The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory what it
The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory: what it means for MDI and Maine
The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory • Brief history of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory • What MDIBL does • Why institutions like MDIBL are important (or why I left a very secure job to come to Maine)
A brief history of MDIBL 1898: Lab founded at South Harpswell; classical post. Darwin marine station focused on teaching and natural history research 1921: Lab moves to MDI at the invitation of George Dorr 1926: The first transformation: The physician E. K. Marshall begins using marine fishes to understand how the human kidney works 2000: The second transformation: MDIBL begins transition from a seasonal to a “year-round” institution
The year-round MDIBL is 10 -years old 1999 2010 Year-round employees 9 ~50 and growing Resident faculty 0 9 Operating budget $0. 6 M $10. 3 M Active grants $2. 8 M $35. 9 M 2008: 2010: 15, 000 ft 2 “green” lab building opened First full-time Director begins 10, 000 ft 2 Marshall Lab construction begins $1. 6 M grant from Do. D to help launch the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine
What MDIBL does Environmental conservation & restoration Biomedical research MDIBL Education
Biomedical research • Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine Ø How do animals repair and regrow damaged limbs and organs? Ø How and why do animals age? • Morris Center for Environmental Health Sciences Ø How do environmental toxins cause disease? • Boylan Center for Cellular and Molecular Physiology Ø Integrative thinking; multidisciplinary research • MDIBL Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) grant: links 13 Maine institutions
Education • Hands-on research training for Maine high school and undergraduate students • Summer research internships for U. S. undergraduates • Hands-on research training for medical students and practicing physicians • “Signature” research courses • Scientific conferences • Outreach: family science night, programs in all MDI elementary schools, Northeast Harbor lecture series, Aspirnaut Program, Science Cafes (2011)
Environmental conservation and restoration • Community Health Science Laboratory: water quality monitoring • Citizen scientists: engaging citizens in research and restoration • Frenchman Bay Stakeholders: Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, COA, Acadia National Park, Lamoine Conservation Commission, Bar Harbor Planning Board, Trenton Board of Selectman, local fisherman and aquaculturists • Frenchman Bay eelgrass restoration • Research at the Callahan Mine Superfund Site
MDIBL’s local economic impact • Supports over $2. 8 M in salary and benefits in Hancock County • Purchases over $3 M in Maine goods and services annually • Over 90% of the Marshall Lab construction costs support Hancock and Penobscot businesses
Growing to sustainability • MDIBL is a private, non-profit research institution supported by competitive grants and philanthropy Environmental conservation & restoration Biomedical research MDIBL Education Ø Recruit outstanding resident faculty and provide them the start-up funds to build world class research programs Ø Expand rejuvenate the visiting scientist program Ø Expand courses and conferences Ø Broaden the scope of environmental work
Why I left a secure job to come to MDIBL
Top 20 academic medical center versus MDIBL • Harvard Medical School 1990 -1997 • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine 1997 -2009 • Full professor, endowed chair ($75, 000/year) • Pick of the best students, lots of leverage (4 NIH grants) • Outstanding scientific resources • No teaching, trivial administrative responsibilities
Top 20 academic medical center versus MDIBL • First learned of job in December 2007 • Phone interview January 2008 • First visit May 2008 • Second visit June 2008; decision to drop out of the running • Offered job in July 2008; third visit August 2008 • Contract negotiations September/October 2008: economy implodes, stock market drops ~6000 points; housing market collapses, unemployment skyrockets; grant funding? ? ? ; philanthropy? ? ? • Contract signed November 2008
Top 20 academic medical center versus MDIBL • “He just killed his career” • “What’s wrong with this guy? Why would he go to a place like that? He must be insane” • “Has he lost his mind? ” • “He’s just going up there to retire”
Why I left a secure job to come to MDIBL: “the pull” • One-of-a-kind opportunity to build highly innovative research and science education programs
Why I left a secure job to come to MDIBL: “the push” • Big institutions don’t innovate
Why do we need innovative research and science education?
Why do we need innovative research and science education?
Why do we need innovative research and science education? • STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and workforce • “STEM fields are the core technological underpinnings of an advanced society” • “The STEM workforce is an indicator of a nation's ability to sustain itself” • “Innovation depends on a solid knowledge base in math, science and engineering; without this knowledge base, innovation as well as our industrial base will erode”
Why I left a secure job to come to MDIBL: “the push” • Big institutions don’t innovate
Why I left a secure job to come to MDIBL: “the pull” • Innovation: ability to build one-of-a-kind research and science education programs • Opportunity: it abounds ØHighly talented and dedicated staff ØOne-of-a-kind intellectual and lifestyle environment ØUnique year-round and summer population • Impact: “We need to out-innovate, out- educate, and out-build the rest of the world” (Barack Obama, January 25, 2011)
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