Named after longtime board member James W. Babcock on the occasion of his retirement, the internship was established to honor his dedication to conservation education. This six-week unpaid internship program gives an American undergraduate or graduate student the opportunity to take part in research and monitoring activities within a range of marine conservation projects, to gain experience in hands-on animal husbandry, or to participate in the delivery of classes and field trips focusing on conservation at the BAMZ. Interns must bear the cost of travel to and from Bermuda. The ACP will pay for meals and accommodations and provide a monthly public transportation pass for each intern.
Click here to download an application form.
INTERNS CAN CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME OPTIONS:
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Our Aquarium has over 200 species of colorful fishes and invertebrates in numerous naturalistic displays and our Zoo has over 300 birds, reptiles and mammals from oceanic islands for interns to explore and gain valuable experience
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will learn all aspects of the daily care of exotic animals and plants including animal handling and treatment.
- Interns will participate in behavioral observations and our animal enrichment program.
- Interns will assist with diet preparation and feeding including food culture methods.
- Interns will maintain daily records including animal activities, food consumption, and special projects.
- Interns will assist with life support maintenance and water quality monitoring.
- Interns will assist with exhibit enhancement, which may include the collection of marine specimens, horticulture and or fabrication of exhibit furnishings.
- Interns will participate in providing Interpretative talks to visitors and special interest groups.
ANIMAL CARE AND QUARANTINE
The Animal Care and Quarantine Department (ACAQ) is responsible for both Marine specimens and Zoo quarantine, wildlife rehabilitation and the preventative health care of our zoo and aquarium collection.
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will learn all aspects of the daily care of exotic animals and including animal handling and preventative health care
- Interns will learn basic quarantine procedures and policies
- Interns will conduct behavioral observations
- Interns will learn diet preparation and feeding techniques for animals in critical care
- Interns will maintain daily records including animal activities
- Interns will assist with veterinary care that may include treatments, x-rays or other diagnostics
- Interns may have the opportunity to assist our Marine Collector with specimen acquisitions
CONSERVATION RESEARCH
Under the umbrella of BZS Conservation Research, projects are conducted in conjunction with other organizations. Our conservation and research programmes focus on Bermuda and are funded primarily by the Bermuda Government, U.K and U.S. Governments and private donations. Being SCUBA certified is mandatory
There may be a crossover between Conservation Research and Natural History Collections.
See our Conservation Projects for more detail on each of these programs.
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will gather and analyze biological information necessary for the sustainable use of Bermuda's living resources.
- Interns will assist in field-based studies including sampling and monitoring, animal capture and marking
- Interns will assist with laboratory or database work.
MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
The Natural History Collection holds the most comprehensive specimen collection of birds, reptiles, fish, insects, plants, corals, worms, shells and fossils found in Bermuda. The collection aims to include a representative of every species ever found in Bermuda and grows every year as the result of ongoing research on Bermuda’s biodiversity.
There may be a crossover between Conservation Research and Natural History Collections.
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will learn safe handling, storage and display of Natural History collections.
- Interns will learn risk assessment and mitigation within the collections.
- Interns will learn how to photograph, condition check, package and accession museum objects and specimens into the collections.
- Interns will gain a better understanding of biological taxonomy and species diversity in Bermuda.
- Interns will work on an inventory of the museum collections.
- If interested, interns will have the opportunity to observe/learn how to do necropsies, specimen preparation and taxidermy.
- Interns may assist in updating current displays or researching existing collections.
- Interns may have the opportunity to assist with field work and specimen collection.
EDUCATION
Education is one of our highest priorities. The Education Team supports mission, - “to inspire appreciation and care of island environments” by providing classes, courses, resource material, interpretation, and special programmes. In addition, our Education Team is responsible for the BZS Schools Programme, interpretation of exhibits, member and public nature encounters, and publication of educational materials. Approximately 6,000 school student experiences are given annually.
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will assist in the delivery of classes and field trips (both snorkelling and land-based) to Bermuda school children.
- Interns will assist in the delivery of Nature Encounters to small groups of children or adults on weekends
- Interns will assist with the interpretation of our exhibits.
- Interns will assist prepare class materials and curriculum.
BZS MICRO FOREST PROJECT AND MANGROVES
The BZS Micro Forest Project focuses on promoting biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage by creating sustainable micro forests of Bermuda native and endemic plants. The Micro Forest Project was designed using combined concepts from Dr. David Wingate's life-long reforestation project in Bermuda, recent work by the BZS on Trunk Island, and the Miyawaki Model pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. The Miyawaki Method empowers those with little space to grow dense urban forests on small patches of land. Considering the diminished space available for afforestation in Bermuda, the BZS is adopting this method for school playgrounds, roadsides, or public parks to simulate a natural forest quickly.
The BZS Micro Forest Project includes mangrove habitat restoration and reforestation. Mangrove habitats provide natural coastal protection from storms and erosion and are a significant contributor to water quality maintenance, increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Additionally, these forests offer a safe habitat for various species that find food, shelter, and suitable nursing grounds within the mangrove’s strong, protruding roots. Climate change is significantly impacting mangrove ecosystems through changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea level rise. We hope to halt the impact on these mangrove habitats around Bermuda through reforestation efforts.
It is preferred that interns come with some knowledge of: map and photo reading, compassing (Orientating) and distancing, identification of some essential plants and trees, measuring and recording, and operation of GPS units. Interns involved in this programme must have their own form of transportation to and from the current BZS Micro Forest sites around the island.
Learning outcomes:
- Interns will learn about the native and endemic plant species found in Bermuda.
- Interns will learn some basic plant biology.
- Interns will learn some plant identification and taxonomy.
- Interns will learn how to correctly plant a variety of native and endemic plants and trees.
- Interns will learn basic drone piloting.
- Interns will learn how to map Micro Forest Plots using drone software.
- Interns will learn basic drone photogrammetry.
- Interns will learn how to calculate biomass, carbon sequestration and data interpretation.
- Interns will learn the fundamentals of ARC GIS software.
- Interns will learn how to survey existing plots using drones and ARC GIS software.