Work at the
Bermuda Biological Station for Research continues its brisk pace, and this issue of Currents
highlights many of these activities. Perhaps one of the most notable achievements is the building of 14,000 square feet of additional laboratory space. BBSR's new building
is in the final stages of fitting out, and our scientists, staff and students should be able to move in by the end of this year. The new space will provide state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for BBSR's
ocean time-series studies, molecular marine biology programs and ocean genomics initiatives, as well as a
first-rate seawater facility for the culture of marine organisms and for ecotoxicological studies.Earlier this summer, BBSR underwent an external review by a panel of internationally renowned scientists.
These sorts of reviews are extremely useful for organizations to identify their strengths and weaknesses. BBSR is currently addressing the whole report, but taking significant action to increase its global
role in open-ocean science and develop an open-ocean observatory. BBSR has increased its
scientific staff
this year with the addition of Dr. Gerry Plumley, a marine biologist from the University of Alaska. Gerry has taken over from Dr. Fred Lipschultz as BBSR's education director and is tasked with reorganizing our
education initiatives, from programs for Bermuda's school
students to university-level courses to graduate internships. This issue of Currents
includes several articles on these education programs. Fred is currently serving a term as an assistant program manager at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. Dr. Maureen Conte has accepted a faculty position at
BBSR this year after working off Bermuda for many years on the Oceanic Flux Program
begun by Dr. Werner Deuser in 1978. Maureen will be helping BBSR develop the Bermuda Ocean Observatory by coordinating a number of concurrent measurement programs. We also would like to welcome Dr. Ross Jones, a marine biologist who specializes in
coral bleaching. Ross is now managing BBSR's
Marine Environment Program
and developing a new program in coral ecotoxicology, first started by Dr. Richard Owen. Dan Depledge has also come to BBSR this year to work on the ocean genomics
database that was the subject of a Science magazine
article by Trustee Dr. Craig Venter and his colleagues, including three BBSR scientists. This paper has created a great deal of international interest and will lead to a new understanding of the role of microbes in the ocean.
BBSR has also had some changes to its Board of Trustees
this year, with the addition of six new members: eminent scientist Dr. Rita Colwell, insurance executives Mrs. Joy Richardson, Mr. Michael Hamer and Mr. Gerald Simons, foundation director Mr. Ralph Richardson, and experienced fundraiser Mrs. Katherine Watson, who is the new chair of BBSR's Development Committee.
We have created a new category of Emeritus Trustees at BBSR, and we are pleased that former BBSR Board members Mr. Hugh Lowenstein and Mrs. Margot Perot have been elected as the first two members. We
are very sad to have lost three individuals with close ties to BBSR with the tragic deaths of Drs. Hein Besselaar, Roger Pocklington and Edward MacNichol Jr. earlier this year. Dr. Besselaar was a very
active trustee from 1995 until his death in March 2004. He was a major donor to this institution and made possible the printing of BBSR's history, The First Century, in time for our centennial celebrations last year. Life Trustee
Dr. MacNichol, who also died in March, and scientist Dr. Pocklington, who passed away in May, played significant roles in developing the science of BBSR. Dr. MacNichol made a significant donation to BBSR about 15 years ago that lead to the creation of a fund to bring talented young scientists to the institution. This single gift catalyzed the growth of BBSR's ocean science programs in the early 1990s, growth which continues to this day.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the enormous contributions made by former BBSR President Chris Roosevelt, who stepped down as a trustee this year after 22 years on the Board. Chris was the first
non-scientist president of BBSR, serving in this role from 1996 to 2002. He helped take BBSR through a great period of growth, building the Board and the institution during his tenure. Chris and Roddy
Roosevelt put time, effort and money into BBSR when they were most needed. |
