Dr. Larry Wiedman
Where else can you go to the Bahamas during winter or spring break, and even the Appalachians in late-spring and get credit for it? By taking classes with Dr. Larry Wiedman, biology professor and Environmental Science chair.
Dr. Wiedman has spent nearly 26 years working on and around Andros Island, Bahamas. Since 1981, he has been focused on the barrier reef of Andros Island and has collaborated with many students on such diverse areas as pine yard natural reforestation, mangrove growth studies, natural reintroduction of Diadema to the reef following a virus in the early 1980s with over 98% mortality, and reefal herbivory.
Hilary Powers says this is a trip you must experience. "Imagine waking up in a cabin less than 20 steps from the crystal clear waters of Andros Island. Fallen trees create an eerie whistling noise that makes you feel like you’re in a dream. Every day we would take the boats far out to many different types of reefs and islands. This type of learning is simply fun. It is kind of like you are learning subconsciously. The colors I saw were colors I have never seen before. I saw bright blue and yellow fish, parrot fish that had every color of the rainbow in them, sea turtles, sharks, and so much more. The underwater world is an unknown kingdom just waiting to be discovered."
If the Bahamas isn't your thing, he also runs an Appalachian Adventure class. During this trip, events and locales include several days in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP), hiking daily, waterfall trekking, Cade’s Cove, wildlife observing, white water rafting the Nantahala River, gem mining in Franklin, NC, hugging the largest trees east of the Miss. River, Joyce Kilmer National Mon., Fontana Dam, and more.
In addition to his work at USF, since 1993, Dr. Wiedman has served on the Board of Trustees of International Field Studies, Nelsonville, Ohio, the not-for-profit owner operators of Forfar Field Station on Andros. He has also served as an informal adviser to the Bahamas Land Trust, CREP (Caribbean Regional Environmental Program) and The Nature Conservancy (Bahamas) on the formation and utilization of a new land/sea national park on Andros.
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Previously Featured
- Selfless Act of Kindness
- Bahamas Field Studies
- Hollywood Calling
- The Ultimate Road Trip
- Saving at Least One Life from Starvation
- Spring Came Twice
- A Time of Intense Labor, Focus, and Emotion
- Making an impact in a variety of ways
- 2 Students Venturing to Build a Wind Farm
- Sister Helen Prejean Visits USF
- Collaboration on a High-Altitude Balloon Program
- Discovery Garden Helping Students Learn
- Assisting Surgeries Right from the Start
- Internally Auditing a Fortune 500 Company
- Respecting creation and using resources wisely
- Journey of a Lifetime
- Bringing Travels Back to the Classroom
- When Ice Cream and Accounting Go Hand in Hand