Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS)
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences was earlier known as the Bermuda Biological Station for Research. As the name suggests, it does extensive research and education in the areas of Deep Ocean and
Coral Reefs. It was founded in the year 1903 by the scientists from Harvard and New York universities to take advantage of Bermuda's great location for such research and studies. It is located at the Ferry Reach in St. George's Parish.
The institute has many facilities for research including its own deep water ship for ocean research (RV Atlantic Explorer), 13 well equipped laboratories, a 250-seat lecture hall and a library with extensive collections of books and research papers. It also has accommodation (rooms and apartments) with lounge and dining facilities for visitors.
While there are many areas of research being done by the institute, the key initiatives include:
Center for Integrated Ocean Observations: There are oceanographers and climate scientists who collaborate to study the biological, chemical and physical nature of the ocean and also try to find out the role that the ocean plays to change the climate.
International Center for Ocean and Human Health: This initiative is meant for the study of the health of the ocean and how it can in turn influence health. Scientists research many areas as part of this initiative including pollution threats, mariculture, coral reefs, fisheries, and genomics.
Risk Prediction Initiative: This an initiative to help the insurance and re-insurance industries in Bermuda to understand the effect of climate in business and related risks over a particular period of time, and how to best mitigate such risks.
Marine Environmental Program: A research initiative to understand and monitor the pollution, its origin, effect etc in marine environment.
Because of the elaborate arrangements here, there are many authors who have based their stories around Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. One such book is The Beast by Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws.
Update April 2016: BIOS has introduced underwater self-controlled gliders to study the nature of the ocean. A glider can travel up to 15 miles a day and get to a depth of about 3,000ft. It transmits various information via satellite to the onshore lab including physical, optical, chemical and acoustic properties of the ocean. The glider is also made to trace the path of a hurricane to fetch important information about the hurricane and its origin.
BIOS Internal Tours
(See the updates below)
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) is a non-profit organization. The institute offers free guided tour of its campus and facilities on every Wednesday at 10am. The guide will initially narrate the history of the institute and then take you to meet some of the research scientists who in turn will help you understand the latest research work being done here.
If you are lucky, you can also go and see the 168-foot vessel RV Atlantic Explorer owned by BIOS which is used for deep ocean exploration. The entire tour lasts for 90 minutes and it's free.
Update 2014:
Beginning 2014, the BIOS public tour is held only on the first Wednesday of every month (except holidays) from 10am to 11:30am.
Update February 2018:
BIOS is no longer offering tours to the public on the first Wednesday of the month.
Location and Contacts
Bios is located at Ferry Reach in St. George Parish. To reach the institute while coming from Hamilton by bus, you will need to get off at the junction of
Ferry Road and Mullet Bay Road once the bus turns left after the Causeway. You can then walk down Ferry road to reach BIOS. Coming from St George, Mullet Bay Road bifurcates into ferry Road. A St. George mini bus that starts at Kings Square, serves the institute.
Address: 17 Biological Lane, St George’s Parish. Phone: 441/297-1880. Nearest public bus routes: #1, 3, 10, 11 from Hamilton or St. George. Check out
Bermuda Tourist Map for the location of BIOS
Road Map
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 By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Vanessa Friesen (November 2011)
Hello, I'm a Geology student at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. I'm trying to put together a field trip to Bermuda and have been trying to find out information on the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. There website is down and I was wondering if you had any contact information preferably email for the Institute. Thanks for your help
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) November 2011
Hi, BIOS website is up and running. Here are the contacts including email addresses:
17 Biological Station, Ferry Reach, St. George's GE 01, Bermuda
VISITING GROUPS
RESEARCH
Nicholas R. Bates, PhD.
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