Junior Explores Marine Ecology and Sustainability in Semester Abroad

Jack G. ‘24 out on a boat excursion in Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas. The junior spent his time at the Island School with a rigorous exercise program and conducting marine biology research.

Junior Jack G. ’24 followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Jose G. ’22, by spending 100 days at the Island School in The Bahamas. With a focus on sustainability and conservation through marine biology, Jack spent his time abroad studying marine life and researching ways to better preserve Cape Eleuthera’s aquatic environment, all while sticking to a rigorous schedule. 

Lfe in the Bahamas was a significant change from his New York City lifestyle according to Jack. With mandatory morning training, Jack began what is called AMX, which is a workout routine done nearly every morning at 6:30 a.m. The AMX program offered students the choice between running and swimming—Jack chose the latter, which meant his morning routines revolved around swimming and prepared him for a four-mile swim at the end of the semester. 

The workouts varied by day, with all of them focused on building endurance for the final swim. On Mondays, Jack implemented both running and swimming into his workout routine, which consisted of alternating the two exercises for about two miles. On Tuesdays, Jack would swim the short track, which was about half a mile. Wednesdays would be a long swim on the long track, which was two miles. As for Fridays and Saturdays, the workouts were more interactive, with swim competitions, water polo, and even beach Capture the Flag. Though the exercise was difficult and led to fatigue, Jack appreciated the program and the impact it had on him.

“AMX really helped me with structure at the Island School, and even though it was tiring, it was overall a great way to start the day” he said. “Getting to jump into one of the most beautiful oceans every morning was one of the best experiences I have had.”

While Jack may not have an ocean in which he can swim in New York City, he hopes to continue to exercise daily. “The morning swims and runs showed me the benefits of being active and how good it feels, and it has motivated me to keep it going back home in some shape or form,” Jack said.

Jack’s focus on marine biology at the Island School was mainly accomplished through scuba diving, which he noted was a special part of his time at the Island School, allowing him to see marine life in its truest form. Throughout his Island School stay, Jack scuba-dived once a week and visited a new location each time. 

For Jack, the dives were an eye-opening experience.

“Scuba diving was so amazing. The things I saw underwater were unreal, like the 3,000-foot drop-off of the diving spot called The Wall,” he said.

The dives were not just fun for Jack and his cohorts but also served an educational purpose, which was to record data on and study certain aquatic species and habitats for their Marine Ecology class. The students were given a marine protected area (MPA) which they spent their time studying during the class.

“We were given an MPA and tasked with creating a plan that would not only raise awareness to the local Bahamian community but also raise money in order to keep the protected sanctuary alive,” Jack said. “When I would dive, seeing all the different species going about their lives made me smile, and I am glad I could contribute to such a good cause.”

Jack’s educational time at The Island School revolved around his research for his project on stone crabs, fisheries, and their sustainability. He primarily studied stone crabs, and one notable topic he looked into was their relationship with lemon sharks, the crabs' main predator. By studying, catching, and working with lemon sharks, Jack learned more about predator avoidance behavior for these crabs. At the same time, through this research, Jack and his team also raised awareness about the unjust practices present in stone crab fisheries, like the removal of the crabs’ claws.

Jack believes that claw removal was an important issue because although the crabs can regenerate their claws, a botched removal can cause a bad break to the natural fracture plane of the crab, which contributes to a higher mortality rate. Being near these crabs every day, Jack began to feel a connection to them and is appreciative of what he and the Island School have been doing for these crabs.

“I was very grateful to be a part of a team studying this in the Island School because we really are bringing change to the stone crab fishery in the Bahamas,” he said.

Currently back in New York at Browning, Jack wishes to continue to take part in more research opportunities to learn more about marine life and the factors that lead to endangerment. While his time at the Island School is complete, Jack continues to adhere to the same principles that he followed during his time away.

“I am sad that it is over, but I am glad to have learned important lessons and done something meaningful for the Bahamian environment,” he said. “If you have the opportunity to go, go. You will not regret it.”

Jack noted that The Island School left an indelible mark on him and knows that it will continue to change lives of more Browning members as the ninth-grade class attends the campus for a week each year.