The Alf Thompson Memorial Scholarship (ATMS) Committee has selected two students to be the recipients of its annual internship awards.

This scholarship, started by the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre in 2011, was initiated to honor the memory of John Alfred Thompson, a gifted Bahamian trained in engineering and the sciences.

This year, the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre teamed up with the Bimini Biological Field Station, more commonly known as the Shark Lab, to offer two aspiring Bahamians eight-week internships at the Field Station. Vanille Rabier, 25, and Christopher Ferguson, 24, will live and work at the Shark Lab while conducting studies with noted shark and marine biology research scientists, graduate students and other interns from around the globe. The internship will run from October 15 to December 15.

"Becoming a marine biologist and working with marine wildlife has always been a dream of mine. I have recently developed an interest in, and passion for, sharks," said Vanille.

"The internship at the Shark Lab in Bimini would offer me the experience of working in the field."

 Vanille recently completed her studies at King's University College in Canada. Christopher, a recent graduate of Alabama State University, is concerned about the diminishing natural resources in Bahamian waters.

"For many years, overfishing has been a major dilemma for the Bahamian people and marine resources. As a Bahamian marine biologist, this intern experience will help build a foundation," he said.

"From this experience I hope to gain more knowledge of these amazing animals [sharks] and learn about their way of life and interactions in their natural habitat."

The goal of the 2013 ATMS program is to provide Bahamians with the opportunity to experience hands-on marine science research at the Shark Lab in Bimini. This will include learning about various research techniques in the disciplines of population demographics and dynamics, molecular and behavioral ecology, bioenergetics, sensory biology and physiology.

The hope is that the internship experience will motivate students to further their studies and ultimately pursue careers in these fields. These internships are made possible by the ATMS, offered through the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre and the Shark Lab, both non-profit organizations promoting awareness, conservation and respect for the Bahamian environment (www.tropicbirds.org; www.miami.edu/sharklab).

Previous ATMS intern recipients were given opportunities to study and work at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Three students (one in 2011 and two in 2012) interned with research scientists and engineers from academia, NASA and other corporations in the fields of aeronautical studies, biological sciences and space-related technology.

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