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, 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.

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

Grazing Us With Your Presence: Thank you to everyone who joined us for the last Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Ca...
08/14/2026

Grazing Us With Your Presence:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the last Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Café Sci of the season!

SRS Doug Rasher and Postdoctoral Scientist Sara Swaminathan took the audience on a journey to the Caribbean’s coral reefs, exploring how the grazing habits of herbivorous fish help keep harmful turf algae in check following major disturbances.

If you thought human relationships were complicated, they don’t hold a candle to the complex web of ecosystem relationships shaping reef resilience in a rapidly changing ocean. 🪸

Thank you to Doug and Sara for sharing your science — and so many colorful fish photos!

📸 1: José Alejandro Álvarez

Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxLdxuoTpUI&list=PLW_Vwl5Ztww4&index=1

From Space to Sea: Launched by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in 1998, the Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Seri...
08/13/2026

From Space to Sea:

Launched by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in 1998, the Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series (GNATS) has become a foundational record of changing ocean conditions through repeated sampling of the same area over decades.

Funded by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, data from GNATS research cruises help validate ocean color satellite observations, creating a more complete picture of the Gulf of Maine — from phytoplankton abundance to ocean color, and, most recently, microbial life.

SRS Cath Mitchell recently wrote about the project for NASA’s Notes from the Field blog, which includes well-deserved cameos by SRS Julia Brown and REU Brooke Robbins. Check it out: https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/notes-from-the-field/2026/08/13/crossing-maines-waters-in-pursuit-of-gnats/

08/11/2026

We're looking forward to hearing about the ways the Gulf of Maine is changing from Dr. Bronk of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences on Thursday! Join us in person or virtually at 4 pm! 🌊

Somewhere over the algae rainbow 🌈 💚One of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences' awesome research technicians, Lydia Pi...
08/10/2026

Somewhere over the algae rainbow 🌈 💚

One of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences' awesome research technicians, Lydia Pinard, shared her wealth of kelp-ful knowledge with young campers at the Growing Agents of Change summer camp last week at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

The campers played a game of “Is it algae?”, explored the wondrous rainbow of algae colors, and got a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work with our collections.

Throughout the week, campers were introduced to a variety of other environmental stewardship and leadership topics, with the goal of bringing those skills back to their own communities.

Thank you to Lydia for inspiring the next generation of algae enthusiasts!

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60 Bigelow Drive
East Boothbay, ME
04544

Opening Hours

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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