Café Sci

Sea Life: From a New Perspective at our Cafe Sci Series

Bigelow Laboratory’s Café Sci is a fun, free way for you to dive into global ocean issues and opportunities with leading scientists, made possible through sponsorship by HM Payson.

This summer, Café Sci will take place on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET from July 22 – August 12, virtually or in person at our laboratory in East Boothbay in our forum. Recordings will also be available shortly after each talk on our YouTube channel.

Stay tuned for registration information!

Jul

Ice and Icon:

How Antarctic Trace Metals Shape the Global Climate

Dr. Ben Twining

“Trace” metals, like iron, are found in minute concentrations in the environment but are an essential ingredient for life. By regulating the growth of phytoplankton, they’re a key influence on the global climate. Senior Research Scientist Ben Twining recently returned from an expedition to the rich waters of the Southern Ocean to help understand the sources of these elements, how they move through the water column, and how they shape ocean productivity. Put on a parka and come hear about Twining’s experience in Antarctica and how this research could help scientists better predict the future of a changing ocean.

Jul

Below the Seafloor

How Microbes Survive and Thrive in Extreme Environments

Dr. Melody Lindsay

DNA shows us what an organism is capable of, but not necessarily what it actively does. Senior Research Scientist Melody Lindsay is working to link the activity of individual microbes to their genetic code — at the miniscule scale of single cells — focusing on the microbial communities living off tiny amounts of energy below the seafloor. Take a journey from coastal Maine to deep within the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Earth’s crust splits open, as Lindsay discusses the important ecological roles and creative evolutionary adaptations of microbes thriving in some of the planet’s most extreme and inaccessible environments.

Aug

New Era of Discovery:

How Technology is Revealing the Fragile Animals of the Deep

Dr. John Burns

The ocean’s vast midwater region — between the sunny surface and the depths of the seafloor — is the largest habitat on Earth, full of exotic, yet-to-be-discovered animals. Senior Research Scientist John Burns is part of a team dreaming up cutting-edge advances in underwater imaging, robotics, and genomic sequencing to help describe, in unprecedented detail, how gelatinous and fragile marine animals live and move through the ocean. Set sail to learn about their most recent expedition to the South Atlantic to test out new technology that may help usher in a new era of marine exploration and species discovery.

Aug

Resilient Reefs:

How Algae-Grazing Fish Maintain Balance in Coral Ecosystems

Drs. Doug Rasher and Sara Swaminathan

Tropical parrotfish and surgeonfish are essential for the health of coral reefs, with an herbaceous diet that keeps harmful seaweeds in check after disturbances like storms and bleaching. They’re also a critical protein source for people. Achieving a balance between ecosystem and human health requires a better understanding of the ecological role of these fish, from what they’re eating to how they adapt to change. Join Senior Research Scientist Doug Rasher and Postdoctoral Scientist Sara Swaminathan on the sunny reefs of the Caribbean to learn about how algae-grazing fish may be key to coral reef resilience in a rapidly changing ocean.