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About the Marine Science Program
BCA Pondicherry offers a broad range of topics in coastal zone management and marine sciences and covers current issues in the field. You will experience the varied cultures of India across several locations—from the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean to travelling the lengths of the southern coasts of India.
The base for the course is the small but rapidly growing town of Pondicherry. Travels will take you to Mangalore on the west coast and Tuticorn on the east, both busy ports and fishing harbors. A mid-semester break at Goa allows for relaxation and exploration of the unique Goan culture. You will also take short trips to interesting places in the vicinity at each of the main locations.
The program is hosted by six education centers, in six different locations including:
- Foundation for Ecological Research Advocacy and Learning in Pondicherry (FERAL)
- Annamalai Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology in Porto Nova
- College of Fisheries in Mangalore
- National Institute of Oceanography in Goa
- Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team in the Andaman and Nicobar islands
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute in Tuticorin
About Pondicherry
A former French colony Pondicherry is situated on the east coast, about 160 kms south of Chennai. Pondicherry has grown substantially around the central planned area of boulevards and heritage buildings built by the French who ruled for almost 300 years. Its history and major attractions have brought about a curious mix of the local and international flavor to the streets of Pondy—be it cuisine, architecture or curios.
Making a Difference
An exciting component of the BCA Pondicherry program is the impact it has on the local fishing villages, where students interact with residents to implement marine resources conservation programs.
It’s not unusual for students to stay in Pondicherry longer to complete field research projects in coastal development, marine science, art and women’s issues. Recently two students continued a coastal and mangrove restoration project , which was funded by the United Nations Development Program.
About Porto Novo
Known as Parangipettai - "the place of foreigners," Porto Novo is a small fishing village on the banks of the Vellar River. The Portuguese, Dutch and English successively colonized the area, and the Dutch name Porto Novo stuck. Today, the village hosts the Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology of the Annamalai University located in nearby Chidambaram.
About Mangalore
The city of Mangalore on the west coast is a busy port and fishing harbor, which gets its name from the famous Mangaladevi Temple. It is situated at the confluence of the two rivers – Nethravathi and Phalguni and is an example of the estuary dotted west coast.
With a long history in maritime trading, Mangalore is still a major exporter of cashews and coffee. Trade has also led to all three major communities – Hindu, Muslim and Christian - settling down and contributing to its unique culture. The town has an old world charm of traditional tile roofs peeking through coconut palm groves. As in all expanding towns, the old and new rub shoulders, with the city centre a good example of the hustle and bustle that has transformed this quiet town.
About Goa
Goa is a popular tourist destination for its long coastline of beautiful beaches. The rich mix of Portuguese influence spanning four centuries and Indian traditions have forged the unique “Goan” atmosphere of music, food and festivities. The Goan Carnival, held over four days before the beginning of Lent, is a traditional Mardi Gras celebration and puts on display the soul of Goa. Sometimes students are lucky to be in Goa during the carnival.
About The Andamans
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are two groups of islands in the southeastern part of Bay of Bengal and are separated by the 10° N parallel. The Andaman group is larger of the two. These islands are known for their tropical rain forests, coral reefs and mangrove forests. Given its location, the flora and fauna have Indian, Malaysian and Burmese origins. Several indigenous tribes still inhabit many of the islands. Initial settlers from mainland India were prisoners and indentured labor transported by the British. Today's population is a mix of several communities, mainly Bengali and Tamilian. Population growth, increasing tourist influx and development has put huge pressure on the islands natural systems.
About Tuticorin
Tuticorin or Thoothukudi, also known as the “Pearl City” is historically known for its pearl fishery and shipbuilding. Located in the Gulf of Mannar, it is an ideal location to learn about one of India's marine biosphere reserves. Very different from the Andaman reefs, the area showcases the conflicts of conservation versus development, with the Sethusamudram Project being the current focus of national attention.
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