Education never stops, and, as such, five Bahamas National Trust (BNT) staff members -- Alannah Vellacott, Shelley Cant, Lindy Knowles, Mark Daniels and Krista Sherman -- have left to pursue environmental studies degrees.
Well-known BNT staff member Shelley Cant, who worked in the education department and who also managed the website for the trust, is at the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus in the United Kingdom, where she will be working towards a master's degree in environmental studies.
Cant was also the lead officer in the BNT's Rare Pride Campaign for wetlands and the Shark Campaign, which resulted in The Bahamas receiving status as a shark sanctuary, the first in the Caribbean.
Vellacott, who also worked tirelessly in the education department, returned to South Dakota State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in environmental science.
Daniels, the Leon Levy National Park Preserve manager since it opened in 2011, is pursuing a master's degree in botany at Miami University in Ohio.
Knowles, who joined the BNT as a science officer in 2009, became a skilled diver and participated in a number of rapid ecological assessments for new national parks as well as leading several mangrove restoration projects. Knowles is pursuing a master's degree in environmental science at the University of the West Indies in Barbados.
Sherman, who came to the BNT as a project manager of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) Marine Protected Areas project, successfully coordinated and completed monitoring protocols for the Exuma land and sea park and a sustainable tourism model for the Exuma cays. Sherman is pursuing a doctorate degree at Exeter University focusing on the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation and population abundance. The trust hopes Sherman's studies will be a helpful key to advancing conservation efforts to establish best management practices for the grouper and sustaining the species.
"We will miss both Shelley and Alannah," said Portia Sweeting, BNT's director of education. "They have contributed in major ways to the BNT's strong environmental education programs, and we know that they will do well in the pursuit of their educational goals."
BNT Deputy Executive Director Lynn Gape said the young environmental officers displayed amazing dedication to the goals and mission of the BNT. She said it had been a joy to watch them develop their skills and interests over the years.
"It is amazing to watch these aspiring young Bahamian scientists progress through initial curious interest, then engaging with local and international scientists and now finally aspiring to further their environmental careers to help address some of the important environmental challenges that face our country," said Vanessa Haley-Benjamin, BNT's director of science and policy.
"We encourage our staff to improve themselves and to pursue higher educational degrees," said Eric Carey, BNT executive director. "This is all part of nation building, whether they return to work for the BNT or pursue other opportunities in the environment arena, they will continue to be friends and supporters of the trust. We wish them all the best and our only regret is that we have not been able to provide more financial support for their educational goals," he said.
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