With the holidays behind us, individuals and organisations alike are planning for the new year, mapping out short and long-term goals and looking to capitalise on last year’s accomplishments. The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences is no different and — after a year of strategic planning and programmatic reorganisation — we are exited about what lies ahead in 2014!

New Technologies

Many oceanographers are building successful research programmes utilising underwater gliders – autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that can be programmed to travel long distances, conduct sampling and measuring missions, communicate via satellites, change course, and return to base stations for recharging and redeployment. Compared with traditional ocean science research conducted aboard academic research vessels, autonomous systems represent a cost effective and complementary method for observing, monitoring, and sampling the ocean.

In the past, BIOS has successfully served as a test site for autonomous systems in the early phases of development, chosen by companies due to its land-based support facilities and time-series stations (such as the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study, or BATS). In the coming year, BIOS will be laying the foundation required to acquire its own fleet of AUVs that will both enhance current programmes and provide the tools required to expand the institution’s research capacity and education offerings.

New Partners

in Education

BIOS has a long history of conducting education programmes for local schools and teachers, including professional development workshops, summer courses, and the yearly Explorer broadcast and field trips. In 2014 BIOS will continue these programmes and, with the support of new community partners, build upon them to bring an exciting array of new educational opportunities to students and teachers.

This year, BIOS is proud to announce the debut of the HSBC Explorer programme, which will kick off with a variety of activities and lesson plans centred on the theme “The Secret Life of Fish.” Future HSBC Explorer programmes are already being developed in close collaboration with the Bermuda Department of Education and will feature a completely new set of modules that support learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects with an ocean science focus.

With lead sponsors HSBC Bermuda and the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, as well as support from ACE Foundation, Argo Foundation, KPMG, Montpelier Re Foundation, PartnerRe, and Platinum Underwriters Bermuda Ltd, BIOS will continue to run its Ocean Academy, which offers year-round learning opportunities to students aged 12 and over. For many students these summer programmes serve as springboards to future degrees and careers in the sciences, and BIOS is grateful to its many supporters for recognising the value of Ocean Academy.

New Public Tours

Beginning this month, BIOS will be offering public tours on the first Wednesday of each month at 10am. These free tours offer locals and visitors alike the opportunity to learn about the history of BIOS, gain insight into current research projects, and tour the station and lab facilities.

Over the next 12 months, Education and Development staff at BIOS will be working to develop a variety of museum-quality resources to enhance the public tours. Among the planned additions: displays featuring historical documents and scientific equipment, interactive stations that connect BIOS research programmes to a broader understanding of the ocean and climate change, and information about individual researchers.

If you’ve never visited BIOS before, or if it’s been a few years, 2014 will be a great time to come see us and learn more about the work that’s taking place on station!