SFS, A hidden gem in the Turks and Caicos islands 

#TurksandCaicos, October 13, 2021 – In a tiny Caribeen country the home to one of the best barrier reefs in the world, and probably the second finest reef system in the tropical Atlantic, not until recently have I learned that Turks and Caicos is also fortunate to be the home of one of the most unique  Marine biology schools.

This particular school is known to offer some of the best and most adventurous hands-on study with 10 locations around the world.

The School of Field Studies(SFS) which they are referred to as, is located on the island of South Caicos, and have been there for many years.

This school offers undergraduate degrees such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental policy, and fisheries management. All of which are critical to the sustainability of our ecotourism industry.

In addition to classroom studies, they also offer research opportunities and field experiences. With easy access to ocean space all around us, this gives them the opportunity to study marine life in its natural habitat, which is an unparalleled location for studies.

This could be a dream come through for any islander who has an interest in marine biology. With such huge dependence on ecotourism and one of the primary source of our revenue streams, such school is priceless.

With it’s diverse credentials, this also offers most, if not all of the necessary training on the importance of marine life and its sustainability.

Albeit, the tuition and fees comes at a pretty hefty price tag of around $25K; however, they do offer summer programs at a lower cost.

With such hefty tuition price tag and the limited enrollment of local students if any, is makes me wonder, are we truly the ones who are fortunate?

Given the nature of study, it would be prudent for our high schools and local colleges to boost relevant curriculums in this area. Such curriculums will continue to expose our students to this field of study and the incredible opportunities that are available.

Having such prestigious school in our country, perhaps there will be no need to spend thousands of dollars to send students abroad to places like England or the USA to study marine biology, when in fact they can complete their undergraduate studies right in our own backyard.

With a foreign investment of such revelance to our ecotourism industry, it also raises more questions than answers. Such as, what active role are they currently playing in our local society? what collaborative government financial programs if any, are in place to offer scholarships for eligible local college graduates etc.

Furthermore, with having unlimited access to our coral reefs and dive sites, did negotiations included a join effort of allocating x number of dollars toward our reef restoration fund and national parks?

As we move forward as a small developing country, we have to capitalize on every possible opportunity to provide the necessary education and training on oceans and marine life. Particularly for the sustainability of ecotourism and the advancement of our people.

Most ordinary Turks Islanders are still unaware of this remarkable opportunity!

With that being said, if intern programs are indeed available to locals, more exposure is needed so all students are aware which may peak their interest.

My call to attention on this particular subject may seem a bit obscure to many, but it underscores the important of having elected officials who are progressive thinkers, especially when it comes to forging these long term foreign investment contracts in our country.

It would behoove us to start challenging these  big foreign businesses a bit more. This should include mandatory involvement and functioning of more local individuals and how it can be connected to the greater good and benefits of our development plan.

This article should be viewed solely in terms of it’s economics and or educational impact on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Interested persons should contact the admissions office located in Beverly MA at 978-741-3567 or email Billing@fieldstudies.org

Ed Forbes

Concerned Citizen of Grand Turk