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Volume 11, No. 1, Spring/Winter 01 | Return to Table of Contents
Report of the Interim Director
 Greetings to all of you. I stand here today as Interim Director of the Laboratory having what is, I believe, a unique vantage point. I say this because my relationship with the MBL has grown and expanded in a rewarding and exciting way over the past 25 years. I first came as a student, then an investigator for several summers. My role expanded when I was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1992. Last year, I succeeded Mel Cunningham as Chair of the Development Committee. And, most recently, I have spent the past several months in Candle House gearing up for this role as Interim Director. So, my understanding of the “inner workings” and the day-to-day tempo of this wonderful institution has evolved and grown appreciably.
As Shelly conveyed to you during his remarks, the MBL is on sound footing. Recent investments dedicated to the Lab’s continuing growth and diversification of our research and educational programs assure an exciting and rewarding future. Rather than allude to the MBL’s strengths, I’ll take a minute to provide some data to back up my story:
Education
This year, the Educational Program is offering 22 summer and special topics courses. Also scheduled is a seminar on the history of biology and a workshop in microbial diversity for middle and high school teachers. We also provide several training programs for undergraduates. They include a Marine Models program that is part of the NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program; Boston University’s Marine Program; and other opportunities for undergraduates offered by the Marine Resources and Ecosystems Centers. Funding has just been allocated for two additional research programs for undergraduates beginning in summer 2001.
This year 335 course directors and faculty members are teaching 490 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty who are enrolled this year as students in our courses. An additional 315 guest lecturers and instructors are also participating in the courses in 2000. This year, new course directors are beginning their five-year terms in three of the summer courses. We are pleased to welcome Caroline Harwood and Alfred Spormann who are leading the Microbial Diversity course; Richard Levine and Catherine Carr who are heading up Neural Systems and Behavior; and Donald Faber and Jeff Lichtman who are now at the helm of the Neurobiology course. Our thanks to all of them for taking on an assignment of this magnitude.
Research
The summer research program is running at full capacity with 132 investigators renting all available lab space. The majority of the investigators (60%) are professors/chief scientists followed by associate professors (20%), and postdoctoral fellows (10%). The balance of the summer research population is represented by assistant scientists and graduate students.
The MBL research fellowship program welcomed 21 fellows this summer. The range of the research being undertaken by these scientists is remarkable and the caliber of their backgrounds scored high by the Fellowship Committee and our external advisors. The Science Writing Fellowship Program continues to figure prominently among print and broadcast journalists for the outstanding opportunity it affords them to work alongside scientists to learn about the process of doing science. Some fellows even stay on to participate in additional courses—quite a sound endorsement of the aims of the program!
Research is and will always be a key mission of the MBL. We have seen a continued growth of the MBL’s year-round programs. The Ecosystems Center, directed by Jerry Melillo and John Hobbie, now numbers more than 60 employees and its funding base has more than doubled during the past 5 years and now is in excess of $7 million. Thirty scientific projects are underway around the globe, from Siberia to Martha’s Vineyard. In addition, The Ecosystems Center sponsors an undergraduate program in environmental sciences. Now in its 3rd year, 18 students participated in 1999. The consortium of participating colleges whose students come for the fall semester continues to grow, and we currently have more than 40 members.
The Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, under Mitch Sogin’s direction, currently has 33 scientists and support staff. The project to sequence the genome of Giardia is nearly complete. The BioCurrents Research Center, directed by Peter Smith, has increased in size and now numbers 11 scientists. An exciting collaboration between the Bay Paul Center and the BioCurrents Research Center is underway to study life in extreme environments. This project encompasses work in evolution, microbial diversity, and physiology as it looks at protists that live in highly acidic environments (p.H. of 1.7) with high iron content. They are also studying eukaryotes living in sedimentary cores of hydrothermal vents. This type of interdisciplinary collaboration helps to make the MBL an important research venue.
Research using DNA fingerprinting to assess paternity and reproductive patterns in the local squid population—a $33 million fishery—continues in the Marine Resources Center, under the direction of Roger Hanlon. Work on how polarized vision is used by the squid to help detect prey is also a focal point. A landmark gift from Honorary Trustee, Ellen Grass established the first endowed Directorship at the MBL. This gift, the challenge grant from the Schooner Foundation, and a recent anonymous grant of $500,000 ensures future vitality for the MRC. In fact, activity has escalated recently in the search for an aquaculturist.
In addition to the above research centers, the MBL is home to a score of investigators’ independent research programs. During 1999, the scientific staff increased by 8 postdocs, 2 staff scientists, and 1 adjunct scientist. One demonstration of the heightened pace and quality of scientific enterprise was the annual Poster Session held in June. I am also looking forward to the General Scientific Meetings on August 14-16th.
Physical Plant
One of the encouraging developments at the MBL in recent years has been increased attention to the physical plant. This has taken several guises. Most notably, the new Environmental Sciences Building is rapidly taking shape to accommodate the increased number of scientists in The Ecosystems Center, allowing them to re-congregate under one roof. Many of you have already taken advantage of the air-conditioning in the Library. All of us acknowledge how valuable the Library’s holdings are for current research. It is truly remarkable for its historic, one-of-a kind archives. The scholarly pleasure of using the Library was never in doubt—but now I’m actually comfortable pursuing such activities!
We are also in the early stages of renovating research facilities in the Lillie Building, which will enable us to group the laboratories of specific programs and centers together within the building. Construction will also begin this fall on the deteriorating Eel Pond sea wall adjacent to the Lillie building parking lot.
The demand for MBL housing has been especially high this year. Thanks to an anonymous donor, one premier property—the Crane House located on the corner of Millfield and Gardiner Streets—has been newly renovated. We also continue to upgrade our cottages at Memorial Circle, and this fall we will begin renovating and winterizing the Brick Dormitory on MBL Street. Lastly, the Meigs Room has been completely renovated and looks marvelous.
As Shelly commented, much of the recent success is linked to the focus and priority-setting accomplished as part of the Capital Campaign. As of June 30th, the Campaign has raised nearly $34 million against a goal of $25 million. As Chair of the Development Committee and a member of the Campaign Steering Committee, it has been heartening indeed to see so many of our key objectives not only met, but surpassed. Thanks to all of you who have participated in the Lab’s first comprehensive Campaign. Of course some funding priorities still remain, namely meeting the Kresge Challenge for the new Environmental Sciences Building; meeting the Doherty Challenge to build endowment for the educational program; and to providing necessary funding for the Library.
I look forward to serving as Interim Director while the search continues and I welcome hearing your thoughts and questions during this period of transition.
—William T. Speck
Interim Director
August 4, 2000 |
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