Logistics for the Introduction to Aquatic Cytometry Course

May 4-8, 2026

Dates/Times

The course starts on Monday morning, May 4 and ends the evening of May 8. Participants may arrive on May 3 to assist with long-distance travel.

Location

The course will be held on the campus of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, in our main building.

The physical address is: 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, Maine 04544.

Lodging

The Graham Shimmield Residence Hall is a 15,000-square-foot facility on our research and education campus for students and visiting scientists, located just a short walk from our main laboratory.

Overlooking the Damariscotta River, Shimmield Hall was funded by a $3.1 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation and a matching gift from an anonymous donor. With 32 dormitory beds and four apartments for visiting scientists, it is now possible for the Laboratory to house program participants, students, and visiting scientists safely and comfortably on site while they participate in our many educational and collaborative research programs.

Energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, and respect for the surrounding environment are all embodied by the design. The two-story structure provides a communal student kitchen and social area, adaptable meeting space that can serve as an auditorium or recreation area, and fitness and laundry areas.

For the course each participant will stay in a private dorm room with shared bathroom facilities (two people per bath). If you are opting not to stay at the residence, please let us know so that we may plan accordingly.

Click here for information about the residence hall

Travel Coordination

May we share your email address with your fellow students for the purpose of coordinating travel arrangements? In the past, some students have shared the expense of a car rental or a shuttle from the Portland International Jetport (PWM) located in Portland, Maine or Boston's Logan International (BOS). Please let me know if you are interested in carpooling or coordinating an airport shuttle.

International Students

For those of you traveling from outside the US, please make sure you have your passports/travel visas in order. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need a letter of enrollment/invitation from us in order to obtain a visa.

Travel

By Air: Plan to fly into Portland, Maine, USA ( PWM ) or Boston, Massachusetts, USA ( BOS ) (not Bangor or Augusta, Maine). From there take a shuttle to the Boothbay region (see below). You may want to rent a car. Drive time from Portland is about 1.5 hours, drive time from Boston is ~4 hours.

Country Coach Charters is an airport shuttle option offering door-to-door service 24/7, 365 days a year. For more information visit the Country Coach Charters website or call +1-207-380-7201. Other options include Mid-Coast Limo and public buses along the mid-coast via Concord Coach Lines. For more ground transportation options please see the following site.

Miscellaneous

Lab Coats: At the laboratory, you will be required to wear a lab coat. If you have one, please bring one. If not, we will have lab coats available.

Meals Continental breakfast (muffins, fruit, yogurt, coffee, tea, etc.) will be provided Monday - Friday at the course residence hall. Lunch (eg wraps, soup and salads, sandwiches, chips) will be provided Monday - Friday. The course will host one dinner on Thursday evening during the course.

Questions? Please email npoulton@bigelow.org.

We look forward to seeing you in May!