The Bermuda Programme, set up 20 years ago by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR) for local students to explore the world of marine science, is now acknowledged as one of the Island's most successful education schemes.

Over 60 young people have taken part since its inception.

Graduates, as well as undergraduates are enthusiastic in their praise for a scheme which allows `hands-on' experience, under the tutelage of some of the world's leading scientists.

This year, a total of 16 young people with varying scientific interests, applied for the scholarship programme, and five were selected.

Mr. Bill Wills, education officer at the Station, stresses that the students selected were those whose particular interests tied in with the researchers available.

"Some of them are off on field trips, to places like Antarctica and the Arabian Sea at the moment, so we had to evaluate the applicants in relation to the scientists who would be here for the summer,'' he explains.

The Bermuda Programme is funded by the Moore Company, the Junior Service League, Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, Glaxo Bermuda and the Chris Collier Memorial Fund.

In addition, BBSR has just been given $100,000 by the Bank of Bermuda's Centennial Trust, to be used to upgrade educational facilities.

"From that point of view, the Bermuda Programme is one of the programmes that will benefit, with better facilities for the students,'' says Mr. Wills. Miss Lauren Grayston, who hopes to obtain her doctorate in marine bioligy or ecology, believes that the extensive research facilities offered by BBSR has certainly opened the door of opportunity for Bermudians.

"My aim is to eventually come back here and do research on Bermuda's environment,'' she explains. "My project is to study coral reef ecology. We are looking at one particular species of corals and trying to decide if they are, in fact, two different types.'' Most of her work centres around the collection of samples from two reefs near North Rock and photographing the corals to see how they are are growing near each other. "We bring them back take measurements and use that data to see if they are the same. It was originally thought that there was only one kind of this particular coral.'' She says that data published in the Caribbean indicates that there are other forms of coral and these tests should reveal if the same is true of the Bermuda area. Results are important, she says, in understanding the effects of pollution, as different types of coral may respond differently.

Miss Grayston, 22, who studied biology at Dalhousie University in Canada, and is now at the Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in marine biology, says: "I'm getting a wonderful view of that it's like to work in a lab.

environment. It's good practical experience. What I have learned in the classroom is now being put to use!'' Molecular biology is the focus of Miss Holly Holder's project, under the supervision of Dr. Henry (Hank) Rosenthal.

"I'm working on an ongoing project, maintaining a culture of algae that has been isolated from corals to study the relationship between the coral and their symbiotic algae that lives in the tissues, and the way in which nutrients are passed back and forth.'' Ms Holder, 22, who attended the Bermuda High School and graduated from Duke University with a major in biology, is also working with Ms Lisa Fraser-Smith on sponges.

"We are researching natural marine products which can be extracted and sent to pharmaceutical agencies to study their use for medicinal purposes,'' she explains. "There are about 130 different kinds of sponge in Bermuda. Some are hard to reach, but we collect them mainly from shallow water and from rock walls.'' Ms Hollis agrees that the practical experience offered by the programme is invaluable. "I'm using this time to watch people in the lab. and to learn as much as possible. At university, it's all theory, so it's nice to see science in action!'' Tarik Smith, 18, was so busy collecting air samples that he missed the photo call with The Royal Gazette . "We found a problem at Prospect, so I couldn't get back! I'm working with technician Kevin Smith on Dr. Kent Simmons' air quality project,'' he explains. "I am also helping Kevin to set up the computers to evaluate the date because we just got new ones.'' Every 24 hours, data is collected from pre-selected sites, the main point being Prospect. "We are mainly studying the incinerator and the different gas emissions and pollutants in the air. It's too early to give a sound account, as yet,'' he adds.

Mr. Smith who has just completed his Senior Year as head boy of Saltus Grammar School, will be studying environmental science at the University of Western Ontario and hopes to obtain a doctorate that would enable him to work in that field in Bermuda.

"On this project I am concentrating on chemistry and computers -- the two subjects I hated most at school. But with real-life application, I am really enjoying it,'' he exclaims.

Former Warwick Academy student Miss Sarah Trott, who is currently pursuing her degree in chemistry at the Dalhousie University, is working with Dr. Craig Carlson in the Dissolved Organic Carbon Laboratory.

Emphasising that she is working on "a very small part of the overall project'', which studies the carbon cycle in sea water, she says: "My job is to de-salt the water so that measurements can be taken on the monosaccharides.

I'm also combusting the vials which are used to hold the samples. We have to burn away all the carbons on the outside of the vials to avoid any contamination.'' Noting that she would eventually like to work in the field of pharmacy, Miss Trott says it was the Bermuda College who directed her to BBSR.

"I was interested in what Bermuda had to offer in the chemistry field and the College said that BBSR was the only place that would possibly have an opening.

So I applied. I am learning a lot about lab work -- and when the rest of the new equipment arrives, I'm hoping to be doing some real chemistry!'' Recipient of the 1993 Harry D. Butterfield, Douglas De Couto attended the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and is currently majoring in computer science at M.I.T. in Boston.

This summer, he has joined Dr. Norm Nelson's Remote Sensing Oceanography project, working in the satellite laboratory.

"We look at the satellites that fly over and study the ocean temperature.

There are about four passes a day. We have a year's data but some of it is missing because of clouds, for instance, so I am sticking together three days' worth, so that we get a picture for three days averaged out.'' Noting that this is an entirely new field for him, Mr. De Couto says: "This is certainly a good way to apply computer technology to something that is really useful!''