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V O L . X X X I N O. X I X 86 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine We also have education programs that train the next generation of scientists. MB: What attracted you to Bigelow? DB: Bigelow is tops in microbial ocean- ography — and I mean globally, not just the States. I was attracted to Bigelow's business model, which is the most efficient I have seen for doing science. We provide 12 weeks of salary to our scientists each year. at's it. at means they have to consistently innovate and produce new ideas to get additional funding to support their lab group. When somebody gets a grant, everyone is excited, because grants keep the doors open. It's a brilliant model that encour- ages collaboration. We're very nimble. We can decide on something and execute that afternoon. We also have a flat governance structure. e empowerment of scientists allows us to jump on opportunities. MB: Tell us about the expansion. DB: e building we're in now is Platinum LEED certified and uber- efficient. But the three wings are purely research, with no teaching labs and only one classroom. e new space has teaching laboratories, two classrooms and innovation space for research with commercial applica- tions. We want to be the ideal place that helps launch and support compa- nies throughout Maine. e new center also has a forum to host events. Our scientists travel around the country for conferences and workshops. I want to bring those conferences and workshops to Boothbay and to Bigelow. I also would love to get Boothbay high school students here for upper divi- sion science classes. MB: Are federal uncertainties affecting the lab? DB: Yes. We have $5 million in [National Science Foundation] grants that were recommended for funding in limbo. We've lost contracts for fee-for-service activities, from places that are losing funding. at threatens our ability to provide other services — for example, biotoxin testing for the scallop industry. I hoped to hire four to five new scien- tists, each building their own groups with people who now may not be mov- ing to Boothbay. We're in good financial shape, but I don't want to oversell our security. If the science agencies take dra- conian cuts, that's an existential threat. MB: What do you love about this field? DB: I come to work every day knowing that we're making the world better. e climate is changing, the ocean is over- taxed, the fisheries are depleted, we're looking at a scary future. But we can do remarkable things and science is the foundation of that. I know that if we get these projects across the finish line, we can make dramatic changes. Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D Bigelow Laboratory CEO Deborah Bronk, right, conducted tours during a celebration of the new Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation. Bigelow Laboratory CEO Deborah Bronk used giant scissors at the June unveiling of the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation in East Boothbay. From left, Gregory Powell, executive chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation; Karen Staples from the office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins; Bigelow board chair Peter Handy; and Christina Porter of Harriman Associates. I N N OVAT I O N / R & D Bigelow is tops in microbial oceanography — and I mean globally, not just the States. I was attracted to Bigelow's business model, which is the most efficient I have seen for doing science. — Deborah Bronk Bigelow Laboratory

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