Café Sci

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.

Our Café Sci series has concluded for the season.

The 2024 series looked back at key innovations we’ve advanced — and ahead to what they will enable us to accomplish over the next 50 years. You can watch (or re-watch) recordings of each talk on YouTube.

We'll see you in 2025!

Nimble Science

Fueling Discovery with Independence and Ingenuity

Dr. Barney Balch

When Bigelow Laboratory was founded in 1974, it brought together a team of researchers with diverse interests, perspectives, and approaches — all united in a shared commitment to independent and creative science. Over the last 50 years, this unique approach has helped Bigelow Laboratory attract some of the best minds from around the world and transform itself from a scrappy startup to a state-of-the-art, world-renowned research institution. Come listen to Senior Research Scientist Emeritus Barney Balch tell the exciting story of this transformation and discuss how the Bigelow Laboratory model continues to advance ocean science today.

Flow Cytometry

Revealing the Microscopic Wonders in a Drop of Seawater

Dr. Nicole Poulton

A single drop of seawater can contain a million microscopic organisms. Flow cytometry is a method, originally developed in the biomedical field, that allows scientists to identify, count, and isolate individual particles with laser light. Bigelow Laboratory led the adaptation of this technology to aquatic sciences and has continued to advance the application for almost 50 years. Come hear Senior Research Scientist Nicole Poulton, director of the Center for Aquatic Cytometry, discuss how this technology has shaped our understanding of the marine food web and what insights it can provide in the future.

Single Cell Genomics

Understanding the Ocean’s Potential, One Cell at a Time

Dr. Ramunas Stepanauskas

Single-celled organisms form the base of the marine food web and produce much of the oxygen we breathe on Earth. Founded in 2009, Bigelow Laboratory’s Single Cell Genomics Center has revolutionized scientists’ understanding of these diverse and essential microbes. It’s the first facility of its kind in the world, offering open-access services and educational programs in microbial single cell genomics. It has pioneered new technology to analyze and interpret DNA, and it has contributed to research with diverse applications — from drug development to space exploration. Join Senior Research Scientist and Center Director, Ramunas Stepanauskas, as he discusses past and future scientific impacts of single cell genomics.

Satellite Oceanography

Unlocking Insights by Analyzing the Big Picture

Dr. Catherine Mitchell

Senior Research Scientist Catherine Mitchell studies the smallest lifeforms in the ocean — from hundreds of miles up. To do so, she uses satellite observations of ocean color to understand the ocean’s ecology at a global scale. Bigelow Laboratory has helped advance the field of satellite oceanography since its inception. Scientists develop mathematical models to interpret satellite data, have used remote sensing to track pollution and algal blooms, and work with NASA to monitor changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine. Join Mitchell as she dives into some of these advances and discusses how satellites help her understand climate change impacts on the global ocean.