Yesterday afternoon, over 250 supporters, community leaders, and scientists gathered at Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay, Maine, to celebrate the grand opening of the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation.
The event provided an exciting preview of the bold ambition that will guide the institute into the future.
“What we’re celebrating today is the work our scientists do when they walk into this beautiful new center,” said President and CEO Deborah Bronk, “I’m just so pleased that they will have this new resource to do great things for the state of Maine and for the world.”
Speeches took place in the Burgess Forum, a multi-purpose, versatile gathering space with seating for up to 300 people that will serve as a destination for scientific collaboration and a hub for community outreach. The forum, named for supporters who helped enable construction, is the centerpiece of the expansion, which also includes dedicated teaching labs and classrooms, high-tech laboratories, and expanded space for office, meetings, and outdoor gatherings.
Together, these spaces will revolutionize the institute’s education and solutions-focused work by increasing capacity for education and professional development programs, enabling more applied research, and creating new opportunities and partnerships for blue economy innovation.
“Spaces like this, where we can bring people together to collaborate, share ideas, get inspired, and get to work are central to this center’s potential,” Bronk said.
Following remarks, guests were invited to join a reception that included tours of the new facilities. Additionally, Melody Lindsay, a Bigelow Laboratory senior research scientist and accomplished harpist, provided music during the reception.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this exciting new chapter for Bigelow Laboratory!
