Publish Date

Two women stand behind a sign for the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

FTCC Biology faculty, Kerri Donohue and Krissy Smith, at the BIOS station for their IDEAS grant site visit.

FTCC Biology instructors Kerri Donohue and Krissy Smith spent part of June at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) where they learned about the activities and research available to students.

The trip was a scouting opportunity for FTCC STEM Abroad, a granted-funded program designed to give students opportunities to travel to Belize and Bermuda to explore climate, energy, and environmental topics at scientific educational field stations.

Read more about the IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program, the U.S. Department of State program behind the grant, at this link: https://www.faytechcc.edu/news/ftcc-awarded-2023-ideas-program-grant/

While in Bermuda, Donohue and Smith have been learning about the resources available at BIOS and developing a curriculum for students who will participate in the study abroad trip during the upcoming school year.

“Krissy and I walked away with so many resources, tips, and ideas for how to bring our students there and make it a fulfilling learning experience,” Donohue said.

While at BIOS, Smith and Donohue learned about several activities available to students, such as snorkeling to identify fish and coral, participating in a plankton tow, and observing a key leader of the Cahow Recovery Project as he banded Bermuda Longtail chicks.

In July, the pair will visit Belize Zoo Tropical Education Center and the Tobacco Caye Marine Station to explore student abroad opportunities.

A man holding a bird stands on a rocky shore in front of blue sea.

One of the key leaders of the Cahow Recovery Project as he banded Bermuda Longtail chicks.

A stuffed toy of FTCC mascot Theo behind a yellow metal cylinder that has the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences logo on it.

Theo assisting in exploring STEM opportunities available for our FTCC students at the BIOS station in Bermuda.

A photo of a blue sea with rocky, vegetation-covered shore.

A view of the ocean from the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences facility.

Fish swim near rocks and coral.

Fish swim around rocks and coral near the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.