After being delayed due to rough seas and high winds the University of Massachusetts Boston Living Lab students arrived on Nantucket at 10:10am on Monday January 21, 2013. Over the next twelve weeks this group of seventeen undergraduates and two program assistants will be taking environmental based courses including (Eco-Poetics, hydrology, and Coastal and Marine Ecology) and working on individual and group research projects. (Climate change, Beach profiling, Groundwater, Saltmarsh, Shellfish management)
Upon arrive the students were taken to their living quarters where they were greeted with lunch and welcome packages provided by local nonprofit ReMain including maps, information packets, personal desks and a number of gift cards for local restaurants. After the group lunch the students set off on walking tour of the downtown area led by Leonard Germinara. Stops along the tour included the Atheneum where students will be attending classes throughout the semester, Michael’s bookstore, Main Street and the African Meeting house. That afternoon students returned to the house where they unpacked and made a trip to the market in preparation for the busy week to come.
The remainder of the week students attended three hours of Eco-Poetics class per day and joined in numerous evening events (Poetry workshops, movie screenings, and a weekly group dinner at St. Paul’s Church). These events provided a valuable opportunity for students to get acquainted with each other and the community.
Friday afternoon the students attended a meet and greet lunch at the Dreamland Theater. This was their first chance to socialize with the UMB administrators and the Nantucket community members responsible for creating this Living Lab program. Attendees also included local community members that will be collaborating with the students throughout the semester on their independent research projects.
On Saturday the students joined the community at the Quaker house for the kick off of the Moby Dick Marathon. This was immediately followed by an island tour with Dr. Sarah Oktay. Beginning at Alter Rock Sarah spent the afternoon bringing the students to several locations around the North, East and South side of the island. That evening from 12-3am the students returned to the Mob Dick reading at the Atheneum to read three chapters. As a great end to week one the students joined the local community on Sunday afternoon to listened to the conclusion of the reading. This event allowed for students to interact with the community over a cup of warm clam chowder and locally brewed ale.
Over the past three weeks the students have settled in to life on Nantucket. They have completed their first course and have begun working on their research projects. They have all done a great job respecting the island culture and representing UMass Boston. In the coming weeks they will be studying the bulk of their science courses. This will prove to be the most difficult portion of the semester. However there is no doubt that this dedicated group of students will preserver and make the most of this life changing experience.
Stay tuned~~>