goal of Bermuda College lecturer Dr. Jamie Bacon.

Giving young people a varied experience in the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics labs has been made much easier through a grant by science department benefactor Corange Ltd.

Dr. Bacon received the Corange Science chair for Excellence to encourage and support her efforts in improving teaching skills.

Corange's donation will provide for scholarships and also purchase some of the more expensive equipment needed.

Dr. Bacon, a Californian, said a multifaceted approach to teaching would improve the students experience.

"Part of what I'm trying to do is expand on the resources available to the students,'' she said. "I think it is important to get more journals and papers available for them. Having the chair has gotten that rolling.'' Dr. Bacon added: "A powerful tool is to get them thinking about not just what they have to do but what do I do to make this project great using the sources available?'' A marine mammal specialist, Dr. Bacon came to Bermuda in 1990 to work at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

She switched to the College in 1994 and teaches biology.

Dr. Bacon holds an undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and her doctoral degree is from Boston University.

She wrote doctoral research on the heart rate patterns in foetal, neo-natal, and adult Harbour Seals in both resting and simulated diving conditions.

The Corange Chair for Excellence carries both financial and professional forms of recognition.

"The chair will go a long way to helping students organise and execute projects better,'' Dr. Bacon continued. "They could record their experiments using photographs or video.'' She said a hands on experience for biology students would improve grades even for those who are only taking general courses.

She said: "They could go on the biodiversity retreat which is a great hands on experience.'' Such local scientists as government's David Wingate and Sara Manuel, the Bermuda Biological Station's Kent Simmons and Hank Rosenthal, the Aquarium's Jennifer Grey and Annie Glasspool are all willing to be shadowed by young students.

"Every time I have asked members of the scientific community, they have been very cooperative,'' Dr. Bacon said. "Provide the opportunity. That is what is important.'' It is student assessment that will help teachers improve their performance by evaluating what students have learned.

Recent work with Robert Wilson of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, had led to improved assessment techniques, she said.

Dr. Bacon added: "Part of this is getting the ones who will never take another science course to appreciate science.'' Recent work with the Aquarium on its family of Harbour Seals and their reproductive cycles gave Dr. Bacon the opportunity to present two papers to the World Marine Mammal Science conference in Monaco.

The scientific journal European Cetacean Research will publish her findings this month.

"I'm taking this award and not only trying to see how to improve myself and improve student assessment,'' Dr. Bacon continued. "But also try to find creative opportunities for students.'' "Since we teach ecology we have a strong field component and the students do independent projects there are great opportunities with this,'' Dr. Bacon said.

Expanding resources: Jamie Beacon