Join Backyard Growers for this online training to learn how to plan your own vegetable garden according to what you like to eat, the space you have for growing, and the amount of time you have to spend tending to it. In this training, attendees will be introduced to the square-foot gardening method to help them make the most of their garden this year. It includes an interactive Q&A, so come with any and all veggie-growing questions! This is the final occurence of this training for the 2021 growing season.
🙌🏽 FREE to Backyard Growers Program participants (e.g., Community Garden Program and 2020 & 2021 Backyard Garden Program)
These monthly updates give us the opportunity to report on the wonderful progress being made across GMGI. We are grateful not only to have consistent and positive updates to share, but also for the engaged and supportive community that shares in our excitement.
This month, you can read about: the stellar Class of 2021 as they continue their internships; the addition of a new team member who will lead the biomanufacturing curriculum in the soon-to-be-completed lab space at the Academy; details on an exciting research collaboration with a neighbor across the harbor; and a sneak peak of some good news to come on sequencing the lobster genome!
Please continue to send us your thoughts, comments and feedback – this communication is valued and appreciated by all of us.
Chris Bolzan Executive Director
Photo credit: Ocean Alliance
Partnership with GMGI and Ocean Alliance Continues For the past three years, GMGI has been partnering with Ocean Alliance to study whale microbiomes to better understand whale health.
The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that reside on or within tissues and bodily fluids. It plays a very important role in health and disease. Like humans and other mammals, whales are susceptible to infections in their lungs. Understanding the prevalence and severity of such infections is key to assessing individual and population health — as well as developing informed management plans. Since we can’t bring a whale to the doctor’s office, one way to assess their health is to collect their exhaled breath condensate (or blow) and to look at their lung microbiome.
Using Ocean Alliance’s non-invasive SnotBot® drone, we can safely and harmlessly collect a sample of whale blow. Extracting and sequencing the DNA in this sample provides a preview of the microorganisms inhabiting a whale’s respiratory tract, including those associated with a healthy microbiome and potential pathogens. Merging this with other visual markers of whale health, we are developing a means of remotely assessing the health of our most charismatic marine mammals. GMGI is excited to continue to expand this partnership. We look forward to another season of sampling with Ocean Alliance.
Introducing Stephen F. Anderson, the Academy’s Biomanufacturing Lead Teacher
We are thrilled to introduce Stephen F. Anderson, PhD as the newest member of the GMGI team.
A protein chemist with over 20 years of industry experience and a strong teaching background, Dr. Anderson joins GMGI as Gloucester Biotechnology Academy’s Biomanufacturing Lead Teacher. He holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University. Before getting started in Boston-area industry, he did postdoctoral work in mammalian transcription biology at Harvard Medical School.
After decades of experience running core protein production and analytical labs in both startups and Big Pharma — as well as supporting projects from discovery to manufacturing — Steve is looking forward to getting back to his teaching roots.
“Since leaving the academic track in 1999, I have missed the opportunities to make a difference in students’ lives,” Steve said. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to get back to it.” He sees a stark, but incredibly valuable, difference in the way Academy operates compared to the traditional college model. “In a university, the students spend years learning things they will never use in an entry-level position; this program gives students the basics and gets them into the workforce ASAP, benefitting them and their community.”
With the construction of the Academy’s new biomanufacturing learning environment fully underway, the addition of Steve’s skillset comes at an optimal time. The incoming Class of 2022 will be the first cohort to utilize the new space, and they will have Steve’s experience and knowledge to optimize the hands-on curriculum. “I’ve built up a lot of experience in bioprocessing and I feel that the time has come to share it with a new generation,” he said.
The Class of 2021 is in week eight of their internships – check out a few students in action, putting their newfound skills to use in the lab.
These monthly updates give us the opportunity to report on the wonderful progress being made across GMGI. We are grateful not only to have consistent and positive updates to share, but also for the engaged and supportive community that shares in our excitement.
This month, you can read about: the stellar Class of 2021 as they continue their internships; the addition of a new team member who will lead the biomanufacturing curriculum in the soon-to-be-completed lab space at the Academy; details on an exciting research collaboration with a neighbor across the harbor; and a sneak peak of some good news to come on sequencing the lobster genome!
Please continue to send us your thoughts, comments and feedback – this communication is valued and appreciated by all of us.
Chris Bolzan Executive DirectorPhoto credit: Ocean Alliance
Partnership with GMGI and Ocean Alliance Continues For the past three years, GMGI has been partnering with Ocean Alliance to study whale microbiomes to better understand whale health.
The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that reside on or within tissues and bodily fluids. It plays a very important role in health and disease. Like humans and other mammals, whales are susceptible to infections in their lungs. Understanding the prevalence and severity of such infections is key to assessing individual and population health — as well as developing informed management plans. Since we can’t bring a whale to the doctor’s office, one way to assess their health is to collect their exhaled breath condensate (or blow) and to look at their lung microbiome.
Using Ocean Alliance’s non-invasive SnotBot® drone, we can safely and harmlessly collect a sample of whale blow. Extracting and sequencing the DNA in this sample provides a preview of the microorganisms inhabiting a whale’s respiratory tract, including those associated with a healthy microbiome and potential pathogens. Merging this with other visual markers of whale health, we are developing a means of remotely assessing the health of our most charismatic marine mammals. GMGI is excited to continue to expand this partnership. We look forward to another season of sampling with Ocean Alliance.Introducing Stephen F. Anderson, the Academy’s Biomanufacturing Lead Teacher
We are thrilled to introduce Stephen F. Anderson, PhD as the newest member of the GMGI team.
A protein chemist with over 20 years of industry experience and a strong teaching background, Dr. Anderson joins GMGI as Gloucester Biotechnology Academy’s Biomanufacturing Lead Teacher. He holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University. Before getting started in Boston-area industry, he did postdoctoral work in mammalian transcription biology at Harvard Medical School.
After decades of experience running core protein production and analytical labs in both startups and Big Pharma — as well as supporting projects from discovery to manufacturing — Steve is looking forward to getting back to his teaching roots.
“Since leaving the academic track in 1999, I have missed the opportunities to make a difference in students’ lives,” Steve said. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to get back to it.” He sees a stark, but incredibly valuable, difference in the way Academy operates compared to the traditional college model. “In a university, the students spend years learning things they will never use in an entry-level position; this program gives students the basics and gets them into the workforce ASAP, benefitting them and their community.”
With the construction of the Academy’s new biomanufacturing learning environment fully underway, the addition of Steve’s skillset comes at an optimal time. The incoming Class of 2022 will be the first cohort to utilize the new space, and they will have Steve’s experience and knowledge to optimize the hands-on curriculum. “I’ve built up a lot of experience in bioprocessing and I feel that the time has come to share it with a new generation,” he said.
The Class of 2021 is in week eight of their internships – check out a few students in action, putting their newfound skills to use in the lab.
GMGI Science Hour Talks Continue with Dr. Nadia Rosenthal Register now! On May 13th, Nadia Rosenthal, PhD delivers our final Science Hour before a short summer hiatus.
Dr. Rosenthal is the Scientific Director of The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor (ME), whose research focuses on regenerative medicine. She has recently begun a new program to develop animal models of COVID-19 through humanizing JAX’s genetically diverse mouse strains to reflect different patient responses to the virus. Dr. Rosenthal’s talk “Exploring COVID-19 host genetics with mice” is on Thursday, May 13th at 7:30p on Zoom. Click here to register.
GMGI Researcher Dylan Comb collects samples in Ipswich for an ongoing research project focusing on soft-shell clams.
Enrolling now: SummerSTEM and Academy Class of 2022 GMGI is currently enrolling for BOTH of our Education programs — the Biotechnology Certificate Program and our SummerSTEM program. If you are interested in joining our Class of 2022, please visit our website to learn more about how to apply. If you know a middle or high school student who would be interested in participating in our week-long SummerSTEM program, please click here to learn more about this exciting summer opportunity.
The GMGI Science Minute
Have you ever wondered what means to ‘sequence a genome’? GMGI Senior Research Associate Jennifer Polinski has been hard at work for the past few years creating the reference genome for the American Lobster, and is here to explain how it’s done.
The Cape Ann Climate Coalition met with our local astrophysicist, Dr. Bill Waller of Rockport, to ask him a few questions. Is there a Planet B? And what do we need to do to save this big rocky ball of planet (Earth) that we call home?
Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF), along with volunteers from Gloucester Parent Teacher Organizations are showing their appreciation for all teachers and staff members in the Gloucester Public School district with visits to each school by the Whoo(pie) Wagon to deliver individually wrapped whoopie pies, courtesy of GEF.
“Our teachers, administration and staff members have worked incredibly hard this year and we wanted to do something fun and lighthearted to show how much we appreciate them,” said Aria McElhenny, Executive Director of Gloucester Education Foundation. “The whoopie pies are a token of our gratitude for the time, effort and heart that the entire team at Gloucester Public Schools has put into teaching and caring for our kids during this challenging year.”
The Whoo(pie) Wagon along with PTO volunteers and Gloucester Education Foundation board members will be on hand to deliver whoopie pies at the following locations and times:
Monday, May 3- 10:30- 11:30 Gloucester High School, 32 Leslie O Johnson Rd
11:45-12:30 East Gloucester Elementary, 8 Davis Street
12:30-1:00 Veterans Memorial Elementary, 11 Webster Street
1:15 Gloucester Public School Admin Office and Gloucester Preschool, 2 Blackburn Drive
Tuesday, May 4- 11:00-11:45 West Parish Elementary School, 10 Concord Street
12:15-1:00 Plum Cove Elementary, 15 Hickory Street
1:15-2:00 Beeman Memorial Elementary, 138 Cherry Street
This Thursday, April 29th, Dr. Mandë Holford joins the GMGI Science Hour to talk about her fascinating research on the power of venom. Dr. Holford and her team are working to harness the incredible power of venom into safe, effective drug therapies that benefit human health.
Don’t forget to submit your Derby hat photos, guys and gals. Post your photo of yourself with your fancy Derby Hat to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #runfortherosesraffle or email your submission to info@manchesteressexrotary.org. Best woman’s hat wins a dozen roses and a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon, best men’s hat wins just the Bourbon. Contest deadline is noon on the day of the Kentucky Derby and our Run for the Roses Raffle drawing, 6:00 PM Saturday May 1. Entrants must be 21 years of age.
The Sale also includes other supplies to get your garden going this spring, like Black Earth Compost, Neptune’s Harvest fertilizer, and a range of vegetable and flower seeds. Start (or expand!) your own container veggie garden with our felt custom GrowBags.
Proceeds support nonprofit organization Backyard Growers‘ programs in the community connecting families, seniors, and kids with the resources to grow their own food.
The fine print: The 2021 April Seedling Sale is online only for curbside pickup only next Saturday, April 24. The shop will close at noon on Thursday, April 22, to allow time for us to prep your orders.
Did you know 33% of all food produced globally is lost or wasted? Food waste is central to some of the key challenges facing the world today, including hunger and poverty, climate change, health and wellbeing, and the sustainability of agriculture and oceans.
To bring attention to this growing global problem, the Sawyer Free Library and Backyard Growers are co-hosting a virtual panel discussion around the topic of food waste on Thursday, April 28, from 6-7 pm. The live virtual presentation is free and open to the public. Click here to register.
Moderated by Lara Lepionka, Founder & Executive Director, Backyard Growers, the program will provide both broad knowledge and a local perspective of the issues of food waste, along with some actionable steps individuals can take to help make a difference in its reduction.
The program panelists include Andrew Brousseau, Partner, Compost Manager, Black Earth Compost, Brittany Peats, Program Manager, MA Food System Collaborative, and Gary Sprague, Food Acquisition and Distribution Manager, The Open Door. Each panelist will have the opportunity to talk about their community organization’s focus and practical recommendations to address the critical issue of food waste in our community.
Cape Ann just became more climate resistant (and beautiful!) thanks to our local climate hero Nathan Ives. On Friday April 9, 2021, Nathan Ives and his Project Elm team received and began planting 100 disease-resistant elm trees in Rockport and Gloucester.
It is a grassroots community project intending to help restore elm trees to their once prominent place on Gloucester and Rockport streetscapes while taking a proactive step to help reverse global climate change (trees capture carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, out of the air and store the carbon in their trunk. CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are driving climate change.) The project is inspired by the World Economic Forum’s 1-trillion tree initiative.
Project Elm is a grassroots community project intending to help restore elm trees to their once prominent place on Gloucester (and Rockport) streetscapes while taking a proactive step to help reverse global climate change. Scientists tell us that one of the best ways to fight climate change is to plant more trees–1 trillion trees, in fact. Sadly, the onset of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1950s brought an abrupt end to elms in the United States until only recently. Scientists have now developed disease resistant cultivars of the elm tree that are thriving in the US and, in particular, in New England.
In total, $5600 was raised to support Project Elm’s vision and mission! In addition to Awesome Rockport, the following groups and people contributed money to help make this happen:• Awesome Gloucester • Allison Mueller• Sal Zerilli• Rick Doucette• Neptune’s Harvest• We’re All in This Together
Join the Sawyer Free Library in celebrating National Poetry Month for explore the Life, Natural World & Poetry of Mary Oliver, presented by Andrea Brandeis on Thursday, April 8 from 7 – 8:30pm.
Mary Oliver was one of America’s most treasured poets, whose honors include the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Her poetry explores the interconnectedness of spirituality and the natural world. This virtual program is intended for anyone– from beginner explorers of poetry to experts. This program will be held via Zoom.
Register here for the event. The Zoom link will be sent out 15 minutes before the presentation begins. If you register after that, there may be a small delay.
For more information on all the the programs being offered at the Library, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org
Cape Ann Community 