Last week marked the completion of the 2011 Island Ecology Program on St. Catherine’s Island, Ga. Several of the founding members of the program returned to mark the occasion of the program’s 25th anniversary as well as the retirement of Tim Keith-Lucas as its director. These founding members included Royce Hayes (island superintendent), Lisa Keith-Lucas (St. Andrews-Sewanee), George Ramseur (professor emeritus), and original (along with Keith-Lucas) program faculty member Bran Potter.

The popular program includes a readings seminar in the spring semester, followed by five weeks in the field studying geology, hydrology, marine and invertebrate biology, botany, and wildlife ecology on and around the island. The educational goal is an understanding of the interrelationship of these disciplines in a single fragile ecosystem.

In summer 2012, Island Ecology Program co-directors will be professors Ken Smith (Forestry and Geology) and Kirk Zigler (Biology). Bran Potter, David Haskell, Martin Knoll, Deborah McGrath, and Pradip Malde will also teach on the island.

The photo taken on the 2011 program's last day shows (R-L):
Bottom row: Royce Hayes, Lisa Keith-Lucas, George Ramseur, Bran Potter.
Middle row: Lauren Joca (C’13), Shannon Jones (C’14), TKL, Mary Hosch (C’14).
Third row: Joanna Parkman (C’14), Tarver Shimek (C’14), Parker Haynes (C’14).
Back row: Vincent Leray (C’13), Miller Thornbury (C’12), Will Noggle (C’14), Daniel Williams (C’14).