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‘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.
