The Shoals Marine Lab began in 1966 to meet the need for undergraduate training in the marine sciences. Our founding director, John M. (“Jack”) Kingsbury, was captivated by the beauty and remoteness of the Isles of Shoals, the ability to immerse students in their studies, and the opportunity to create an island learning community. His vision remains at the heart of the Shoals experience today.
Although our coursework has changed over the years, expanding into a range of courses that address the local ecology and environment, our purpose and primary foci have not changed. We provide a pipeline for students interested in the marine, ecological, behavioral, and environmental sciences through coursework, mentoring, and research opportunities. Our primary educational experiences are credit-bearing courses through our two sponsoring institutions: Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. These courses are designed to make the most of the field opportunities provided by living and studying on Appledore Island and among the Isles of Shoals. We want to provide an extensive, immersive educational opportunity. When we say jump in, get your hands dirty and your feet wet, we mean it literally. From exploring the intertidal zone to shark fishing; from dissecting a ray to searching for dolphins, whales and ocean sunfish; and from learning sustainable fisheries practices from fishermen to conducting independent research, students learn by experience.
Our classes and research are enhanced by two other important parts of the Shoals Marine Lab, our dedication to sustainability and to building a strong, supportive community. In 2007, we installed a wind turbine and our first solar arrays. Since that time, we have intentionally assessed and addressed both our energy consumption and our energy production. We have halved our energy use since then. More impressively, we now generate more than 95% of the energy needed to run the lab through our green grid, primarily through solar arrays. We embrace the reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy, although we have also added “repair” to the mix to increase the useful life of things brought to the island. This applies to our equipment, our supplies, and even our food. We try to limit food waste and to compost anything we can. We also see that this work involves shared commitments to each other and to our island community. We strive to support all members of our community—students, faculty, staff, visitors, and volunteers. Our community is built through small classes and groups; regular, meaningful interactions in both formal and informal settings; shared contributions to the island community; and communal experiences including shared meals, seminars, animal sightings, and enjoying amazing sunsets.
The team, both permanent and seasonal, that contribute to ensuring that the Shoals Marine Lab experience is impactful for our students and participants are committed to all aspects of our core mission—outstanding, experiential education; impactful research; fostering a supportive community; and contributing to sustainability and the reduction of our environmental impacts. Whether you come to the island for the first time or are a long-time Shoaler, we look forward to sharing the island with people who share these same interests.
Sara Morris, John M. Kingsbury Executive Director