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Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

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Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

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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.

10/31/2026

Catch up on the latest news and updates from Bigelow Laboratory in our October 2026 e-news! 🧪 The edition is available at the link in our Instagram bio.

10/31/2026

🧟‍♂️ Ocean Zombies! Wait, Ocean Zombies?

The ocean is full of wonder, beauty, and immense opportunity. It’s also unfathomably dark, mysterious, and home to some of the creepiest sights on Earth.

Today, we’d like to share a spine-tingling story from the sea. In case you missed it in June, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences researchers published a study that documented the continued survival of amputated sea cucumber tissue for more than three years in seawater.

These real-life zombies might sound like the underwater cousins of Frankenstein’s monster or the disembodied hand “Thing” in the Addams Family. But in reality, these sea cucumbers could one day fuel biomedical advances ranging from anti-aging to nerve regeneration to immune response possibilities.

Tune into a tale of spooky science in this episode of Science Friday and hear about zombie sea cucumbers from Senior Research Scientist Rachel Sipler: https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/whale-graveyard-zombie-sea-cucumbers/

Happy Halloween! 🎃

📸: A progression of tube foot tissue one year (left) versus several years (right) after excision showing increasing wound closure and healing at the wound site over time. (Credit: Sara Jobson).

10/30/2026

Seeing the Forest for the Forests: This October, Senior Research Scientist Doug Rasher traveled to Québec for a Northwest Atlantic kelp workshop. The workshop assembled an international group of researchers studying kelp forests ranging from southern New England north to Labrador.

Traditionally, researchers have been siloed by region, studying these areas as if they are disparate ecosystems. However, this workshop was an opportunity to look at Northwest Atlantic kelp research as a whole — allowing the group to better understand the bigger picture.

The group identified common threats and forces shaping these ecosystems, with impacts varying from south to north — which could have implications for how these systems are managed in the future.

Thank you to Doug for sharing Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences's kelp research in the Gulf of Maine, and thank you to all the collaborators who participated in the discussion!

10/29/2026

Sustaining Seaweed and Aquaculture Excellence: On October 27, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and colleagues from World Wildlife Fund and Colby College hosted a delegation of South Korean seaweed farming experts at our campus in East Boothbay.

After visiting a shellfish farm on the Damariscotta River, the group arrived aboard the R/V Bowditch for a tour of our campus. In addition to showcasing Bigelow Laboratory’s capabilities in sustainable aquaculture research and innovation, the visit fostered an important conversation about the seaweed farming industry in Maine — and exciting possibilities ahead.

The visit also spotlighted the important role Bigelow Laboratory plays in the seaweed and sustainable aquaculture sectors. Working with partners like the WWF and Colby as well as our local and federal delegations, we are proud to help lead efforts to bolster Maine’s working waterfronts while shaping new opportunities to grow the blue economy globally.

Seaweed comes in many colors, but the economic value it holds for Maine is a bright, bold shade of green.

To our colleagues and new friends from Wando County in South Korea: thank you for visiting!

10/26/2026

Gathering Momentum: This October, Bigelow Laboratory advanced blue biotechnology in Maine and beyond through colleagues’ leadership and participation in several convenings.

Vice President for Research Beth Orcutt participated on a panel during the 2026 BioME Annual Conference on October 14, and Bigelow Laboratory was profiled in the organization’s industry report unveiled during the event. Beth also took part in a Maine Tech Week panel titled “Where Ocean Meets Innovation” which explored the reshaping of Maine’s working waterfront and blue economy.

Lastly, a few days after helping organize the successful Maine Blue Economy Week in Portland, members of the Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator project headed to Arizona to participate in the Algae Biomass Organization’s Algae Biomass Symposium.

October was a busy month! Maine’s blue biotech sector is poised to rise higher than a full moon tide, and Bigelow Laboratory is excited to help shape its future…which includes bringing the North Atlantic Blue BioTech Summit back to Portland on March 11, 2027!

Check out these stories and register your interest for the 2027 summit: https://currents.bigelow.org/?p=2518

10/23/2026

Glow Tow: Plankton net tows allow scientists to sample tiny marine organisms that can’t easily be seen with the naked eye.

But imagine conducting a net tow on a remote island in the middle of the night when you literally cannot see your own hands in front of your face. That’s either bold ocean science or the premise of a story penned by the king of Maine horror writing.

Earlier this month, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences's Sea Change Semester students spent five days on Allen Island, just off the coast of Port Clyde. While there, they participated in coding labs, a marine debris survey, proposal workshops, and nighttime net tows. The students analyzed samples using microscopes and spied some spine-tingling little creatures: the stuff of Halloween legends!

The experience wasn’t exclusively focused on scares, scopes, and science, though. The students were able to sneak in some refreshing autumn hikes and history tours, too. They also had a chance to connect with several Bigelow Laboratory senior research scientists who accompanied them to the island.

Starting to think about courses for fall 2027? Consider Sea Change Semester! Learn more about the program: https://www.bigelow.org/education/seachange/

📸: Aislyn Keyes.

10/21/2026

Algae Amasses Amazement: From October 12-15, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences participated in the Algae Biomass Organization's 2026 Algae Biomass Summit in Tempe, Arizona.

The annual event connected commercial leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, policymakers, and investors who seek to drive innovation and build the algae and seaweed economy. Senior Research Scientist Manoj Kamalanathan presented during a panel titled “The Potential of Algae,” which explored how professionals are unlocking high-value products, biorefineries, and new opportunities across the blue bioeconomy.

Additionally, team members (from left to right), including Manoj, Associate Curator Kristin Heidenreich, Project Administrator Sarah Meyers, and Senior Research Scientist Mike Lomas, greeted attendees at the laboratory’s exhibit table.

Algae: it’s amazing just how much this photosynthetic organism can do! 💚

10/16/2026

DMSP Deep Dive: Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) — say that three times fast — is a sulfur-containing compound produced by phytoplankton that plays an outsized role in ocean ecosystems, carbon cycling, and global climate.

This compound was the topic of conversation for nearly 50 researchers from around the world who gathered at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences this week for the seventh DMS(P) Symposium. Marking their first meeting since 2014, the group explored DMSP through workshops and discussions, examining how marine microorganisms produce and transform these sulfur compounds, how they influence ocean chemistry and microbial interactions, and how environmental change may affect these processes.

Read more: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-10-16.html

Photo 1: Researchers from around the world gather outside Bigelow Laboratory for the seventh DMS(P) Symposium.

Photo 2: Senior Research Scientist Emerita Paty Matrai attends the symposium.

Photo 3: Rafael Simó from the Institut de Ciències del Mar speaks during the event.

10/15/2026

💙 Portable Plankton: In this month’s edition of the Community Round-up, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on a fellow Bigelowian: our dedicated Education Coordinator Evan Henerberry!

In addition to sharing bright cheer and enthusiasm with his colleagues every day, Evan keeps many of our on-site education programs running smoothly. He also leads public tours and stewards our residence hall bookings, among other responsibilities.

This time of year, Evan frequently travels to local events (such as the Family Harvest Day and Green Jobs Fair) to represent the laboratory, sharing our bold science with the community. He is occasionally accompanied by a planktonic co-star or two!

Thank you for all that you do, Evan: we appreciate you, your passion for education, and your commitment to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences!

Check out the Community Round-up for more details: https://currents.bigelow.org/?p=2475

10/14/2026

From Spain to Maine: For five months, visiting student Reyes Martín Rodríguez studied in SRS Karen Stamieszkin’s lab at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, exploring zooplankton feeding strategies as part of a long-term research project.

A recent master’s graduate in marine environment and resources, Reyes found Karen's lab through their shared interest in zooplankton. Together, they made the exchange happen.

Their work found that zooplankton feeding habits can vary dramatically by depth and ocean basin, an important discovery for understanding how zooplankton move carbon from the surface to the deep ocean.

Beyond building her technical skills and connecting with new colleagues, Reyes made the most of her first visit to the United States by attending seminars and social events — and spending plenty of time out on the water.

Come back and visit us soon, Reyes!

Read more about her experience: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2026-10-12.html

Address

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

Website

http://www.bigelow.org/

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