The board of trustees of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens held their second annual “Surf and Turf” reception at the Laboratory’s shorefront campus in East Boothbay on August 21.

More than 50 people were present to hear remarks from Bigelow Executive Director Dr. Graham Shimmield and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Executive Director William Cullina.

Guests had the opportunity to learn about each organization’s vision and future plans, tour the Laboratory’s state-of-the-art science facilities, and enjoy its newly completed Lerner Garden, a version of the larger garden by the same name at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Both gardens were created with funds donated by Lyn and Dan Lerner. The Lerner Garden at the Bigelow campus was also made possible by gifts from Laboratory staff.

The Laboratory’s Ocean Science and Education Campus and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ Bosarge Family Education Center have both been certified as LEED Platinum buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council; only two other businesses in all of Maine have achieved that designation.

Individuals come from all over the country to serve as board members of the two organizations, and many call coastal Maine home for part of the year.

Bigelow Board Chairman David Coit and CMBG Board Chairwoman Susan Russell exchanged donation checks to each other's organizations as a part of the festivities.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, founded in 1974, is an independent, nonprofit center for global ocean research, ocean science education, and technology transfer. A recognized leader in Maine's emerging innovation economy, the Laboratory’s research ranges from microbial oceanography to the large-scale processes that drive ocean systems and global environmental conditions.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, whose mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the botanical heritage and natural landscape of coastal Maine for people of all ages through horticulture, education and research, opened in 2007 and receives nearly 100,000 visitors each year.