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Research
 Auguring well for the future of reseach at the University of The Bahamas are the prospects for scholarly investigation in a country that presents unique opportunities in a plethora of areas, most especially history, archaeology, social institutions, psychology and economics. The islands of The Bahamas are members of the great family of the Americas and the Caribbean by reason of shared geography, history, migration and geopolitical ties, yet uniquely different from these relations in many important ways. Not only was our country the gateway to the encounter of several civilizations, it comprises an archipelago with fascinating geological features and marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, many rare and even unique. Our islands demonstrate linguistic gradations that present opportunities for much investigation. Of especial importance is the fact that The Bahamas operates tourism, hospitality and financial services industries that are significant on a global scale. What adds to an already fruitful research matrix is the excellent relationship. The College of The Bahamas, as the national tertiary educational institution, enjoys with entities in these industries and the public sector. This is a potent mix for much fruitful investigation that would be applicable to other jurisdictions and The College is open to partnerships with other institutions.  Message from Linda Davis, Ph.D.Vice President, Research, Graduate Programmes and International RelationsIn the more than three decades of The College of The Bahamas' existence, its faculty, staff and administration have served its teaching mission well. As we complete our remarkable journey to university status, it is critical now that we increase the level of research activity and create international partnerships that will enhance the academic careers of our faculty and students. Toward this end, the Office of Research, Graduate Programmes & International Relations has been mandated to support and facilitate research conducted by faculty at the College and build the desired and necessary international partnerships. Early successes are evident in this quest. We are enhancing our research profile through work carried out under the auspices of our Field Stations on the island of San Salvador (Gerace Research Centre), on Andros Island (The Bahamas Environmental Research Centre) and through the newly established Marine & Environmental Studies Institute, which incorporates a state of the art tunnel ventilated Poultry Research Unit, at our Gladstone Road Site, a partnership project with the Bahamas Department of Agriculture and generous funding from the Freedom Foundation. We are encouraged by the research being undertaken by members of faculty through these research units, including the Sustainable Science for Island Life Demonstration Unit for Sciences, Technology and Agricultural Research (DUSTAR) and other projects. Equally encouraging is contracted research being conducted on behalf of relevant agencies, including The Bahamas Hotel Association, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the International Organisation on Migration, International Labour Organisation, the Bahamas Environmental Science and Technical Commission,The Bahamas Ministry of Finance, The Bahamas Department of Social Services and The Bahamas Ministry of Education, Science & Technology. Creative efforts, including plays, novels, collections of poetry, musical compositions and historical texts by members of faculty, evidence the many talents that we must continue to nurture and advance along with collaborative efforts being engaged with such governmental agencies as Bahamas National Geographic Information System Department, Fisheries and Tourism, in addition to such private sector partners as the Financial Services Board and non-governmental agencies including Bahamas National Trust, The Nature Conservancy and Andros Conservancy and Trust. We are no less determined to foster the international outreach. We are engaging dialogue and strengthening relations with researchers who visit our Field Stations annually and who share the vision of partnering in joint research projects. We are expanding the research experience of our undergraduates, taking advantage of the field studies opportunities offered by our field stations. Field Studies Courses, currently available through the School of Sciences and Technology and School of Social Sciences, afford college students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills by selecting their area of study and setting the parameters of their study. It should be noted, too, that the School of English Studies has run, for many years, a field research programme in Linguistics. Moreover, it is our intention to promote even more vigorously the collaborative ventures between faculty and students that have already yielded so many promising products by way of artistic and musical productions and such publications as the book Potcakes in The Bahamas, a study of roaming dogs in this country. We must now push the research thrust even more aggressively from within, as we encourage the institution's faculty to establish and expand research agendas of their own and nurture the thirst for discovery and knowledge creation among our students. Of considerable assistance in this regard will be an expanded outreach of the Stanley Wilson Research Award, the National Policy Research Fellowship Awards Programme and the introduction of the Open Journal System as a medium through which the institution's Research Journal will be published. We live in a nation gifted by natural beauty and environs, a people unique in culture and perspective that must be treasured and celebrated through scholarly and creative work. I am pleased to have been assigned such a strategic portfolio and look forward to forging partnerships with our talented faculty, government agencies, civil society and the private sector whom I will have the privilege to work with over the next three years. We invite the international research community to join us as we build strategic alliances around the world. |
| The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs |