Dr. Ben Kirby '00

The guys did great today and everyone had a successful dive. Below are several pictures - the blog posts tell the story.

Greetings from Virgin Gorda, BVI. Everyone was prompt in their arrival at DFW and we had no problems getting into the terminal for an early lunch. 12:45pm came and we finally boarded the plane...something we had waited months to do. After a minor delay due to a bathroom issue on the plane, we left Dallas and headed...

The moment is finally here! We will be spending most of today traveling from Dallas to Virgin Gorda. I think everyone has been waiting for this moment and is ready to swap out their khakis and dress shoes for a wet suit and fins. We are going to try and add videos to a YouTube Channel, so...

The guys are currently thinking about ways to preserve and recolonize coral. They are working in groups and using the Internet to research the structure, reproduction, digestion, etc. of different forms of coral. This activity builds on an interesting article we discussed that focused on coral predation by parrotfish. Our other article was about the invasive...

Today we are beginning our study of marine organisms. We spent last week building on prior knowledge and setting the context for their experiences before and during our trip to BVI. Alec S. and Kells K. did a great job discussing an article about the impact of butterflyfish on coral reefs. They were followed by Paul P. and Nick...

One of the places we will be visiting upon our arrival on Virgin Gorda is the Baths. According to TripAdvisor.com, this is the #1 attraction in the area. Massive granite rocks have created tidal pools of crystal clear water. We will spending several hours here to get acclimated to the environment. Check back on July...

Dr. Gruninger and I are actively organizing the curriculum for the upcoming class.  Our goal is to prepare the students for their diving and research experiences in the Virgin Islands and beyond.  The course will be considered successful if it begins the process of forming informed thinkers who foster an appreciation for the environment.  Everything is designed to be...