Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Science, Technology & Engineering, 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, ME.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a world leader in microbial oceanography with research spanning from our home base in Maine to the Arctic to the deep ocean crust.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, Bigelow Laboratory is taking a moment to reflect fondly on an inspiring summer. We are grateful to everyone who supported us this season! 🌊

To the friends and community members who visited for our open house in July: Thank you for coming to our campus and indulging your curiosity in science.

To the hundreds of folks who joined our Café Sci series: Thank you for traveling the seas with our researchers and diving deeper into their work.

To those who attended an event at our campus, took a laboratory tour, stopped by our booth at a conference or tradeshow, or cheered us on during the Windjammer Days Parade: Thank you for getting to know us a little better.

And lastly, to the sponsors, supporters, staff, and friends who helped us raise more than $800,000 at the Big Splash in July: Thank you for standing strong with bold science. We’re especially grateful to Paul & Giselaine Coulombe, Peter & Jocelyn Handy, Leigh & John Reaves, the Tagliabue Family Foundation, and Corient for their generous support of our institution during the Big Splash.

Ocean science takes a community, and we are grateful to be surrounded by the very best! Thank you. 💙

Lobster in the forecast 🦞Lobster is deeply woven into the culture and economy of Maine and Atlantic Canada, making its f...
09/03/2026

Lobster in the forecast 🦞

Lobster is deeply woven into the culture and economy of Maine and Atlantic Canada, making its future an important focus for ecological forecasters.

But a good forecast isn’t just about science: it’s social. It’s about how the information is communicated, understood, and put to use.

A new paper led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences SRS and Director of the Tandy Center for Ocean Forecasting Nick Record looks at how to make lobster forecasts more useful for the people who rely on them.

The team looked back at news archives and historic ocean data, identifying lessons for forecasting an increasingly unpredictable ocean.

The Tandy Center recently took ownership of the National Ocean Economics Program and is exploring how to use social data like these to help the public understand changes in the ocean and coastal communities that depend on it.

Read the full story: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-09-02.html

Kelp Cascade Effect:As Maine’s kelp forests decline, the impacts ripple through the ecosystem all the way down to the mi...
09/02/2026

Kelp Cascade Effect:

As Maine’s kelp forests decline, the impacts ripple through the ecosystem all the way down to the microbial level, according to a new study led by researchers from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

The study, published in PNAS, reveals fundamental differences between the microbial communities on the reef in a kelp forest versus a turf algae-dominated system, including the chemical compounds they use and produce.

These invisible changes could have important implications for how these ecosystems function and respond to a warming ocean.

Read the full story here: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-08-31.html

📸: Algae being examined under a microscope in the lab.

Big news for small cells: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is excited to announce new leadership and a bold vision ...
09/01/2026

Big news for small cells:

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is excited to announce new leadership and a bold vision for the future of the Single Cell Genomics Center (SCGC).

SRSs Nicole Poulton and Julia Brown are now jointly leading the state-of-the-art facility, the only center in the world offering open-access services and educational programs in this field.

Their vision is to make SCGC’s cutting-edge services more widely accessible through new partnerships and innovations.

With expanded tools and technology, SCGC is poised to expand what’s possible in microbial single-cell genomics.

Check out the full story to learn about the center’s evolution and a preview of what’s ahead: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-09-01.html

Building Blue Biotech Leadership: This month, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences deepened its support of initiatives ...
08/28/2026

Building Blue Biotech Leadership: This month, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences deepened its support of initiatives to grow blue biotechnology here in Maine.

In early August, Bigelow Laboratory and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs co-hosted a dynamic panel at Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Brunswick that shed light on how algae and seaweed are driving innovation across sectors.

Additionally, HATCH Blue shared insights into the inaugural Maine Blue Biotech Studio, which was co-hosted with Bigelow this spring.

Finally, from September 30 to October 2, Bigelow Laboratory is co-hosting Maine Blue Economy Week in Portland with collaborators Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Roux Institute at Northeastern University, and University of Maine. In addition to speaking engagements and networking, the event will include optional field trips and an innovation showcase.

Check out these stories and register for Maine Blue Economy Week: https://currents.bigelow.org/?p=2314

Scraping the Bottom of the…Bowditch: Serving as captain of a scientific institution’s research vessel has its share of g...
08/28/2026

Scraping the Bottom of the…Bowditch: Serving as captain of a scientific institution’s research vessel has its share of glamorous moments.

Navigating the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Maine, spotting majestic megafauna breaching the waves, and collaborating with top ocean scientists are bright spots that come to mind.

Turns out, even the more mundane tasks are pretty neat.

Earlier this week, Dave Drapeau, captain of the R/V Bowditch, had the vessel hauled out of the water for cleaning and hull paint touch-ups. Thanks to the new travel lift at Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, handling the Bowditch’s large, 17-foot beam wasn’t a problem.

It takes a community to sustain world-class ocean science here in midcoast Maine. We’re grateful for local partners like Gamage Shipyard who help keep our research vessels seaworthy and sparkling!

Caring for Corals: Earlier this summer, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Research Associate Laura Lubelczyk joined ...
08/26/2026

Caring for Corals:

Earlier this summer, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Research Associate Laura Lubelczyk joined NOAA Coastal Ocean Science on a research cruise supporting efforts to restore mesophotic coral communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Laura applied the principles of flow cytometry to help researchers better understand what these enigmatic animals like to eat.

Using a device called a FlowCam, Laura, a research associate at the Center for Aquatic Cytometry, was able to produce thousands of magnified images from a single drop of seawater during the research cruise. She also collected samples that will be analyzed with a flow cytometer back in the lab this fall.

The ultimate goal is to help aquariums and labs better care for corals so they can be transplanted back into the wild as part of long-term restoration efforts.

📸1 credit: Sierra Sarkis/NOAA NCCOS
📸2 credit: NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, UNCW UVP

Read the story: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-08-25.html

Getting alka-ligned: A team of researchers including Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences SRS Steve Archer is exploring...
08/24/2026

Getting alka-ligned:

A team of researchers including Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences SRS Steve Archer is exploring the ecosystem impacts of a proposed marine carbon dioxide removal strategy.

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is sometimes described as an antacid for the ocean — but trade a chalky, chewable tablet for crushed-up minerals.

OAE aims to amplify natural processes that increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide while also helping counter ocean acidification.

Yet questions remain about this proposed solution and its potential impacts. Archer and the team are replicating ocean conditions to investigate how OAE could affect marine ecosystems, including plankton populations.

📸 1 & 2 credit: Michael Sswat
📸 3 credit: Sarah Kaehlert

Read more about these experiments and preliminary findings: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-08-21.html

08/20/2026

If this message found you, it’s your sign to follow us on Bluesky! .bsky.social

Medicine. Law. Algae? This summer, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences welcomed eight students for an internship explo...
08/17/2026

Medicine. Law. Algae?

This summer, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences welcomed eight students for an internship exploring algae innovation as a potential career path.

The MARIA internship gives marine biology students from University of New England, Southern Maine Community College, and Roger Williams University the chance to learn about real-world applications of algae, develop hands-on lab skills, and experience applied ocean research.

Since its founding last year, the program has already grown significantly through expanded partnerships and funding, allowing students to spend 10 weeks at our campus and become fully integrated into the larger cohort of Bigelow Laboratory summer interns.

Go team algae! 💚

Read the story: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-08-17.html

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60 Bigelow Drive
East Boothbay, ME
04544

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Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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