Award: OCE-1757475

The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) has hosted an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site since 1991. Over the recent 3-year grant period from 2018 to 2020 a total of 25 students from 22 US universities and colleges attended the REU Program at BIOS. During their 12 week tenure, the students conducted independent research projects in the fields of oceanography and marine science, ranging from the small scale of marine bacteria and viruses to the large scale of ocean dynamics and circulation. Many of the research projects fell within the framework of the numerous long-term science programs conducted at BIOS. Up until the COVID-19 pandemic, all REU students at BIOS, regardless of the focus of their own project, have had the opportunity to join scientists aboard the institute?s ocean-going research vessel, the R/V Atlantic Explorer, participating in a 24 hour oceanographic research cruise. The BIOS REU cohorts of 2018 and 2019 were able to gain this valuable experience, but unfortunately this was not possible in 2020 owing to strict quarantine and operational procedures in place. Nevertheless, we are very grateful that students were able to safely travel and attend the program in person in 2020. REU students at BIOS were encouraged to take full responsibility for their research projects, allowing them to learn valuable skills in sustaining a research project, meeting deadlines, troubleshooting, planning, and time management. They also attended a series of workshops and seminars to improve their research, science communication, and presentation skills, and also to advance their career development. As part of their training, they regularly presented seminars themselves, describing the scope and progress of their work to their peers, mentors, and other students. At the end of the program, REU students presented a final seminar of their work to the entire BIOS staff and also submitted manuscripts in the format of an appropriate research journal. BIOS is a multi-disciplinary institution and so students were exposed to a diverse range of research activities being conducted by BIOS faculty, visiting scientists, and other students, and had ample opportunity to get to know faculty and staff through a range of other activities (e.g., communal mealtimes, fieldtrips, and sports and recreation activities hosted at BIOS). BIOS also has many active teaching programs during the Fall semester when REU students are resident; this ensured a diverse student population that included students from the US, Canada, Europe, and beyond. Thus, REU students were presented with an insight to the global and collaborative nature of scientific research. Last Modified: 01/17/2022 Submitted by: Andrew J Peters