UNIVERSITY COURSES
Throughout the year, the BBFSF hosts a number of Tropical Marine Biology or Shark Biology courses. Specific courses can be tailored to the needs of other colleges and high schools. Below are the details of courses taught at BBFSF, along with the associated University and contact details of the major professor’s that lead each course.
SHARK BIOLOGY COURSE | ECKERD COLLEGE
Shark Biology Course | Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
This 5-7 day shark biology course is a field component for a shark biology course at Eckerd College taught by Professor Dr. William A. Szelistowski. Students spend the vast majority of their time on field trips observing a variety of shark species around Bimini. Lectures, videos and project talks are also given by the staff of the Shark Lab. Field trips include shark dives, stingray encounters, juvenile lemon shark encounters, snorkelling, and more.
When:
January and March
Contact:
Shark Lab: Matthew Smukall - mattsmukall@biminisharklab.com
Eckerd: Dr. William Szelistowski - szeliswa@eckerd.edu
FROM CORALS TO SHARKS: TROPICAL MARINE BIOLOGY IN THE BAHAMAS | FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE
From Corals to Sharks: Tropical Marine Biology in the Bahamas | Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
Students from Florida Southern College spend seven days at the Shark Lab as part of a field intensive week course taught by FSC lecturer Dr. Gabriel Langford. Students receive introduction to the diversity and biology of sharks and their relatives through observation and in water encounters with a variety of shark species. Furthermore, students learn about methods used to study sharks, ranging from abundance surveys to electronic tracking of individual sharks. They receive lectures from BBFSF scientists throughout their stay to supplement their learning.
When:
October
Contact:
Shark Lab: Matthew Smukall - mattsmukall@biminisharklab.com
FSC: Dr. Gabriel Langford - glangford@flsouthern.edu
FIELD STUDIES IN SHARK BIOLOGY (BIO 473) | COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Field Studies in Shark Biology (BIO 473) | Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC.3 Credits
Marine science professor Dr. Dan Abel travels with a group of students every May to the Shark Lab as the grand finale to his Shark Biology Course. A host of shark experts, including Dr. Dean Grubbs and Dr. Dan Abel serve as the courses professors for this 7-day course. Students learn about almost every aspect of shark biology, and witness several species of shark in their natural setting. Sharks most often seen include lemon, Caribbean reef, blacknose, blacktip, nurse and sometime bull sharks and great hammerheads. A variety of rays are also observed including eagle rays and Southern stingrays.
When:
Mid May every year
Contact:
Shark Lab: Matthew Smukall - mattsmukall@biminisharklab.com
CCU: Dr. Dan Abel - dabel@coastal.edu
