The Bermuda Program offers a unique opportunity for
Bermudian students, ages 18 and older, to broaden their knowledge of marine and
atmospheric sciences and learn about the daily operations of an active research
station. Since 1976 more than 130 young Bermudians have taken part in
this exciting program, with many applying their summer experiences toward
further university studies. Beyond that, some Bermuda Program graduates
have successfully translated their summer internships into employment
opportunities at BIOS and other related organizations in Bermuda. See more at: http://www.bios.edu/education/bermuda-program
Andreas Ratteray
Andreas is a rising junior at
Stanford University majoring in Earth Systems and minoring in Middle Eastern
Languages, Literature, and Culture. This
summer he is working with Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley (http://www.bios.edu/about/team-members/gretchen-goodbody-gringley/)
in Lionfish research. Andreas has been
coming to BIOS since age 11 when he participated in the Waterstart program.
1. How would you describe the project
you have worked on at BIOS?
I’m surveying the density of
prey for Lionfish to help Gretchen figure out what is going on with the
Lionfish. Another intern is looking at
the Lionfish density, and I am looking at the density of the fish that the
Lionfish eat. We are varying the depth
of the field research sites to see what patterns appear when you dive on a
shallow rim reef to a reef crest and then to a deep fore, a range of depth of
30 ft to 100 ft.
2. Why did you decide on this
internship?
I wanted to apply what I was
doing in university and learn more about the environmental issues unique to
Bermuda. I’ve always wanted to work at
BIOS because it is a privilege to find a world-class institute right here in my
backyard in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Has your time thus far at BIOS
changed your thoughts on what you might want to do in the future?
It is encouraging to see people
for whom science is a career. BIOS has
shown me that you don’t have to be a professor in order to contribute to the
wealth of scientific knowledge.
Rachel Barnes
Rachel is a recent graduate of Bowdoin College where she
double majored in Earth and Oceanographic Science and Economics. For the past 2 summers she has worked with BIOS
researcher Natasha McDonald to analyze Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS)
oceanographic data. Read more about BATS
here http://www.bios.edu/research/projects/bats/
1. How would you describe the project you have worked on at
BIOS?
I’ve spent the last few weeks learning how to do
multivariate data analysis, data mining, and time series analysis in a
statistical software program called R.
I’ve mostly been analyzing large data sets (from BATS mostly) in an
effort to understand trends in chromophoric (light-absorbing) dissolved organic
matter (cDOM), nutrients, and various other water qualities over time and
space. The overarching goal is to model large-scale datasets and to be able to
interpret ocean processes.
2. Why did you decide on a Bermuda Program internship?
I really enjoyed working with Natasha for the past 2 summers
in the Bermuda Program. I also learned
how to use R last summer at BIOS and have used the program more this year in a
few different classes at my university. I wanted to come back to BIOS to continue
using the statistical software this summer.
Shane Antonition
Shane is working towards a Bachelor of Science in
Environmental Science at Plymouth University in the UK. This summer Shane is working with Dr. Mark
Guishard to test the efficacy of shark oil weather barometers. Read more about Dr. Guishard’s risk
prediction work with RPI 2.0 here www.bios.edu/research/projects/rpi/
My project this summer at BIOS is to investigate the
accuracy of shark oil barometers in predicting weather conditions. This is then
compared to our modern metrological forecasting tools. In order to achieve this,
I have set up a camera with two shark oil barometers, which take photographs
every ten minutes. Then in comparing the behaviors of the oil to observed
weather conditions, we hope we can determine both what causes the behavior of
the changing shark oil, as well as how the oil reacts to the changing weather.
2. What did you hope to gain or learn
from your internship, and did you achieve this?
I hoped to gain experience in running an experiment and
further my skills in conducting a research project. While I've had to troubleshoot experimental issues, I've learned a
lot that will help me in future projects and in the rest of my university
degree.
Leandra Stracquadanio
Leandra is a Zoology major at University College
Dublin. This summer she is working with Natasha
McDonald in the Bermuda Bio-Optics Project’s lab. Learn more
about the project here http://www.bios.edu/research/projects/bbop/
1. How would you describe the project
you have worked on at BIOS?
My project is interested in all of the pigments that are
produced by plankton in the sea, but in particular, chlorophyll. I’m comparing
levels of chlorophyll from the open ocean to inshore samples and analyzing
them, including the different conditions, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.
When I was first told about this project I was informed it
would be mostly chemistry based, which being a Zoology major, it was an area in
which I did not have much experience. Therefore,
right from the beginning, I hoped to strengthen my chemistry skills. I also wanted
to learn about data analysis because that’s such a large part of any science
career. I feel like I’ve really learned a lot in both those fields while
working on research in the real scientific world.
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