Students complete science course at sea

Two students have just returned to Bermuda after an intensive 20-day marine science and studies ­programme which included a 10-day stint on the ship SSV Corwith Cramer.

Both Bermudians ­completed the Science At SEA programme for high school students in Woods Hole, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Kebir Gadio finished M3 at Somersfield Academy and will begin 9th Grade at Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut in ­September 2010 and Shaunte Young is starting her second year at Berkeley Institute.

The ship arrived in Woods Hole on Sunday at 8am. Captain Virginia Land-McGuire of the ­Corwith Cramer gave hugs all around and stated that “it was a pleasure to have Shaunte and Kebir on board”.

The students completed intensive courses with nightly homework, journals, projects, essays and readings, including ­Captain Courageous by ­Rudyard Kipling.

Among the highlights for Mr. Gadio were the New Bedford Whaling museum and boarding the whaling vessels. He said: “I worked really hard but it was all worth it. The iridescent phyto-plankton were beautiful, glowing at night. .”

Shaunte Young is planning to go back to SEA (Sea Education Association) at the University level to study for a semester.

She said: “The experience was wonderful. All the ­students got along so well. We all enjoyed learning in an environment where everyone wanted us to be successful. It was really great.”

The Sea Education Association has had a long relationship with Bermuda.  The organization operates two ocean-going 140 ft sailing vessels specifically designed for ocean research in the Atlantic and, more recently, the Pacific.

SEA conducts several programs which includes the SEA Semester, a university level marine science program involving six weeks of intensive marine studies at their Woods Hole Campus, followed by six weeks of research aboard one of its two vessels.  The 12 credits are issued through Boston University.  Kebir Gadio and Shaunte Young are the first Bermuda Students to participate and successfully complete the SEA High School course as a component of the Bermuda Center for Talented Youth (C.T.Y.) ­program. 

Anyone interested in Science at SEA should contact Riquette Bonne-Smith, founder of the Centre for Talented Youth on ­