By Susan Wilcox, Cougar’s Byte

Kean University is all about taking a student’s education to new depths. Now, the Earth, Atmosphere, and Ocean Science Program literally will do so.

Students will have an opportunity to develop research projects that test the conditions of coral reefs.  The course begins at Kean University with a weekly session and then culminates with a field trip to the Cayman Islands over spring break.  The course is accepted as a 4-credit science lab class and fulfills an elective requirement for the Earth, Atmosphere and Ocean program [formerly Geology and Meteorology].

The first course is a 4-Credit Oceanography course, titled OCEN 4601-T1, Field Methods in Marine Research.  This course allows students to gain hands-on experience in developing and conducting marine research projects.  Students have a chance to explore the major ecological issues in coral reef systems.  Coral reefs represent only 1% of the ocean floor; yet 1 in 13 people depend on coral reefs for food, coastal protection and income [an estimated $375 billion dollars a year in revenue]. The reefs support over 1 million living species, including 25% of all marine life.

Students will stay at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s, Little Cayman Research Center [LCRC].  The LCRC is located on an island 10 miles long and 2 miles wide that hosts only about 150 full-time residents as well as on the Bloody Bay Wall; one of the rated dive sites in the world.  LCRC is located adjacent to the Marine-Reserve,  where 1 % of the world’s oceans are protected from fishing and tourism activities, therefore, nature is relatively undisturbed and marine life is abundant.

If interested in participating in this course, students should contact [email protected] to register.  Space is limited and students will be registered on a first come, first serve basis.  Students will need to fill out a travel learn application with the center for international studies and also register for the course through KeanWISE during spring registration.  The cost of the trip is $1,500 [for full-time students], plus airfare of $658.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.cougarsbyte.com/campus-life/kean-it-the-cayman-islands-1.2946969#.UJqr_IV5mo8