What is your role at BIOS?

A: I have been the education officer there for about three and a half years. My main responsibility is outreach to local students. I'm involved with students from kindergarten through grades 12 or 13, so my work incorporates a range of different outreach projects in support of schools' curriculae. A lot of teachers bring in groups to participate in hands-on labs and field trips. For example, many of the schools come in for coral reef labs to assist in their lessons involving oceanic island units. In addition, last September an oceanography unit was added to the middle school curriculum - almost every middle school came up to BIOS to assist in the students' learning. We ran coral labs, plankton tows, snorkel trips and seagrass studies. So it's a great way for us to teach the students and also to share with the teachers what the scientists are doing ? double-edged outreach. Are the teachers well versed in all the research being conducted at BIOS?

A: I get to work with some very motivated teachers who go out of their way to arrange fascinating field trips for their students. However, I think that there are very few people who realise the extent or importance of the research being conducted at BIOS - I certainly did not realise this myself before my involvement there. One of the first things I had to do when I took the position at BIOS was to knock on doors and ask scientists, 'What do you do? What's your scientific research all about?' I think that's one of the big mysteries. There is some cutting edge, global science going on up at BIOS and very few people on the island realise this. Scientists (from outside Bermuda) are looking at Bermuda as the barometer of the world. For global warming and a lot of the related issues, we are taking the pulse of the whole planet! And your background, you came into this as a teacher?

A: As a teacher. Everyone asks me, 'What's your scientific background?' And I have to explain I don't really have one, that I'm an educator and the science is something I'm picking up on the side. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to continue my education and learn about marine science along with the students. So my background ? on a personal level it's a love of the ocean and all manner of water sports. And professionally, I enjoy my role as a teacher and the ability to interact with students and share with them the exciting opportunities Bermuda's marine environment has to offer. I am very lucky to be able to combine these two interests. And this new project, BIOS EXPLORER, is what?

A: BIOS EXPLORER is based on a model created by the JASON Project. JASON International is taking a hiatus this year, so we decided to create our own local version. This past summer student groups participated in scientific expeditions led by researchers at BIOS, and their every move was filmed by a film crew from LookBermuda. This footage is being woven into a broadcast that will be aired over a two-week period, starting February 26. Almost 2000 local students will be visiting BIOS to view the broadcast and participate in interactive elements of the program. Similar to JASON, we hosted professional development days this November for local teachers, to share some of the science lessons with them and to make available related curriculum materials. Any specific areas they've been looking at?

A: We have titled this year's expedition, "Changing Climate, Changing Coast" and we are looking at the topic of global warming and its effects on the planet and specifically on Bermuda. Within this topic the students have been looking at several ecosystems. They studied the health of coral reefs and incidences of bleaching or coral disease ? Is global warming affecting coral here in Bermuda? How does that compare with the rest of the world? We looked at sea grasses. Sea grass meadows around Bermuda are very much overlooked - a lot of people say, 'Eew. I hate seaweed. I don't want to touch that stuff'. But seagrass meadows are an extremely important habitat within the marine environment. They provide a nursery for fish, they help to filter the water and stabilise sediment. Seagrasses are very important all around the world and yet in Bermuda they are dying back at an alarming rate. No one's quite sure why. One of the original theories of course was that it had to do with global warming. It now seems that is not true. At any rate, the die-back is happening in our lifetime and so we had the students conduct an experiment to try to find some answers. What else have they done?

A: The students this summer were lucky enough to go out on expedition aboard our new research ship, - what an incredible opportunity. It's a very different world on board a research vessel. One of the students made an interesting observation that marine biology is very hands-on. It's a tangible thing - diving and looking at the reef for example. She said with oceanography however, you rely more on instruments. To study the deep ocean you need sophisticated tools like the huge C.T.D. (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) which is lowered thousands of metres below the surface and measures the temperature of the ocean at different depths. The students were quite amazed to be out ten miles offshore from Bermuda on this big ship, to see the incredible blue of the deep water, to watch flying fish and to observe the crew in action. They were the first student group to go out with us and their eyes were huge ...their faces were a little green from time to time as well, but I don't think anyone was actually sick! They all did very well. And the ultimate goal is to get them to participate and make them aware of environmental issues?

A: Absolutely. Our goal is to foster an awareness of what's going on and to encourage participation. We don't want students simply to observe but to contribute as well. This summer they assisted with a woodland restoration project at Coopers Island - hot work pulling out invasive trees and planting natives in August! They also conducted fish surveys at specific sites around the island. The biodiversity team at the Department of Conservation Services is surveying select reefs around Bermuda at the moment and we are hoping that our data will be a useful addition. We also had students (conducting) sea grass surveys to help a scientist's research. So the work that they're doing is important. It's not just an exercise. Is this a one-off event or will it be held annually?

A: The plan is definitely to continue. This is the inaugural program, the first year, but we're already dreaming up exciting topics for next summer. At the broadcast this month, we will be encouraging students to apply to become a 2007 "BIONaut" (expedition participant). As in past years, teachers will be asked to recommend students to receive scholarships. Successful applicants will participate in one of the Waterstart Marine Science Internship programmes. These programmes are residential at BIOS and are open for students 14 and older. We do a huge range of activities incorporating marine science and aquatics. Students work on their scuba diving credentials, learn boating skills, interact with scientists, tour the state of the art facilities and assist with ongoing research projects. A highlight last year was a night snorkel when we helped a researcher catch and tag octopus.

We are planning many more opportunities this year too! Interested students can see the summer schedule on our website at http://www.bbsr.edu/Education/waterstart/waterstart.html. : Are the programmes free?

A: The BIOS EXPLORERE broadcast is free to students, teachers and the general public. The Department of Education has very kindly arranged buses to transport public school children to the event. The summer expedition (combined with the Waterstart Marine Science Internships) does have a tuition cost, but scholarships and bursaries are available. We are very fortunate to be able to offer this programme and the summer scholarships as a part of our Bermuda Ocean Education Program, which has the support of some very generous donors: Butterfield Bank, Bank of Bermuda Foundation, ACE Limited, Shell Company of Bermuda, Bermuda Container Line Ltd., Ernst and Young and The Argus Group. What happens on February 26?

A: February 26 marks the launch of two weeks of broadcasts. Students are going to get a glimpse of the world-class science that is going on in their own backyard, through the eyes of their classmates. Hopefully they will realise that their country is involved in some important work, that we're looking at global issues right here at home. The programme will hopefully serve as motivation by making young people aware of some of the opportunities available to them ...and of course, the programme will also highlight the lighter side of the expedition ? we had lots of fun and some good laughs this summer. It was certainly not all work! And I assume it gives them an appreciation for Bermuda's environment as well?

A: I think an important part of the experience is the sense of ownership it develops.

After spending fun days in, on and under the water, and after learning about some of the threats to our beautiful marine environment, students realise that they want to preserve it. I think you come to a realisation of how fragile the natural world is and how our actions can have huge effects, both positive and negative. Where can people go for more information?

A: People can visit the BIOS EXPLORERE page on our website http://www.bbsr.edu/Education/BIOS_Explorer2006/index.htm. There is some general information about the program and teachers can find lesson plans geared at the middle school level. These replicate the activities that the BioNauts conducted this summer, and serve as a great introduction for students about to see the broadcast. Also, the general public is welcome to attend a public broadcast of the expedition on Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. at BIOS.