The Bahamas is celebrating a major milestone: the establishment of its own Academy of Sciences.  In a recent interview on Bahamas at Sunrise, three founding members — Dr. Krista Sherman (president), Dr. Nicholas Higgs, and Dr. Charlotte Dunn (treasurer) — explained why this moment matters for the country's future. 

In the words of the president of the newly formed Academy, Dr. Krista Sherman, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences is the nation’s first merit-based organization for “distinguished scholars” across the natural and social sciences, humanities, mathematics, medicine and engineering. This type of research and collaboration matters, as it directly affects the lives of Bahamians. 

Dr. Higgs pointed to a practical example: the lobster fishing industry, one of the Bahamas' biggest exports, depends on rigorous scientific certification to prove the fishery is sustainable. Without that research, the entire industry loses market access. Similarly, Dr. Higgs' own work on marine mammals has revealed how sonar and underwater noise damage whales — knowledge that has led to concrete policy changes. "Every science decision affects every Bahamian," he said.

Like other small nations, The Bahamas faces the challenge of talented people leaving for education or careers, but there is no easy way for them to contribute back home. The Academy solves this by creating a network of Bahamian scientists worldwide who can share expertise, mentor the next generation, and promote excellence. "When Bahamians leave the country, there's not necessarily any way to feed back or give back," Dr. Higgs explained. "By bringing that global expertise together, we're hoping we can connect and get a hold of that expertise and bring it back to the Bahamas."

Membership in the Academy is merit-based but not exclusive: you just need to be a Bahamian who is interested in science. The Academy is already tackling urgent issues — climate change, hurricane preparedness, food security, and emerging challenges like deep-sea mining.

The Academy's first official publication launches today, and its annual general meeting kicks off this Saturday. Membership applications are open at bahamasacademyofsciences.org, and you can also email info@bahamasacademyofsciences.org for more information.