Marine Biology / Ocean Science Education in Bermuda

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences:
The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Inc. (BIOS), is a global leader in ocean science and education, and is located on the island of Bermuda in the North Atlantic Ocean, only 700 miles (about two hours flying time) off the east coast of the USA. BIOS is uniquely situated and excellently equipped for highly productive marine field research.

Bermuda is situated on some of the world's northernmost coral reefs and surrounded by deep ocean. Research opportunities are presented by Bermuda's diversity of ecological communities: from limestone caves and mangroves to coral reefs. Well-equipped laboratories, a modern research vessel and a supportive staff combine to maximize the productivity of field visits. Moderate air and water temperatures make BIOS a year-round magnet for independent and collaborative research. Disciplines as diverse as marine invertebrate zoology, coral reef ecology, chemical and physical oceanography, animal physiology and carbonate geology are studied.

Recent research projects at BIOS include: the Hydrostation "S" time-series study and Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS); studies of the atmospheric and oceanic carbon cycle and its effects on global climate change and the marine ecosystem; genomic analyses of bacteria and plankton populations in the Sargasso Sea; investigations of the atmospheric transport and deposition of iron in the ocean and its role in primary production; the monitoring of atmospheric and marine pollution in Bermuda and their sources; and the development of biomarkers to indicate the presence of environmental contaminants and stress in coral reef and other marine ecosystems.

BIOS is a global leader in ocean science and education. BIOS provides an increasingly important range of educational services to groups both locally and from overseas including:

- PhD Program in Ocean Sciences and Marine Biology - with Princeton University
- Observational Oceanography at the NF-POGO Centre of Excellence
- Opportunities for Graduate and Undergraduate Students
- Opportunities for Bermuda Students
- Visiting Academic Groups
- Elderhostel in Bermuda offers educational travel adventures to adults of 55 and over.

Learning at BIOS is ideal, as Bermuda's climate location lends to moderate year-round air and water temperatures, a rich diversity of wildlife and habitats including accessible mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds and a unique geological history. Additionally, our reefs, warmed by the Gulf Stream, form the northernmost coral reef ecosystem in the world, therefore making it a useful indicator for environmental stresses.

BIOS has excellent resources for student learning including:
- Well-equipped research vessels
- Lecture halls and laboratories
- State-of-the-art scientific equipment
- Water access and parkland on the property
- Reasonably priced accommodations and dining facilities
- BIOS bus for transport around the island
- Full time Dive Safety Officer

Located in Bermuda on some of the world's northernmost coral reefs and surrounded by deep ocean, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Inc. is an independent U.S. non-profit research organization committed to scientific and educational excellence. BIOS is situated on the water's edge in 15 acres of well-kept tropical parkland at the eastern end of Bermuda, convenient to the airport and near the historic town of St. George.

Bermuda is a group of approximately three hundred coral islands that form a fishhook-shaped chain in the western Atlantic Ocean. Founded in the early 1600's, it is the oldest self-governing British colony and is located roughly 700 miles east of North Carolina. The island is 21 miles long and has a landscape that includes pink, sandy beaches, rocky shoreline and semi-tropical vegetation. There are no freshwater lakes or streams; drinking water is obtained by natural catchment. Hamilton is the capital and the shopping center of the island.

Academic Credit at BIOS:
Academic Credit for Summer Courses and/or Internships: Students can receive academic credit for participating in summer courses and/or internships at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS). If you are an undergraduate or graduate student, you should look into earning academic credit BEFORE you visit Bermuda.