utopian dream for the majority of Bermuda's young people. And the tiny minority who did persevere, accepted that there would be little scope for utilising their specialised knowledge for the benefit of their own country.

But thanks to the Bermuda Programme, initiated by the Bermuda Biological Station in 1976, and funded by various local companies and institutions, all this has changed.

The six-week intensive programme of study has proved to be a spectacular success story in providing young people with an inspired introduction to the rarified world of science. A unique opportunity is provided for students to participate in hands-on experiments, both in the field and in the laboratory, on a one to one basis with some of the world's acknowledged leaders in marine and biological research.

Of the 70 students who have participated in the scheme, many have gone on to follow science-related careers, and two have returned to the Biological Station as permanent members of the scientific research team. Dr. Kent Simmons co-ordinates the Station's air quality studies and Dr. Robbie Smith is investigating coral reef ecology and recovery.

For this year's programme, six out of 23 applicants were selected -- one student on a short-term, three week basis, and five students for the full, six week course.

The awards, which are worth $2,600 each, enable the students to be paid a small stipend and were supported this year by Appleby, Spurling & Kempe, the Bermuda Junior Service League, the Moore Company and one anonymous donor.

Former Berkeley student James Parris is working with Ms Dorte Westphalen from the University of Hamburg on the analysis of nodules that are found off Bermuda. He says their importance lies in the fact that detailed and ongoing study enables scientists to understand how evolution began.

He has also been studying the bio-erosion of the reefs with Ms Sheila McKenna of the University of Maryland.

After a year in Copenhagen as a Rotary exchange student, James graduated from the United World College in Wales.

"It was a great experience, belonging to an international student body -- and very interesting when the Gulf War was on, because we had Iraquis, Turks, Jordanians, Israelis and so on, who all had their own views on the situation!'' This autumn he goes off Aberdeen University to study physiology with the further goal of a degree in some branch of medicine after that.

Acadia University student Michael Dyer is studying International Relations with a view to going on to International Law, but after spending two summers in the Bermuda Programme, he feels increasingly drawn to a career that embraces some of the environmental problems facing the world. "This would certainly be possible, because international law is so diverse and I am interested in concentrating on environmental issues -- the Exxon spill springs to mind!'' Michael is working with Dr. Anthony Knap on work for the Atlantic Global Change Institute, researching sewage and waste disposal alternatives and renewable energy sources and also the application of molecular biology to oil pollution.

He believes that governments everywhere must take on a more accountable attitude to environmental problems. And locally, Michael feels there could be a big future in Bermuda for ocean thermal energy conversion, as well as solar and wind power.

"Bermuda is in a unique position to seize the opportunity to be a world leader in all this, just as Hawaii has been with solar energy.'' The only female in this year's group is Andresa Bashir, who travels in from Somerset each day to help Dr. Kathryn Burns on trace analysis of oil in mangrove sediments, arising out of the large oil tanker spill in Panama some years ago.

Most of her work is performed in the laboratory. This is her first summer at the Station but the Berkeley Institute graduate hopes to return next year.

She goes off to major in chemistry at the University of Maryland later this month, but says she is not sure what direction her career will take.

"I may do medicine, but I haven't decided yet. There's still plenty of time to make my mind up,'' she says.

Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Bell is working with Mr. Douglas Connelly on sea water analysis, studying trace metals and methods of extraction and salinity levels of Bermuda's inshore waters. Their studies, coordinated through Dr.

Knap, are reported direct to the Bermuda government. His time is divided between field trips by boat to collect samples and then analysis in the laboratory.

Jonathan, who attended Saltus Grammar School, is now studying for his A levels at Oundle School in England. He has made no firm decisions about his future college but says he will definitely major in biology or biology and chemistry.

Michael Pearman, under Dr. Robbie Smith, is studying the recovery of the coral reefs since the grounding of the tanker Mari Boeing off the North Channel reefs in 1978. Initially, he was diving at the site, where the coral was measured and photographed. Now the information is being computerised and analysed. The experiment has given the Station a unique opportunity to study the rate of growth of juvenile corals that have formed since part of the reef had to be blasted in order to dislodge the vessel.

The former Berkeley student is now at the Armand Hammer United World College in New Mexico. He is interested in a career in marine sciences but the idea of some kind of community service also beckons.

"Community service is part of the curriculum at the college, so I find myself very involved with things like Amnesty International and the Search and Rescue Team.'' The Biological Station has also been host to another group of young students this summer.

Winners of the Earthwatch Student Expedition Programme Challenge Awards have spent the last two weeks in Bermuda. Six American teenagers have been earning high praise for their assistance in ongoing projects at the Station.

Earthwatch, which is a non-profit American organisation with worldwide activity, combines volunteer labour to assist with scientific research. The Biological Station is particularly pleased with the high calibre of these selected students, who are described by one scientist as "intelligent non-comformists''.

They have been assisting with the Caricomp Project, a wide-ranging programme that is monitoring the productivity of mangroves, sea grasses and corals.

"If Robbie Smith and I had to map out the mangroves at Hungry Bay on our own, it would have taken ages, but with these students helping us, it has only taken two days,'' says a delighted Joanna Elison.

The study, which is set to continue over a long period, will show whether, in fact, the swamp is dying, and at what rate. The first comparisons will be made within a year.

The Earthwatch group were filmed last week as part of the Durfee Educational Documentary, which will focus on the educational, scientific and corporate aspects of the awards and will hopefully raise further funds to continue the programme.

Students taking part include Lara Rymarquis from Kentucky, Scott Brown of California, Shale Rosen from Vermont, Sarah Morby from Illinois, Jennifer Last from Tennessee and Travis Klein from Texas.

EMBRYO SCIENTISTS -- Five participants were awarded places in this year's Bermuda Programme at the Biological Station. Pictured (clockwise from top) are James Parris, Michael Dyer, Jonathan Bell, Andresa Bashir and Michael Pearman.

EARTHWATCH AT SEA -- Winners of the US Earthwatch Challenge Awards are spending two weeks visiting and assisting Bermuda Biological scientists at marine sites off Bermuda.