The tie-up is intended to offer students at the Waterville-based private liberal arts college, increased access to the expertise and resources offered by the oceanic research institute, while enabling Bigelow's researchers, who already teach a course as part of the college's January program, to gain more teaching experience.
"Fantastic day today, not just the weather but also a celebration of a partnership agreement between Colby college and Bigelow laboratory for ocean sciences," said Graham Shimmield, executive director of Bigelow Laboratory.
Speaking at a press conference in West Boothbay, where Bigelow is based, he says the agreement, helps the institute build on its long-term commitment to education, as well as research.
"We essentially are going to deliver education through the lens of front-line research activity, so I hope you'll believe in me that this next generation of Oeanographers, especially those knowledgeable about the value of the research and forming policy, will start here," said Shimmield.
Colby president William 'Bro' Adams says the agreement builds on an existing relationship which already sees a number of students take summer courses at mid-coast institution.
"We're going to start think about and plan toward this semester in residence or on the water here at Bigelow or out on the oceans on Bigelow projects and move towards that over a couple of year period, that's a more extensive and signigicant project so we need to get in right, but that's the next big step," said Adams.
David Brizzell of Brooklyn, New York is a student at Colby who is working as a summer intern with one of Bigelow's senior research scientists to study what he calls 'the microbial diversity of the oceans.' He's hoping to pursue a doctorate in Oceanography, and then go into full-time research. Brizzell says his exposure to Bigelow's laboratories provides invaluable experience.
"It's not the first lab I've worked in but every lab you work in gives you more experience and gives you a better handle on what kind of work you'd like to do, and that's one of the huge advantages of this kind of program, is that you get to understand what your own limitations are and where you fit in," Brizzell said.
Ben Twining, a senior research scientist at Bigelow who studies the interaction of metals and plankton in the ocean, says teaching and research enhance each other.
"I came from an institution where we tought undergrads and I there learned how much you learn as a teacher," said Twining.
"I've already seen with my experience this January, when you teach a course you become a better scientist, you increase your breadth of the knowledge," Twining said.
Later this year, Bigelow Laboratory plans to begin construction of a new campus in East Boothbay, and within five years hopes to almost double the number of research scientists it employs, to 22.
In the interests of full disclosure Colby president William 'Bro' Adams sits on the board of trustees of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
[All photos for this story are courtesy of Bigelow Labs]