Annual Study Center Review CIEE Tropical Marine Biology and Conservation Program Kralendijk, Bonaire, Southern Caribbean 2009

Transcription

1 Annual Study Center Review CIEE Tropical Marine Biology and Conservation Program Kralendijk, Bonaire, Southern Caribbean 2009 CIEE Program Director: Christine Wintersteen, Program Director, Latin America CIEE Resident Director: Rita Peachey CIEE Academic Consortium Board Program Evaluation: CIEE Academic Consortium Board Monitor: Paul DeYoung, Reed College Each summer, program directors write a Study Center Review for each CIEE Study Center program commenting on the previous academic year. The program director writes the review based on input from the CIEE Academic Consortium Board members, resident directors, sending institutions, and student evaluations. Each report is made public on the CIEE website at Program Goals The CIEE Tropical Marine Biology and Conservation in Bonaire is designed for students with biology-related majors who have completed at least one year of biology or environmental science and seek an innovative classroom and field-based academic program focused on diverse tropical ecosystems in the Southern Caribbean with a focus on marine plant and fish life. There were eight participants in fall 2008 and six participants in spring Overall, student evaluations were very strong, particularly during the spring semester in which students praised all components of the program. Due to the ACB on-site evaluation in May 2008, there was no monitoring process in The most important recommendations from the 2008 ACB evaluations were the following: 1) separate the student living areas from the academic and administrative facilities; 2) divide the Fundamentals of Scientific Diving Research Methods into two distinct courses; 3) include local Bonaireans to assist in instruction of culture/history course; 4) recruit an additional full-time professor for course instruction; and 5) implement the on-line orientation and edit pre-departure materials to better shape student expectations. A full list of the evaluation s recommendations is available in a list form at the end of the ACB evaluation document posted on CIEE s website. CIEE is pleased to report that all significant recommendations from the ACB report have been implemented. New and Noteworthy Academic Papiementu Language Students take four courses in Papiementu taught by a local Bonairean instructor as part of the Cultural and Environmental History of Bonaire course. Classes were held at the local instructor s kunuku (farm), which provided a nice change for students whose remainder of the classes is held at the CIEE center. Page 1 of 5

2 Subject Area Courses Due to the nature of this program, all courses are CIEE designed and designated solely for CIEE participants. Course Offerings: Coral Reef Ecology, Contact Hours: 60, Recommended Credits: 4 Tropical Marine Conservation Biology, Contact Hours: 45, Recommended Credits: 3 Independent Research Project in Marine Biology and Ecology, Contact Hours: 60, Recommended Credits: 4 Cultural and Environmental History of Bonaire, Contact Hours: 30, Recommended Credits: 2 Fall 2008: Fundamentals of Scientific Diving Research Methods, Contact Hours: 60, Recommended Credits: 4 Spring 2009: Advanced Scuba, Contact Hours: 15, Recommend Credit: 1 and Marine Ecology Field Research Methods, Contact Hours: 45, Recommended Credit: 3 As noted above, beginning in spring 2009, the previously titled Fundamentals of Scientific Diving Research Methods course was divided into two distinct courses: Advanced Scuba and Marine Ecology Field Research Methods. The first course is practical in nature and taught intensively during the first two weeks of the program. By the end of the second week of the program, all participants are trained to the level of rescue diver, are more comfortable in the water and better divers earlier in the program. They also have more exposure earlier on to the organisms along the reefs and are more familiar with the variety of species, some even identifying the topic they plan to research later in the semester. A new full-time instructor for the Tropical Marine Conservation Biology was hired in the fall 2008 semester. Students initially found her less accessible than desired but very knowledgeable. Fall semester evaluations on the academic program were very strong and, in the spring, they were uniformly glowing. Independent Student Research Students were academically challenged by their independent research projects and, although initially overwhelmed, found the course extremely rewarding and useful. Students were asked to present a scientific question, conduct a literature review, collect data, analyze the data, prepare a final report in a scientific format, and present to the larger local community. Some examples of student projects from both semesters are listed below: The Effects of Daily Spawning Patterns on Cleaning Dynamics of Thalassoma bifasciatum, bluehead wrasse Reef fish settlement in Coral Reef versus Mangrove and Seagrass Habitats in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles The Effects of Intruder Size on the Territoriality of the Threespot Damselfish (Stegastes planifrons) Reproductive Behavior in Abudefduf saxatilis: The Relationship between Nest Location, Brood Size and Aggression Effects of Human Recreational Activities on Seagrass Beds in Lac Bay, Netherlands Antilles The Effects of Storm Damage on Reef Rugosity and Coral Species Composition in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles Diurnal Variation of Cleaning Intensity in Bonaire, N.A. Page 2 of 5

3 All student reports were published in an on-site journal entitled Physis. Readers may view this journal on the CIEE website. Out of Classroom Learning The program integrates out of classroom learning as an integral part of the academic program. Diving is used extensively in the Fundamentals of Scientific Diving Research Methods (fall), Advanced Scuba (spring), Marine Ecology Field Research Methods (spring), Coral Reef Ecology and Independent Research courses. Most students complete dives during the semester. In addition, students participate in cultural events (harvest festival, Rincon day, Carnaval) as well as physical activities such as kayaking in the mangroves, caving, snorkeling and hiking in Washington Slagbaii National Park. As part of the Cultural and Environmental History of Bonaire course, students also participate on a circle island tour, visit the old city of Rincon and slave huts in the south of the island as well as visiting the landfill and sewage ditches in the interior of the island. Community Lecture Series: The CIEE Study Center in Bonaire hosts several lectures during the academic year from outside scientists and professionals. In addition to local residents, CIEE students may attend all of these lectures as a way to engage with the scientific community. Dr. Ben Holt, University of East Anglia, UK, Colour polymorphism in hamlets September 30, 2008 Dr. Maria Uyarra, University of East Anglia, UK, Appropriate management of tourism: an essential tool for coral reef conservation in Bonaire:, October 21, 2008 Dr. Claudia Johnson, Indiana University, USA, Coral survival in the face of changing ocean temperatures and ocean chemistry in Bonaire. November 20, 2008 CIEE Student Independent Research Presentations, November 26, 2009 Kris Kats, Progressive Environmental Solutions, Bonaire; Lac Implementation of a long term monitory plan January 8, 2009 Sabine Engel, Consultant, Bonaire, Survey for queen conch and sea grass characterization of Lac Bay, January 8, 2009 Cyril Giry, University of Bremen (Germany); Coral-based reconstruction of the southern Caribbean sea January 8, 2009 Dr. Jay Haviser, St. Maarten Archeological Center, SI-MARC, St. Maarten, NA The archeological record from archaic to present in Bonaire January 26, 2009 Joaquin Buitrago, EDIMAR Marine Research Station, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela, Monitoring Physio-chemical indicators of water quality in the Salinas of Washington Slagbaai National Park, February 2, 2009 Dr. Max Engel, Philipps-Universitat, Marlburg, Germany; The coastline of Bonaire during the recent geologic record February 2, 2009 J. Tedrow Bonner, Rubicon Seven, CT, USA, The Potential of Green: Becoming New By Becoming Whole February 18, 2009 Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director STINAPA Bonaire, The history of the Bonaire National Marine Park March 3, 2009 Dr. Susie Arnold & Dr. Bob Steneck, University of Maine, Managing for the future of Bonaire's coral reefs: are parrotfish key players?" March 5, 2009 Dr. Carl Safina, President Blue Ocean Institute, New York, USA, The Oceans, Ourselves, March 5, 2009 Page 3 of 5

4 Non-Academic Dr. Roy Lewis, III, Lewis Environmental, Inc., FL, USA, Cost and benefits of mangrove restoration, March 31, 2009 CIEE Student Independent Research Presentations, April 7, 2009 Dr. Mark Vermiej, CARMABI, (Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity), Curacao, NA, Coral Reef Conservation: Perspectives on a Possible Future, June 5, 2009 Dr. Gabriel Grimsditch from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Coral reefs, climate change and resilience, June 10, 2009 CIEE Orientation The orientation for this program is quite brief but includes all pertinent information about living at the research station and the local town. A new component was included in orientation that requires students to create their own house rules as a group so that at all students understand their responsibilities vis a vis taking care of the living space. Cultural Activities/Field Trips A very popular cultural activity was dinner at a local farm to try local specialties including fish, goat, iguana and cornmeal-based dishes. Two overnight camping trips were offered to Washington-Slagbaai National Park and to Klein Bonaire, a smaller island off of Bonaire. Housing and Meals All participants live at the CIEE Research Station in comfortable doubles with private baths. During the fall 2008 semester, classroom space was rented nearby to relieve the joint use of the residence facilities, which was a large complaint during the previous year. Beginning in spring 2009, the administrative and academic facilities were separated from the living facilities with the completion of the CIEE-owned building across the street, which houses classroom and laboratory space as well as resident staff offices. The new building has wireless internet throughout the building, includes a lecture hall that seats 60, a laboratory that accommodates 17 students, a kitchenette, two bathrooms, 4 staff offices for each teaching instructor and a dive locker. The only remaining task to complete is exterior landscaping. This significant change has provided students with more independence and an increased level of comfort in their lodging. Students in both semesters indicated that they felt very secure and safe in their living situation and evaluated their accommodations very highly. Students indicated in their evaluations that screens on the windows would be beneficial to add circulation in the rooms. Screens have been fitted and placed in all the windows late in the spring 2009 semester. The program offered all meals across the street at a local bistro. Regarding meals, students would like more flexibility and independence in their choice of meals. Diving Safety CIEE Bonaire is an organizational member of AAUS (American Academy of Underwater Sciences). AAUS is an organization that provides guidelines for dive safety and enjoys a global membership including universities in the US and Australia, American governmental Page 4 of 5

5 organizations like NOAA and consulting agencies. One of the AAUS regulations that CIEE adheres to is that the CIEE scuba equipment may not be used for recreational dives. Community Engagement and Integration As the program is structured, students have little time to participate in a for-credit internship in addition to their challenging coursework and the independent research project. During the spring semester, CIEE hosted and organized a Children s Festival to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the Bonaire National Marine Park. The community service event was organized by CIE students as part of their Tropical marine Conservation Biology course. Twenty-two children, plus their parents or grandparents attended the event. The CIEE students prepared a slide show of Bonaire s fish, corals and sponges inside the research station where attendees could cool off and learn about their local ecosystems. Outside, CIEE participants organized activities in which local children could participate, such as face painting, tie-dying t- shirts and painting one of two large murals on display outside of the CIEE academic facilities. Challenges and Future Directions Academic The academic course offerings were very well evaluated, particularly in the spring semester when every course received excellent evaluations. The addition of a new permanent instructor and the division of the Fundamentals of Scientific Course into two distinct courses has strengthened the academic program. Non-Academic The major complaints in the previous year concerning shared living, studying, teaching and administrative space has been alleviated with completion of the new teaching and administrative building. An additional staff member as well as rotating interns has helped to provide more support to students on-site. Future Directions Over the past several years, there has been a lot of attention paid to this program in order to strengthen the academic rigor, create a positive (and separate) living and learning environments and to recruit a teaching and staff team that can deliver a high caliber academic program and provide on-site student services. The changes made in past years have resulted in a very strong academic program and increased levels of student satisfaction. The goals for the coming year are to maintain these high standards in all areas of the program. Page 5 of 5