Thanksgiving is about coming together with those who are most important to us. For marine scientists, few organisms matter more than plankton. This #MicroMonday, Bigelow Laboratory is celebrating these tiny powerhouses of the ocean.
As part of the BLOOM Educators program, Director of Education Aislyn Keyes works with participants to help implement ocean science activities into their own curricula. Aislyn recently hosted a 2025 BLOOM Educators alum and her middle school students from Roots Academy at Bigelow Laboratory.
First, the group met with Senior Research Scientist Nicole Poulton to learn about her science. Nicole showed them how to perform several plankton tows off the dock.
Back in the lab, three of our undergraduate Sea Change Semester students helped the middle schoolers view their dock tow samples under microscopes, which offered a feast for the eyes. From tiny jellyfish and zippy zooplankton to drifting phytoplankton: it was quite a cornucopia of tiny organisms.
In the end, everyone gathered around the table — or, in this case, a laboratory bench — to appreciate the little things in life.
We wish you a peaceful Thanksgiving!
