BIOS and Dalhousie partner to help graduate students

For aspiring oceanographers, few experiences offer more opportunities for practical, hands-on training than working at sea aboard a research vessel. This “shipboard experience” gives early-career ocean scientists valuable insight into the logistics required to plan and execute a successful research cruise, as well as the realities of conducting scientific research in an unpredictable environment.

Dalhousie University and BIOS, both global leaders in marine science education and research, are launching a joint initiative that provides a new experiential learning program for students in oceanography. The Dalhousie-BIOS Sea Experience in Shipboard Oceanography (SESO) internship offers Dalhousie graduate students the opportunity to participate in a 5-day Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) research cruise aboard the R/V Atlantic Explorer. The BATS program, started in 1988, is one of the longest time-series studies in the open ocean; as a result, the SESO internships gives students the chance to observe and participate in a series of well-established research and sampling protocols.

This newly created program is being funded by the Dalhousie-BIOS Experiential Learning Fund, which was created in 2011 to provide a range of educational opportunities for Dalhousie students at BIOS.  Dr. Chris Moore, Dean of Science at Dalhousie University, says, “Dalhousie prides itself on the world-class training provided to students in Marine Science.  The Dalhousie-BIOS Experiential Learning Fund will allow our students to supplement their learning with hands-on experience in a different marine environment.  It will greatly enhance the potential for developing the collaborative partnership between Dalhouse and BIOS.”

Educational programs such as the SESO internship, as well as others supported by the fund, are one of the multiple reasons that students—including many from Bermuda—choose to attend Dalhousie University and either take a summer course or secure an internship at BIOS. Dr. Penny Barnes, BIOS’s Director of Education in University Programs, notes that, “The proximity of the deep ocean, combined with the BATS program at BIOS, make Bermuda the perfect environment for Dalhousie students to gain shipboard experience. In addition, the SESO internship program assists BIOS in fulfilling its educational mission to train the next generation of ocean scientists. This is truly a win-win for both organizations.”

For more information visit http://www.bios.edu/education/dalhousie-bios-experiential-learning-fund/