About

Since modest beginnings as a seasonal field station in 1903, we've grown into an internationally recognized center for ocean science, atmospheric research and environmental monitoring and mapping. By investing in top-tier resident scientists and robust infrastructure—including R/V Atlantic Explorer, our UNOLS-compliant oceanographic research vessel—ASU BIOS stands as a fact-based voice in a crowded conversation around the state of our planet’s ocean and climate.

A unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, and the School of Oceans Futures our global partnerships support our research programs across the different branches of oceanography—biological, chemical, physical and geological—as well as our work across the related disciplines of environmental science, resource monitoring and conservation and risk prediction.

Who are we?

We are committed to using our science to benefit people and communities around the world, providing resources and knowledge that can be used by government representatives, environmental management officials, community leaders, and individual citizens to make the planet a better place to live. The research vessel (R/V) Atlantic Explorer is a U.S. flagged ocean class vessel in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF), operated by ASU BIOS as a UNOLS designated operator, that provides faculty and staff—as well as visiting scientists and students—with well-equipped labs to support numerous scientific endeavors. We routinely hosts researchers and students from around the world in collaborative efforts to expand global understanding of marine organisms, processes, and functions.

ASU BIOS is a U.S. incorporated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit marine research and education organization and a Bermuda registered Charity #116. In 2021, we attained our 4-star charity status with Charity Navigator for the seventh consecutive year. Only 8% of the charities evaluated have received at least 7 consecutive 4-star evaluations.

Where are we?

Since 1932, we have resided in Ferry Reach, St. George’s on the east end of Bermuda. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is uniquely situated to serve as a base for research on a variety of inland, coastal, and deep water issues of both local/national and global interest. From here, scientists can easily venture into the surrounding Sargasso Sea, one of the world’s most diverse open-ocean ecosystems. Bermuda is also home to some of the world’s most northern coral reefs, allowing researchers from around the globe an opportunity to study corals outside tropical waters.

What do we do?

Research

Research at ASU BIOS is broad-ranged and includes investigations in oceanography, marine biology, genetics and molecular biology, chemistry, air/environmental quality, optics, biogeochemistry, and climate change, to name a few. ASU BIOS is home to the longest-running time-series on seawater chemistry, biology, and physics (the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study, or BATS), providing scientists with the data necessary for longitudinal studies on a variety of topics including ocean circulation, productivity, and nutrient transport, among others. The longest record of ocean sediment-trap studies in the world, the Oceanic Flux Program, was also started, where it remains an active area of research. Visit the research page to learn more about current research projects and read faculty-authored papers on a variety of topics.

Education

From hands-on programs for Bermudian primary and secondary students to semester long courses for visiting college students, we open our doors and labs for a variety of education programs each year. The ASU BIOS Ocean Academy inspires hundreds of local students every year to contribute to a growing body of knowledge about Bermuda’s marine environment, resulting in educational resources that are utilized in classrooms and beyond. Our outreach programs offer a sneak peek at the research taking place at ASU BIOS, as well as how this work contributes to the global understanding of ocean and climate science. Throughout the year visiting scientists give seminars about their current research, offering their insight and knowledge to attendees in an intimate, discussion-oriented forum.

Mission

Our mission is to seek and share fundamental knowledge of the oceans through state-of-the-art scientific research, world-class field expeditions and comprehensive educational experiences. As a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University and the School of Ocean Futures, we join its mission to help ensure a habitable planet and a future in which well-being is attainable.

We are committed to promoting diversity and equity in marine science and the wider STEM community. We strive to be a welcoming and inclusive community where all employees and visitors can develop, learn, grow, and discover, without regard to race, gender, sexuality, age, physical ability, creed, or country of origin. ASU BIOS faculty and staff will honor and respect your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity.

In 2023 ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences celebrated 120 years of excellence in ocean science research and education.