Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. There are many ways you can support our mission with your time, talent, and treasure!

Become a Donor

As an independent, nonprofit institute, Bigelow relies on a community of supporters who generously donate their resources and time to make our mission possible. Support from individual donors, foundations, and the private sector are an important source of funding that supplements federal and other grant support for our research.

From time to time, Advancement staff will reach out to volunteers to host a gathering of friends and neighbors in locales where we can build awareness and new support for Bigelow.

Volunteer Your Time

Please fill out the form at the bottom of this webpage with your contact information and interests, and someone from the Laboratory will be in touch.

Serve as a docent for laboratory tours: Join our elite group of Laboratory Docents who conduct tours of the facilities for groups ranging from small children to adults. With your help, we can offer tours to more school groups, as well as offer regular public tours. This position offers docents a behind-the-scenes look at our laboratories, an in-depth look into the science that Bigelow Laboratory conducts, and a close connection to our scientists.

Assist the staff with public events (Café Sci and other special events): Serve as a greeter or host/hostess at our popular Café Sci series. Help set up the registration and bar prior to the event, help serve drinks during, and break down at the end. Or act as a friendly face to welcome guests to the events, helping them to sign up for our newsletter or answering basic questions.

Assist with gardening and maintaining the grounds: Provide some much-needed help to our facilities staff by regularly weeding both the front and back gardens. An opportunity for some exercise, meditation, and volunteer work in a gorgeous setting!

Volunteer Your Attention and Advocacy

Participate as a citizen scientist for our ecosystem forecast (aka ecocast): Much like a weather forecast, ecocast aims to predict animals, plants, disease, and other natural phenomena. The lab launched daily forecasts for ticks, jellyfish, and more. Our forecasts are informed by citizen reports. The more reports we get, the better the forecast.

Follow Bigelow on social media ( Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and share our content.

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Check out our latest publications and share the exciting scientific advances pioneered by our Senior Research Scientists with your friends.

Volunteer Your Expertise and Experience

Bigelow relies on the guidance and oversight of its Board of Trustees. The lab also taps the expertise of Advisory Board members who share a passion for our mission and work. Members of the Board and Advisory Board are drawn from across the country, and work with the President & CEO and staff to chart the lab’s strategic direction.

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