​My name is Kari Lawrence, and I’m a graduate student studying biology at the Miami University of Ohio. This spring, I completed my leadership challenge and internship at University of Belize Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) in Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Working alongside University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) staff, I helped to teach over 200 children from all over Belize through the Young Marine Explorers program. Many students had never been on a boat, let alone beyond the barrier reef, so the excitement on their faces is something I will never forget. One of my favorite parts was the island walk, where the students explored the many ecosystems that make Calabash Caye so unique. Whether it was holding a hermit crab, or finding a prehistoric chiton on a rock, everyone, including myself, walked away with some amazing stories to take home.
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​In addition to teaching the Young Marine Explorers program, I also helped with a variety of the scientific studies and partnerships that make CCFS a research station. Whether it was measuring coral plates, or counting spawning aggregations, the scientific diving experience I gained during the internship was invaluable to my career as a scientist. Not many people can say they snorkeled the entire Turneffe Atoll in less than a week, but it’s a regular task for the staff at Calabash Caye during lobster and conch surveys; one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Whether it was on land or in the water, the work being done at Calabash Caye extends far beyond Belize. I met scientists and students from all around the world during my time on the island. Apart from being able to participate in many of these research projects, I also got an insider’s view on how UB partners with local communities. One of my most memorable moments was the opportunity to sit in on an exclusive aquaculture training with Dr. Arlenie Rogers and local shrimp farmers that could prove to have an impact on the entire country of Belize. It was an honor to be seen as an equal, even as a student, and to be in amongst such great minds and discussions.

I saw hundreds of students and scientists come and go during my stay, but one reoccurring theme was the fact that everyone wished they could stay longer. Having stayed for three months on Calabash Caye, I got to live every scientist’s dream. I was able to accomplish my leadership challenge, gain scientific experience, work with world-renowned scientists, and touch the lives of hundreds of local students.
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I couldn’t be more thankful for my experience in Belize, and the opportunity the UB ERI provided for me. I hope to be the first of many student internships that help students become scientists.

​On a few spectacular nights a year, under the dark ocean’s surface, the potential for new life fills the ocean. Species of coral release their gametes of sperm and eggs into the water from each of their tiny polyps to allow for sexual reproduction.

The reality of the situation however, is that coral colonies, some several hundreds of years old, are in great danger. They are threatened globally by the onslaught of pollution, sedimentation, climate-change, disease, reckless fishing practices, and hosts of other perilous activities.
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At the UB ERI, we are building capacity to mitigate these threats through a collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México – Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (UNAM-ICML), laboratory of Dr. Anastazia T. Banaszak (ATB) to restore Orbicella faveolata on the fore reef of Calabash Caye.  As part of this collaboration, our Science Director (Marine) and Research and Education Officer visited UNAM-ICML in August for a 3-week training on coral restoration. The members of ATB lab then travelled to the Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) from September 17-28, 2016 to join our staff in our pilot coral restoration efforts.

On September 22, 2016, the sixth night after the full moon, colonies of Orbicella faveolata, commonly known as mountainous star coral, spawned, releasing their tiny gamete bundles. The team from the ATB lab and UB ERI collected these gamete bundles and brought them back to the CCFS wet lab to fertilize the eggs, care for the embryos, encourage the settlement of the larvae, and eventually relocate the “baby coral” to a nursery within the back reef.

UB ERI will transplant future colonies in the coming weeks and monitor their growth and development. Our hope is that this project will aid in the recovery of reef health.

Boston University (BU) has donated a number of items to the Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) during their visit this December.  The donation consisted of 2 first aid kits, a toaster, a food saver, 20 coffee mugs, and 24 dinner and dessert plates. 
 
These items were selected and packaged by Program Manager of the Boston University Marine Program (BUMP), Julia Mendez, who visited the station in November. During her stay she noted basic station needs that their program budget could help fill.  “We hope that the donations we made help CCFS run smoothly and safely for future BUMP groups and for every group visiting the Field Station. The staff at CCFS work so hard and this was our way to thank them for all they do,” Julia said.

Since 2012, Boston University has brought two classes through their marine program (BUMP) to CCFS annually.  The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute is grateful for this donation and looks forward to continued collaboration with BU.

To learn more about the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute click here. 
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The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute held an inauguration ceremony for the Staff and Visitor Quarters on the grounds of the Calabash Caye Field Station, Turneffe Atoll, on November 30, 2015. 
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In attendance was UB staff, members of the NGO community, and the diplomatic corps including Ambassador Benjamin Ho, Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan); Ambassador Carlos Moreno, Embassy of the United States of America; and Ambassador Carlos Quesnel Meléndez, Embassy of Mexico.
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President of the University of Belize, Alan Slusher, in his welcome remarks congratulated the UB ERI team on their accomplishments.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Harrison Pilgrim, reaffirmed the commitment of the Board in supporting the work of UB ERI. He also thanked the donor organisations, the Oak Foundation and Fondation Bertarelli for their investment in UB.
 
The Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis-Barrow, assisted Chairman Pilgrim in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
 
The ceremony continued with the unveiling of the inaugural plaque by President Slusher in recognition of the kind generosity of the OAK Foundation and Fondation Bertarelli.  

Mark Bolland of Fondation Bertarelli expressed their commitment to supporting UB ERI, and also congratulated the team on bringing their vision to fruition.
 
During the ceremony UB ERI co-founders, Dr. Elma Kay and Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts also took the time to share the Institute’s work and accomplishments over the past 5 years.

A group tour of the Field Station’s facilities led by Station Manager, Nicole Craig, brought the ceremony to a close.

The Staff and Visitor Quarters has increased the Station’s capacity to over 40 persons. Its construction was timely as we have seen increased visitor traffic over the past few years.

For more photos from the event click here.
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To learn more about the UB ERI peruse our website.