Bowdoin Scientific Station (BSS), Bowdoin College's biological research station on the Bay of Fundy, has been awarded a grant to improve its dormitory facilities. BSS is unusual in many respects, it: is operated by an undergraduate liberal arts institution; provides access to a wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats; has remarkable ecological characteristics (large tides, extreme philopatry among migratory animals, self-compatible plants, boreal plant communities despite temperate location, and geographically isolated plant and animal populations); and possesses several valuable long-term ecological databases, some of which span more than 70 years. But what makes BSS truly extraordinary is its scientific productivity. Considering its small size (20 person maximum capacity, including staff), seasonal usage, and undergraduate focus, the Station has an unusually high publication rate (187 peer-reviewed papers since its founding in 1936; 68 of which were authored or co-authored by undergraduate students). Twenty-five papers have been published in the past 5 years. Infrastructure audits of BSS conducted in July 2008 identified 4 areas of need: (1) long-term structural integrity of the main dormitory, (2) personnel capacity, (3) electrical generation capacity, and (4) internet communication capabilities. This project will address items 1 and 2 by renovating the Station's main dormitory. Renovations will preserve the main living facility at the Station and double the number of personnel that this building can house, ensuring continued growth of scientific productivity and educational opportunities.
BSS is an exceptionally valuable research and teaching asset, which has trained and inspired thousands of students by giving them the opportunity to work in close collaboration with professional biologists in the field. This experience has a profound and lasting effect on these students, a disproportionate number of whom go on to careers in science and environmental management. By preserving the structural integrity of the main dormitory and increasing the personnel accommodations, this project will enhance the quality and quantity of research projects that the Station is capable of supporting. In addition, these upgrades will make it possible for more classes to take advantage of the Station's facilities. Clearly, these upgrades will benefit Bowdoin's students and faculty. But since approximately 1/3 of the Station's users traditionally come from other institutions (including undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty), the impact of this infrastructure project will reach far beyond the Bowdoin community. These improvements in infrastructure at BSS will allow the Station to continue fulfilling its mission as a facility for ecological research, student training, and environmental stewardship.
Intellectual Merit: The Bowdoin Scientific Station (BSS) is Bowdoin College’s biological research station in the Bay of Fundy, 30 km east of the coast of Maine. BSS is an exceptionally valuable research and teaching asset and is unusual in that it: is operated by an undergraduate liberal arts institution; provides access to a wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats; has remarkable ecological characteristics (large tides, extreme site loyalty among migratory animals, many plant species capable of clonal reproduction, boreal plant communities despite temperate location, and geographically isolated plant and animal populations); and possesses several valuable long-term ecological databases, some of which span more than 70 years. BSS has trained and inspired thousands of students who have had the opportunity to work closely with professional biologists in the field. But what makes BSS truly extraordinary is its scientific productivity. Considering its small size, mainly seasonal usage, and undergraduate focus, the Station has an unusually high publication rate. Infrastructure audits conducted in July 2008 identified three areas of need at BSS: personnel capacity, electrical generation capacity, and internet communication capabilities. In particular, the Station’s main dormitory was found to be in need of major structural repair. The objectives of this project were to renovate the main dormitory to make it possible to maintain BSS's long-term research programs and to increase the Station's overall productivity by increasing its personnel capacity, by making it possible to inhabit the Station in all seasons, and by improving the living, working, and dining facilities. Major tasks completed during this project include: • Replacing foundation footings, carrying timbers, sills, joists (completed fall 2010) • Building enclosed porch at west entry (completed spring 2011) • Replacing roof (completed fall 2010) • Replacing doors & windows (completed fall 2011) • Replacing exterior siding (completed summer 2011) • Building new water tank tower (completed fall 2012) • Renovating kitchen & pantry (completed spring 2012) • Renovating dining area and first-floor common room/library (completed spring 2012) • Renovating second-floor bedrooms, increase number of beds (completed spring 2013) This infrastructure project was motivated by the need to continue providing opportunities for development of human resources and to increase research and training productivity. By improving the living quarters, food service facilities, and working spaces at BSS, this project has resulted in increased research capacity. In addition to improving living and working conditions, these infrastructure upgrades have increased the housing capacity of the main dormitory building by 60% and made it feasible to perform research at the Station during colder months of the year. One of the most important outcomes of this project is that we have been able to leverage this grant to attract more funding for additional infrastructure improvements at BSS. Thanks to the interest in BSS generated by the prestige of receiving an NSF-FSML award, we have been able to raise funds to rebuild our 160-ft wharf and dock; install high speed internet; install a new solar water heater; install small photovoltaic power systems on three of our outlying buildings; replace the battery bank, DC inverter, charger, charge controller, and backup generator on our main electrical system; purchase an automated weather station; replace the foundation footings, sills, and carrying timbers of our boathouse; and replace the engine on our workboat. Broader Impacts: Over 400 undergraduates have conducted significant summer research projects at BSS and thousands more have studied at BSS during class field trips. This experience has a profound and lasting effect on these students, a disproportionate number of whom go on to careers in science and environmental management. By improving the living and working conditions, and increasing personnel capacity, this infrastructure project has enhanceed the quality, quantity, and variety of research projects that BSS is capable of supporting. Since approximately 1/3 of the Station’s users come from other institutions (including undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty), the impact of this infrastructure project will reach far beyond the Bowdoin community. In addition, these upgrades will make it possible for more school groups and community organizations to use the Station’s facilities for teaching and training activities. Part of BSS’s mission is to protect the native species of Three Islands. Thus, these improvements in infrastructure at BSS will allow the Station to continue fulfilling its mission as a facility for ecological research, student training, and environmental stewardship.
