The outgoing president of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences has reflected on the proud moment when the organisation integrated with a US university — even as funding for science faces new threats.

William Curry, who is also the chief executive of the institute, wanted Bios to partner with schools so that it could offer accredited classes to students.

He explained: “We wanted to have a relationship with an accredited university so courses we were giving were certified as creditworthy.”

Bios merged with Arizona State University’s Global Futures Laboratory in October 2021 after two years of negotiations.

Dr Curry, 73, added: “When I first arrived, we didn’t have access to engineers or engineering schools to be involved with the development of new sensors and equipment for research.

“We wanted to have a relationship with a university that had a strong engineering department — and finding that in ASU worked out for us.

“There have been small marine institutions that merged with universities, but they were often financially in trouble, didn't have great bargaining positions and not all the scientists were treated that well after joining.

“The most important people at a place like Bios are the scientists, and we wanted to make sure that they had good solid career pathways.”

Dr Curry, who will be retiring from the organisation this summer after 13 years at the helm, highlighted programmes that expose Bermudians to marine science and technology.

These include a camp introducing 12 to 15-year-olds to marine life, a research technology capstone course and incoming university students working with scientists.

Dr Curry said: “We like to think we’re helping open folks’ eyes to what the ecosystem is and how it functions, but also developing critical thinking skills and things that are applicable to more than just marine science or science itself.

“It could be used in medicine, and the mathematical aspects of data manipulation could be used for someone who is pursuing risk assessment or reinsurance.”

Craig Carlson, professor at the University of California Santa Barbara’s department of ecology, evolution and marine biology, will succeed Dr Curry in August.

The two worked together on the Bios-Scope research project, a study of microbial oceanography in the North Atlantic.

Dr Curry said: “He has a broad vision of trying to make Bios a centre for marine excellence in a way so scientists from other organisations could come for an extended term, one or several months, to address a scientific question, have access to the ocean or build new equipment and test it over a three-month period.”

He added that Dr Carlson might need to tackle facility challenges and expand the robotics programme at Bios, as well as addressing the issue of increased carbon dioxide in the ocean.

Bios researchers measure concentrations of the greenhouse gas while on board the Oleander through a programme funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

US president Donald Trump’s 2026 Budget proposes slicing NOAA funding by 25 per cent, which Dr Curry said would put research on the Oleander in jeopardy.

He also said solar and wind energy “certainly reduce the carbon footprint of Bermuda significantly, because you have great sunshine and great wind”.

The Regulatory Authority touched on these ideas in its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan, which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Bermuda by 52 per cent by 2030.

The IRP’s preferred portfolio called for procurement of 20 megawatts of solar energy and 60 megawatts of offshore wind power, with the latter possibly coming into service by 2028.

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, said last month that a new steering committee would ensure the IRP is successfully implemented.

Dr Curry said: “Those are politically charged decisions, and politically what you could and should do are not always the same thing … people don’t necessarily want to see wind turbines in their backyard.”