Field Courses
Since its opening in 1971, the Gerace Research Centre has provided facilities for teaching field courses on San Salvador. Each year, more than 1200 students from over 80 colleges, universities, and educational organizations participate in Archaeology, Biology, Geology, and Marine Science field courses.
While participation in most of these courses requires an affiliation with the sponsoring organization, there are also several independent field courses that are taught each year and open to the public. Information on these courses can be found below:
Taphonomic and Ecological Processes in Tropical Environments
Sponsored in part by the Paleontological Society
Overview: The 4-week course will focus on graduate-level research in taphonomy and ecology of late Quaternary to Recent environments of the San Salvador Island (Bahamas), including both marine and terrestrial settings. Each student participant will lead an independent project based on field, experimental, or laboratory data. The instructors will assist students, both logistically and intellectually, in developing projects that can generate publishable quality data. San Salvador field sites and laboratory facilities offer opportunities for conducting topically diverse projects from experimental ecology and taphonomy to Quaternary paleoecology and biosedimentary processes.
When: June 28 - July 23, 2010
Where: Gerace Research Centre, located on San Salvador Island, one of the outermost of a chain of some 700 islands that comprise The Bahamas
Who: Students interested in taphonomy, paleoecology, marine ecology, carbonate depositional systems, reef paleoecology, coastal environments, and Quaternary paleoenvironments are particularly encouraged to apply. The course is aimed at graduate students who aspire to develop strong research portfolios. Advanced undergraduate students interested in research-oriented careers are also encouraged to apply. Students from all countries are eligible for admission.
Application Process:Click here to download the application. Please submit (1) one completed application form and (2) your most up-to-date Curriculum Vitae to Michal Kowalewski at michalk@vt.edu. A reference letter should be emailed separately by the academic advisor. The application is due on Feb 1, 2010. Maximum enrollment: 16.
Fees and Anticipated Expenses: The course fee of $2300 per student will cover (1) lodging and all meals for four weeks, (2) access to all facilities at the research centre, (3) transportation to and from field sites around the island, and (4) instructional and advising activities. The fee does not include transportation to San Salvador ($700 to $1000 from the mainland USA). The total anticipated cost per student is expected to be around $3000-$3300 per student. Given more expensive airfare for international flights, the total cost is likely to be higher for international students.
Financial Aid: Students are encouraged to apply for financial aids/scholarships at their home institutions. Additional financial aid, sponsored by the Paleontological Society, is available from the course organizers. For details see the application form.
Academic Credits: Upon successful completion of the course, each student will receive a Gerace Research Centre Course Certificate for an equivalent of a senior-level/graduate-level 3-credit course. Due to varying accreditation requirements, students are advised to consult their home institution regarding credit transfer viability.
Instructors: Dr. Michal Kowalewski (Ph.D., University of Arizona 1995) is a tenured faculty in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech. He has conducted/supervised numerous projects on invertebrate taphonomy and ecology, with focus on Quaternary depositional systems. His research involved coastal and shelf settings of Baja California (Mexico), San Juan Islands (USA), Po Plain (Italy), Southeast Brazilian Bight, and other areas. He co-organized and co-instructed research-oriented graduate courses at Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington). These courses centered on taphonomy (co-taught with Mike LaBarbera) and predator-prey interactions (co-taught with Lindsey Leighton) and resulted in 20+ publications by students. Special issues of Palaios (2004) and Journal of Shellfish Research (2007) showcased many of those projects. He can be contacted at michalk@vt.edu.
Dr. Thomas Rothfus(Ph.D., University of Chicago 2005) is the Executive Director of the Gerace Research Centre (GRC; San Salvador, Bahamas). In this position he oversees the logistical support of over 100 field courses which make use of the GRC each year. Also in this position he reviews and provides assistance with a range of research projects conducted on San Salvador in the general fields of archaeology, biology, and geology. His research centers on taphonomic processes in modern and ancient depositional systems, with particular focus on large-scale taphonomic patterns in the fossil record of marine invertebrates. He is particularly interested in how factors that influence preservational quality of fossils have changed through the geological time. He can be contacted at tarothfu@gmail.com
Earthwatch Bahamian Reef Survey
Each year, Earthwatch Institute offers several eight-day expeditions to Gerace Research Centre, during which participants assist scientist John Rollino in snorkel surveys of coral reef habitats. To learn more about this program, please visit: Earthwatch Bahamian Reef Survey
Broadreach Marine Biology
Every summer, Broadreach offers a college-accredited program for high school students at the Gerace Research Centre. Through SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and classroom instruction students explore topics including biodiversity, coral bleaching, and marine conservation. For additional information, please visit: Broadreach Marine Biology Accredited
Elderhostel Archaeology in San Salvador
From March 15-22, 2009, Elderhostel is leading a program at the Gerace Research Centre. Participants (aged 55 and up) will be assisting archeologist John Winter in his explorations and excavations on the island. For further information, please visit: Elderhostel Archeology in San Salvador
Caribbean Volunteer Expedition
From December 13-20, 2009, Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions is leading an archaeology project at the Gerace Research Centre. Participants will be assisting archeologist John Winter with mapping a colonial plantation site. For further information, please visit: Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions