Bahamian Field Station

The Department of Geosciences offers a field course to the Gerace Research Center (formerly the Bahamian Field Station) on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, each winter. The program is open to both MSU and non-MSU students. The course is designed to fit in between the Christmas holiday and the start of the spring term. The intent of the program is to provide students with a general survey of the tropical carbonate island environment, followed by independent study of student-selected topics. The details of the program are given below.

1.The field course departs Mississippi State University in late December of each year, usually the morning of December 26th or 27th, in the Department van, in order to reach Fort Lauderdale for a 7:00 am charter departure on the following day. We return to Fort Lauderdale in early January, usually January 6th or 7th, load up the van, and return to Starkville. Students have the option of making their own way down to Fort Lauderdale by private vehicle or by air.

2.The cost for the trip is $900, which covers room and board on the island, the charter airline flights, the departure taxes, the insurance, and use of the field vehicle(s). Students need only bring funds for souvenirs and recreational activities. Divers will need $9.00 per tank per dive (plus their certification card). If space allows (first come, first served), visiting (non-MSU) students can ride the Department van to Fort Lauderdale and will need only a little meal money. If motel rooms are rented, that cost is shared among those in the rooms. MSU has a scholarship program for students, to support participation in the program. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Mylroie.

3.Credit can be earned depending on student preparation, interest, and diligence. For students at Mississippi State University, this is accomplished by having the students add research (directed individual study) hours to their spring and/or fall schedule. If the students are already matriculated, there is no further tuition cost (if their total hours are 19 or less). Visiting students can best earn credit by arranging for a faculty member at their home campus to be instructor of record for research (or independent study, etc.) hours. That faculty member can consult by phone or mail either before or after the trip and decide how many hours, what topic, and how to assign a grade. In most cases, MSU faculty generally grade the final report, and send the report on to the faculty member at the home institution with the recommended grade. The faculty member is then free to submit the recommended grade or an alternate grade, at their discretion. The number of hours earned and the topic pursued are mostly up to the student. Students get one hour credit (by the scenario given above) for going and keeping a journal. To get more than one hour requires that the student participate in some sort of study or research project. This can be done individually, in a group, or with one of the graduate students or faculty members present. There are a number of on-going research programs on the island, and students are encouraged to participate in this original work, as opposed to doing a "make-work" project. This participation can be as simple as one hour for being a basic field assistant to up to six hours for major involvement in a project, including significant work after return to the home institution. This variable credit approach allows maximum flexibility for the student.

4.The island is relatively remote, and has outstanding carbonate sections and living reefs with lagoons. The program emphasizes the relationship of Quaternary carbonate island development in terms of climatic (glacio-eustatic sea level changes) and biological controls (CaCO3 precipitation). Fossil reefs, living reefs, eolianites, paleosols, cave and karst features, geochronology, stratigraphy, depositional environments, archeology, etc. are all stressed during the program. The program is run in conjunction with Dr. James Carew, Department of Geology, University of Charleston, Charleston, SC.

5.The field station is a much-modernized former U.S. Navy submarine tracking station. Faculty live in the former officers' quarters, and the students in the enlisted barracks (males and females on separate floors). Meals are cafeteria-style in the former mess hall and are simple and basic fare. Students do not do any cooking or clean-up and are responsible only for keeping their own spaces tidy. Needs are simple in this environment, and meeting the charter flight 40-pound weight limit should not be a problem [divers should contact Dr. Mylroie].

6.The first few days of the trip the students are taken on a series of field trips around the island to see the major features of San Salvador, including the stratigraphic column. Many evenings will have a slide show on geology or marine biology. After the group field trips have been run, then the group will begin to subdivide the work on various projects, and the schedule becomes less rigid.

7.The student is responsible for filling out student contract and health forms, which will be supplied, and returning them to Dr. Mylroie. Students also need to provide proof of citizenship: passport or birth certificate. Driver's license, draft card or student I.D. are not adequate (but are needed if a birth certificate is used).

This about covers the basic facts for the field course. The program is offered as a work hard, play hard experience. Once students have done what faculty feel is necessary for the day, the rest of their time is their own. There are many social and recreational opportunities on this tropical island, and students are encouraged to enjoy themselves. Experience has shown that students perform best when given plenty to do both in the scientific arena as well as fun and games.