With thirty (30) participants from countries around the globe, the camp dealt with the conservation of sea turtles and cetacean. The programmes covered during the camps' five (5) days allowed the participants to learn both theoretical and practical conservation strategies and techniques.  Other activities covered lectures on sea turtles, dolphin conservation and sea turtle recovery operations; monitoring sea turtle nests and tracking a rescued loggerhead after its release; dolphin and whale watching while assisting in research activities within the Ionian Sea; watching documentaries about whale stranding, and several interactive brainstorming sessions which involved participant input from all countries represented.  Overall participation was encouraged, creating a great information base while enjoying great Italian food and good times.

Upon returning to Trinidad and Tobago, Miquel remembers how passionate and enthusiastic everyone involved in the camp were, particularly, the organisers.  The concept which brought so many persons together from all over the world to share their experiences was especially exciting.  The opportunity to bring back that wealth of knowledge made the trip very rewarding, especially knowing he could now share that information with his peers on all the varying topics covered. He added that compared to some areas, the Caribbean has such a diverse species of biodiversity and a wealth of opportunities.  He was able to see Trinidad and Tobago in a different light, knowing that no matter where persons came from or their background, once there was a common interest or similar goals, the best experiences could always be made.  Meeting and interacting with peers from around the world also showcased the quality of work put forward by the UTT Marine Sciences programme, which provided him with the ability to competitively work and conduct research on a global scale.  Many of the lectures and field work done within the Marine Sciences programme placed him on a very secure footing to participate confidently in the activities which took place at the camp, allowing Miquel to easily integrate into their work programme.  While interacting with students from other universities like Anglia Ruskin University, England and the University College Dublin, Ireland, it was apparent that the work being done at the UTT was on par with international standards, causing him to be even more proud of his status at UTT.
After this experience, he anticipates many more trips like this in the future to represent UTT, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. 

To find out more about the Marine Sciences B.A.Sc. programme offered at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) visit us at www.utt.edu.tt. You can also visit the Marine Sciences Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MarineMantas/.
GreenRope hopes to conduct these camps annually and has already begun advertising for participants.  Should you be interested in attending the Camp, check them out at https://www.greenropeitalia.org/marine-biology-camp.html.