From Science to Action

ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda continuing commitment to environmental stewardship and education 

“No one institution has all the answers when it comes to climate change,” said Greg Garnier, CEO of HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited (HSBC Bermuda). “The challenges we face are complex, interconnected, and already affecting our communities. Real progress depends on collaboration between businesses, scientists, educators, governments, and young people. That’s why partnerships like this one matter so deeply. They allow us to learn from one another, take meaningful action, and invest in the next generation who will carry this work forward.”

That philosophy has shaped a long-standing and highly impactful partnership between the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (ASU BIOS), a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, and HSBC Bermuda. Together, the organizations combine environmental stewardship, hands-on community action, and transformative climate education, demonstrating how science and the private sector can create lasting positive change for Bermuda. 

ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda marked several milestones in their collaboration, including a Lunch and Learn event, a large-scale Community Volunteer Day, and the continued support of the flagship Climate Classroom education program. Each initiative reflects a shared commitment to protecting Bermuda’s natural environment while investing in the next generation.
 

In October 2025, ASU BIOS President and Director Craig Carlson, PhD, joined HSBC staff at the bank’s headquarters for a Lunch and Learn session introducing employees to the work of ASU BIOS and its global role in ocean science. Speaking to staff, Carlson highlighted BIOS’s 122-year history on the island and its integration within Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. Drawing on his expertise in microbial oceanography, he shared insights from decades of research conducted in Bermuda. Bermuda’s unique location in the Sargasso Sea, he noted, makes the island a globally significant hub for advancing ocean research and long-term observational oceanography. Carlson also emphasized ASU BIOS’s education and outreach programs, which engage thousands of Bermudian students each year as well as its hosting of hundreds of visiting students and scientists. “We are proud to provide students with experiences that connect them directly with science right here in Bermuda,” Carlson said. “It is one thing to learn about climate change in a textbook, but when students can see the microbes, the ocean processes, and the data first-hand, it creates an understanding and curiosity that lasts a lifetime.”
 

HSBC Bermuda’s commitment to environmental action extends beyond dialogue. Inspired by this ethos, ASU BIOS and HSBC staff came together at Cooper’s Island in November 2025 for a large-scale Community Volunteer Day focused on habitat restoration and invasive species removal. Over 100 HSBC employees participated, working alongside ASU BIOS staff, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Keep Bermuda Beautiful. Volunteers removed invasive species, restored pathways, cut back overgrowth, and planted native species. The effort brought together HSBC and ASU BIOS leaderships, staff, and community partners, reinforcing the value of hands-on environmental action and showing the tangible difference that collaboration can make. 

Greg Garnier said, “It is truly inspiring to see what can be achieved when employees and organizations unite behind a shared purpose. Partnering with ASU BIOS allows us to invest in both our environment and our community. Programs like Climate Classroom ensure that the next generation of Bermudians grows up equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to address climate challenges. This is more than volunteering, it is creating a legacy of environmental stewardship and education that this island can build upon for years to come.”

A cornerstone of this partnership is The Climate Classroom, an immersive education program exclusively supported by HSBC Bermuda for the past four years. Now firmly established as a flagship offering for Bermuda’s schools, the program has become a foundational initiative in local climate education. Students, teachers, and families eagerly anticipate each year’s program, and it has become a model for experiential learning and youth engagement in environmental science.
 

ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda are proud to announce the launch of Climate Classroom 2026, reaffirming their commitment to climate education and youth engagement. Kaitlin Noyes, Director of Education at ASU BIOS said that “Seeing this program grow from strength to strength each year is so inspiring. We can’t wait to welcome students to our campus, introduce them to the new learning elements and see how they work together, solve problems and discover science.”

The program will bring hundreds of middle school students to the ASU BIOS campus for hands-on workshops exploring climate science and its impacts on Bermuda’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Students themselves have shared what the program means to them: “Living on an island, it’s important that we know what to do for our future so we can guide the generation after us,” one student said.

Kim Rose, HSBC Bermuda’s Community Investment Manager, underscored that meaningful progress requires collaboration across all sectors. “Supporting programs like Climate Classroom empowers young people with the tools to take action,” she said. “It shows that small, informed steps, when multiplied across a community, can create real, lasting impact.”

Climate Classroom 2026 not only celebrates the ongoing partnership between ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda but also serves as a vital training for our local students. Over the years, the initiative has strengthened science literacy, and empowered young people to see themselves as informed environmental stewards with the ability to shape Bermuda’s future. ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda are looking ahead to new ways of working together, building on a partnership rooted in long-term investment, shared values, and meaningful community impact. Through leadership, partnership, and shared purpose, ASU BIOS and HSBC Bermuda continue to demonstrate how local action can contribute to global understanding, ensuring Bermuda remains at the forefront of ocean and climate science while inspiring the next generation to protect the island’s future.