Flansburgh Tours the Alfond Coastal Research Center
The Flansburgh team recently visited the Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center at Governor’s Academy in Byfield, MA. The tour was jointly led by the Director of the Bass Institute, the Director of Facilities, and the Design Team. The group explored the facility and learned how the center has become a focal point for interdisciplinary learning, supporting not only the sciences, but also art, math, history, and student well-being. The center’s connection to the Great Marsh enhances its serene atmosphere, offering students a retreat for focused study. Through partnerships with various organizations, the center hosts guest scientists and supports conservation efforts, including a program researching Blanding’s turtles, a threatened species in Massachusetts.
Highlights of the tour included visiting the wet lab, and the exploring the facility’s connection to the surrounding ecosystem. The team enjoyed strolling on the elevated, low-impact ramp through the woodland, an environmentally sensitive transition to the coastal marsh. Along this path, students have developed an educational nature walk, offering signage to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna.
