Triangulating Bermuda: 

Global Change, Sustainability and Nature of an Island Ecosystem

A Maymester study abroad opportunity for Holy Cross undergraduate students

May 25 - June 22, 2026

Instructors: Prof. Justin McAlister (College of the Holy Cross) and Prof. Kelly Wolfe-Bellin (College of the Holy Cross)

Islands serve as unique microcosms for the study of forces that work at larger scales on continents and within larger societal groupings (large cities, States, etc.). This course will use the Islands and the country known as Bermuda as a case study to examine historical and present human interactions with the natural environment and to make predictions about future change.

Surrounded by coral reefs and located near the Gulf Stream, Bermuda is well situated for studying the environmental changes in our oceans today. One component of this course will be to learn about marine organisms and ecosystems, ocean function, and to appreciate Bermuda’s location as the northernmost location of coral reefs in the world. Further, islands have unique conservation issues. Bermuda was first settled in 1609 and human impacts on the island’s plants and animals were felt immediately. In this course, we will also explore the terrestrial environments of Bermuda and discern the impacts of 400+ years of human settlement on a previously uninhabited island archipelago. Bermuda is now one of the most densely populated places on the planet and has a history of exposure and response to invasive species.

Recognizing that humans are an important part of the environment, we will center the people of the island and their history in our discussions of the island environment. Important touchpoints in this conversation will be the original colonization of the previously uninhabited island, early agricultural efforts, history of slavery, British naval presence, and the current extensive tourism industry, influences that are reflected in the people, culture, and natural landscapes of the island today.

As islands are closed systems, it is also imperative that the people of the island work together toward sustainability. Bermuda, like most island systems, is essentially a ship in which everyone has to work together. In that vein, Bermuda is a world leader in sustainability initiatives. We will study energy production and usage, freshwater resources, waste disposal, food production, conservation and wildlife population rehabilitation, etc. To serve as comparison for how Bermuda handles these sustainability initiatives, this course will have a pre-departure component on campus and in the local Worcester area. This component will consist of approximately 5 evening sessions and 2 weekend day-trips during spring semester.

Logistics:

Students and faculty will be housed at the world-renowned Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) located in St. George’s, Bermuda. BIOS has a long history of hosting international student groups; colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have sent students to BIOS for decades. Program cost includes lodging and three meals per day at the BIOS dining hall. At BIOS, we will have access to a classroom, library, research labs, beaches, coral reefs, snorkeling gear (including swim test & water safety check), boats for marine excursions, and a BIOS bus for some on-island excursions. We also plan to use the reliable and extensive public transportation (bus and ferry) system for excursions around the island.