BALANCING FIELD-BASED LEARNING WITH FIELD-BASED RISK: INTRODUCTORY MARINE GEOLOGY AT THE GERACE RESEARCH CENTRE, SAN SALVADOR ISLAND, BAHAMAS

Since 2006, Western Carolina University has taught a two-week, field-based, marine geology course at the Gerace Research Centre on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. The class is an introductory-level, liberal studies course dominated by non-science majors. Emphasis is placed on engaged, hands-on learning with extensive time spent exploring coral reef ecosystems, beach and dune environments, as well as inland lakes and caves. Human impacts are also examined, from Columbus' first landing on the island to the modern era of tourism.

The schedule is demanding, both mentally and physically. Eight hours are spent in the field each day, and up to three hours in lab every night. The students complete several lab assignments, as well as a group project where they research and lead a day-hike across the island. In addition, the students are required to keep two notebooks; a private reflective journal in which they record their daily thoughts and experiences, and a field notebook in which they record lecture notes and daily field observations. The students learn about their environment through total immersion, because they are literally hiking through it, swimming in it, tripping over it, and feeling it ooze between their toes.

While the benefits of such experiential learning are clear, teaching a field-intensive course to undergraduate non-majors in a tropical marine environment comes with a certain degree of risk. The majority of students that take the class have little travel experience; many have never been on an airplane and some have never been outside North Carolina. To minimize risk, we have established best practices for all stages of the trip, from water safety protocols to schedule and budget management. In a field-based travel course such as this, one bad incident or simple mistake can seriously jeopardize future trips, but with careful forethought, most risks can be anticipated and mitigated.