5: Research: Staniard Creek
Sunday, June 4: Local Service Project; Excursion to National Marine Park
Tuesday, June 6: National Service Project
Wednesday—Friday, June 7-9: Research: Fresh Creek
Saturday, June 10: National Heritage Festival
Sunday, June 11: Local Service Project; Excursion to National Marine Park
Monday—Thursday, June 12-15: Research: Behring Point
Friday, June 16: National Service Project; Excursion to Blue Hole National Park
Saturday, June 17: Local Service Project; student project
Sunday, June 18: Course Presentations; Local Service Project
Monday, June 19: Excursion to National Marine Park
Tuesday, June 20: Flight to Albany (ASD-NAS-ALB), arrive late night at ALB; overnight at Albany Hotel
Wednesday, June 21: Final Reflection Journal Due; students depart for home
Friday, June 30: Project Poster due via email to instructor
Note: Evening activities include: conducting group work, preliminary fishery data analysis, reviewing the day’s research progress, and/or attending
locally relevant presentations by Forfar Field Station Education interns.
Questions?
How to prepare?
 Orientation with Office of International Education (overseas application, passport/copies on file, risk assessment, health insurance, physician
statement), Forfar Field Station risk assessment (research station activities & ocean-based excursions), 2-3 group meetings with instructor
during Spring Semester (prep for Summer travel).
 Department of State Website [Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) — US Citizen Registration]
What else is involved?
 Students will serve as volunteers for Forfar Field Station, The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), and The Bahamas
National Trust (BNT) conducting locally and nationally impactful service projects.
 Students will complete additional team projects based on faculty approved topics
Program Support Provided by: SUNY College at Oneonta Biology Department, Office of International Education, Grants Development Office
Contact Information:
Professor LaPilusa
[email protected]