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C.O.B. seeks collaboration with University of Miami on research and sustainability
By Office of Communication, The College of The Bahamas
Mar 6, 2014 - 5:15:52 PM

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From left (front row) are: College Council Secretary Mr. Michael Stevenson; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Creswell Sturrup; Bahamas Consul General to Miami Mr. Ricardo Treco; Minister of Education, Science and Technology Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald; Professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, Nelson Ehrhardt; Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Perry Christie; Attorney General Sen. Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson; COB Acting President Dr. Earla Carey-Baines; Deputy Council Chairman Dr. Earl Cash; Chair, School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences, COB, Dr. Dion Hepburn and Professor of Marine Affairs and Policy, RSMAS, Daniel Benetti. Back row: Dr. Vallierre Deleveaux, Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation; Professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, Jerald Ault; Professor of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Ben Kirtman; College Council Chairman Mr. Alfred Sears and COBUS President Mr. Alphonso Major.

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie; Minister of Education, Science and Technology Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald; Attorney General Sen. Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson and a delegation from The College of The Bahamas led by College Council Chairman, Mr. Alfred Sears and COB Acting President Dr. Earla Carey-Baines met recently with Professors from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) at the University of Miami (UM).

The meetings were held over the course of two days with a view to establishing education and research partnerships between the University of Miami, The College of The Bahamas, and the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

One of the world’s foremost academic oceanographic and atmospheric research institutions, RSMAS is an authority on marine-related sciences. The School has a specially designed 65-acre marine research and education park at Virginia Key, Florida. COB and BAMSI leaders want to tap into RSMAS’ expertise to develop sustainable academic programmes and drive an aggressive research agenda.

Dr. Vallierre Deleveaux, a Bahamian alumnus of RSMAS, organized the meetings in Miami and led discussions with a presentation of the basic conceptual plan behind the marine-sciences component of BAMSI.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ministry of Education, Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), Ministry of Works and Urban Development and The College of The Bahamas are all collaborating on the operation of BAMSI, which is being constructed in North Andros. The Institute will encompass a tutorial commercial farm, integrate farmers on the island in a commercial processing scheme and incorporate crop and livestock production, farm management, environmental conservation and agri-business.

In Miami, discussions were focused on building research capacity in The Bahamas in the area of marine science; specifically, research related to assessing the sustainable fishing thresholds for the conch, spiny lobster, and grouper populations in The Bahamas; the sustainability of recreational bone fishing in Andros; and the viability of fish farming in Bahamian waters using open-water, advanced submerged-cage technology.

A common theme of the presentations and discussions was the need to ensure the transfer of knowledge and to develop capacity between the partnering institutions while forging strategic alliances with potential industry partners. The latter was thought to be an important goal, not only for ensuring that BAMSI becomes a self-sustaining research and education institute, but also for achieving food security in The Bahamas.

Nelson Ehrhardt and Jerald Ault, Professors of Marine Biology and Fisheries, and Daniel Benetti, Professor of Marine Affairs and Policy at RSMAS, maintained that the key to successful vertical transfers of knowledge, that is the transformation of knowledge into applied science, occurs best when it takes place within an interdisciplinary framework.

While at RSMAS, Professor Benetti also led the visiting delegation on a tour of the Rosenstiel School’s fish hatchery. He explained that the School has the ability and capacity to harvest any fish species. The hatchery currently has Cobia, Tarpon and Mahi Mahi at various stages of their life cycles.

The College of The Bahamas is seeking to continue building relationships with higher learning institutions around the world in order to deepen opportunities for engaged learning, research and institutional strengthening.

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