The Climate Classroom Brings Data-Driven Climate Science to Bermudian Students

Supported by HSBC, ASU BIOS invites over 240 middle school students to explore climate impacts through immersive STEM learning experiences in the 2026 Climate Classroom.  

The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (ASU BIOS) recently invited more than 240 middle school students to participate in the 2026 Climate Classroom program. 

Students worked as a team to solve puzzles, analyze ASU BIOS scientific data, learn new research tools and practice using immersive technologies. Traveling across the ASU BIOS campus, groups completed fun, escape-room style challenges to discover new ways to use science to protect Bermuda’s oceans from the direct impacts of climate change. 

The Climate Classroom was made possible by the exclusive donor support of HSBC, whose partnership has allowed the program to grow into one of Bermuda’s most anticipated youth climate education initiatives.  

The 2026 program introduced a new focus on data literacy, encouraging students to analyze measurements, interpret graphs and observe long-term trends. By rooting activities in data collected by ASU BIOS scientists, students were able to better understand drivers and impacts of climate change and make informed decisions to protect Bermuda’s ocean environment.  

“Climate Classrooms focus is on data collection and synthesis because understanding our ocean starts with measuring it. Students worked directly with real observations. Students practiced analyzing trends, asking scientific questions, and interpreting information collected by ASU BIOS researchers. Through this process, students transform scientific data into understanding, building the knowledge and confidence needed for Bermuda’s response to a changing ocean”, said Kaitlin Noyes, Director of Education and Community Engagement. 

Throughout the two-and-a-half-hour experience, students rotated through a series of interactive learning spaces designed to mirror real scientific investigations, centered around the ways in which climate change impacts ocean chemistry, shifts food chains, and threatens coral reefs.  

An additional emphasis was placed on recognizing how environmental changes threaten Bermuda’s coral reefs. Students measured the mass of corals affected by ocean acidification, used microscopes to quantify zooxanthellae abundance to evaluate bleaching and coral polyp health, and analyzed the stomach contents of lionfish to demonstrate the ecological impacts of invasive species on reef communities.  

Teams also analyzed coral reef biodiversity through both physical sampling and virtual exploration. Using virtual reality reef surveys, students identified species within reef quadrants before applying the same skills to survey a coral reef set up in the lab.  

The hands-on, data-driven approach proved highly effective. By the end of the program, nearly all participants successfully used scientific tools such as microscopes and temperature probes while interpreting a variety of data visualizations including pie charts, line graphs, and histograms. 

Additionally, the majority of students accurately identified major climate concepts, including the relationship between greenhouse gases and ocean warming, the causes of coral bleaching and ocean acidification, and the ecological impacts of invasive species on reef ecosystems. 

The 2026 program brought together eleven public and private schools from across the island, adding three new school groups: Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, Bermuda Institute and the Gifted Education Programme. All participating middle school teachers praised the program for transforming scientific concepts into engaging, real-world experiences and introducing pathways to careers in marine science. 

 “The Climate Classroom takes scientific principles learned in the classroom and applies them to the real world,” said Lexi Rego, a middle school teacher at Mount Saint Agnes Academy. “It shows students how our climate is changing and that we need to do something about it. The access to technology allows students to see science in action and spark a passion for science.” 

Mr. Murdock, a middle school teacher at Bermuda Institute, described the program as a “phenomenal experience.” 

“There was a wide range of tasks that challenged students to develop skills including data collection, teamwork, critical thinking, map orientation and data analysis,” he said. “I would very much recommend it and am very grateful for the opportunity.”  

Students also reflected on the experience through written messages expressing their appreciation for the ocean and designing future solutions to promote ocean health. 

“Thank you for letting us come and spend half a day learning about coral and coral bleaching,” wrote one student from Dellwood Middle School. “I had so much fun here. I loved the VR headset and how we had to separate the cleaners, predators, and herbivores.” 

Since launching four years ago, The Climate Classroom has introduced hundreds of local students to marine science research while strengthening scientific literacy and environmental awareness across Bermuda’s middle school community. 

Through continued collaboration between ASU BIOS and HSBC, the program aims to inspire curiosity, build scientific skills and empower the next generation of Bermudians to understand and protect the island’s ocean environments against the direct impacts of climate change.