Press Releases
NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Charles Brooks, as a featured presenter for its November Science Speaker Series. His presentation will take place on Wednesday, November 13 at 7pm via Zoom. This event is free to all. “Island Wakes and Coastal Observations: An Early Career in Oceanographic Engineering” Join Charles Brooks for a deep dive into his travels and experiences as an oceanographic research technician and engineer at Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO). Brooks will share his deep connection to Nantucket, share his educational pathway, and traverse the experiences of his early career. Having traveled around the world before dropping anchor at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Brooks is enthused to give insight into his role as a technician and working aboard the R/V Roger Revelle during a midlife refit. This presentation will feature some of Brooks' most significant research cruises and experiences culminating in a cruise out of Guam in April 2022 that led him to his current position with SIO's Coastal Observation Research and Development Center (CORDC). He will also discuss the work of the CORDC and his noteworthy role in sampling of island wakes and coastal monitoring in the form of a project called “Smart Mooring.” While currently based in San Diego, Brooks’ lifelong fascination and love for the ocean began by exploring the waters surrounding Nantucket Island. After numerous positions in the marine industry in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Brooks moved his career West to SIO as a research technician in the shipboard technical support group. Over four years, he learned to support shipboard oceanographic research while providing learning opportunities for early career scientists and students on SIO's coastal class research vessel. This role quickly expanded to lead technician of the global class research vessel, Roger Revelle , during which time he oversaw extensive mid-life shipyard renovations. Post-shipyard, Brooks supported research aboard Revelle in the far reaches of the Pacific. In his current position as an engineer and field researcher at the CORDC, Brooks’ work now includes support of robotic systems, remote sampling platform development, and field research in the Western Pacific. Brooks’ talk will cover his career path from New England to the far reaches of the Western Pacific while providing an overview of current research projects. Join us on Zoom for this Science Speaker Series Talk. Registration is required for Zoom. To register for Zoom, use the registration link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_B-7RGnLFTESQCsQ5gEIpbw#/registration This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) would like to update you on our position regarding the Good Neighbor Agreement. Based on Vineyard Wind’s failure to meet its obligations under the Good Neighbor Agreement, the Maria Mitchell Association has decided to exit the Agreement. We recently sent a letter to Vineyard Wind, the Town of Nantucket, and Nantucket Preservation Trust informing them of our decision. This decision was not made lightly. For the past several years, as more information became available regarding additional wind turbine projects, the aggregate impact of the lighting from each turbine, and the recent blade failure, it became increasingly clear to us that the impact on our night skies and our island community was not something we could support. The consideration that we received as part of the agreement was intended to mitigate the effects of the wind farm development to our organization and its members, and we were required to participate as part of the Federal Chapter 106 process that affords protections to Nantucket Island because it is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The impact of approximately 1300 windmills with marine navigation lights and aircraft warning lights would alter permanently the viewshed of Nantucket; with over 4000 visitors a year to the Loines Observatory and a National Science Foundation funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program that funds astronomical research projects each year, those lights would have a detrimental effect on our work. Our decision to exit the agreement is based on Vineyard Wind's actions and our commitment to protect the night skies, those that Maria Mitchell used to chart Venus and discover her comet and have allowed our astronomers to research the cosmos since 1902. We will continue to monitor future projects and if necessary, file comments during the environmental impact periods for stakeholder review, which is part of the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management permitting process. The MMA incurred significant legal fees in our efforts to resolve this issue, your support is greatly appreciated: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/AnnualUnsolicited The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Morgan Raith, as a featured presenter for its October Science Speaker Series. Her presentation will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at 7pm via Zoom. This event is free to all. “Visual Design for Natural Science” Join MMA enthusiast, Morgan Raith, as she shares an overview of her design background, creative process, and details of her island-centered interpretive and educational projects. Having grown up on Nantucket, Morgan appreciates the role that design and storytelling play in sharing the island's rich history and natural wonders. She is excited to share her unique approach to visual communications and problem solving. As an artist, designer, and creative strategist specializing in science communication, Morgan provides creative direction for clients in marine technology, natural science, education, and conservation. She works closely with scientists, engineers, teachers, and cultural experts to transform complex information into accessible visual content for various audiences and settings. Her portfolio includes self-guided tours, interpretive signage, scientific illustration, visual guides, digital storytelling, and exhibit design. Join us on Zoom for this Science Speaker Series Talk. Registration is required for Zoom. To register for Zoom, use the registration link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_waFNlK7ESFSzy5-pW74HdA#/registration This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association’s (MMA) former National Science Foundation (NSF) funded post-baccalaureate research fellow, Michele Woodland, recently published a first-author paper on her work done with the MMA. The work, which is published in the Astrophysical Journal, explores the host galaxies of the elusive fast radio bursts, also known as FRBs. FRBs are bright, millisecond-duration bursts of radio waves that originate from sources outside of our own Milky Way Galaxy. First detected in 2006, discovering the identity and nature of the progenitors of FRBs has remained one of the hottest mysteries in astrophysics over the last two decades. While working as the MMA post-baccalaureate research fellow, Woodland joined the Fast and Fortunate for FRB Follow-up (F4) Collaboration, under the mentorship of the MMA’s Director of Astronomy, Dr. Regina Jorgenson. This collaboration involves researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Northwestern University, and multiple international institutions, all working together to help solve this mystery. Woodland’s work focused on an effort to carefully analyze five FRB host galaxies with detailed imaging taken with the advanced Adaptive Optics system on one of the largest ground-based telescopes in the world. Her paper discusses the location of the FRB with respect to the major features of each host galaxy like spiral arms and other areas of concentrated star formation. Detailed studies of the host galaxies like this one will help astronomers to better understand the elusive progenitors of FRBs, while simultaneously untangling information about the “‘comic web”’ of material along the line of the sight to each galaxy. Regarding her experiences working with the members of the F4 Collaboration and the MMA, Woodland said,” I thoroughly enjoyed working with F4 and the MMA. I gained many new skills from the experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have made so many new connections in the field of astronomy.” Woodland is currently continuing her career in astronomy as a graduate student in astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Sources: (Link to the published paper): https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ ad643c The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA –After nine years at the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) as its Director of Astronomy, Dr. Regina Jorgenson will be leaving the MMA for a tenure-track professorship in Astronomy at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt). The MMA is excited for Dr. Jorgenson to take this step in her career. Since 2016, she has received and supervised several National Science Foundation grants, led the esteemed National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program in astronomy, and led Open Nights at Loines Observatory and other astronomy-related programs. A former MMA NSF- REU intern, Dr. Jorgenson worked under Dr. Vladimir Strelnitski, former Director of the MMA Observatory who revitalized the MMA’s Astronomy Program, as an assistant. She will be an excellent addition to the Astronomy department at Cal Poly Humboldt and they are fortunate to have her expertise. The MMA, its Executive Director Joanna Roche, and its Board of Directors are grateful for her good work and wish her well in her new endeavor. The MMA is pleased to announce that it has hired Dr. Geoff Clayton as its Interim Director of Astronomy. Dr. Clayton, a Nantucket visitor going back to his youth and a year-round island resident, recently retired from Louisiana State University as the chair of the Astronomy Department and the Ball Family Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy. A longtime member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), he is a past Vice President of the AAS and for several years worked as a summer Assistant Director of Astronomy at the MMA with Dr. Strelnitski. Dr. Clayton continues to work on his research; his areas of interest include binary white-dwarf mergers, circumstellar and interstellar dust in the Local Group, and dust formation and evolution in core-collapse in supernovae. Clayton will assist with the running of the MMA’s Astronomy Department and its public programs, including Open Nights at Loines Observatory. The MMA has begun its search process for a new, full-time MMA Director of Astronomy. To find the right individual for this important position, the MMA will be creating a search committee made up of astronomers, former MMA NSF-REU interns, and board members.
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces an upcoming Sustainable Scallop Field Trip program beginning in October. Join the Maria Mitchell Association’s Aquarium Manager, Christina Norman, on a sustainable scalloping adventure! As we collect bay scallops, we will learn all about their biology and the challenges they face. Waders, hand nets, and bathyscopes will be provided. This trip requires a valid shellfish permit in order to take home bay scallops. This program is designed to be interesting for adults and children ages 10 and older. All registered children must be accompanied by a registered adult to participate in this program. Personal transport to and from the meeting location is required to participate. This program meets at the Hither Creek Beach Access (near 25 Massachusetts Avenue). This trip requires a valid shellfish permit in order to take home bay scallops. For more information on obtaining an individual shellfish permit, visit the Town of Nantucket website: https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/2304/Recreational-Shellfish-Permit . Dates: October 2, 9, 13, 19, 20, 23, 26, and 27; November 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23, and 24 Cost per Participant: $25 Pre-registration is required for this event. Registration Link: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/Scalloping-Field-Trip-02Oct2024 The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Dr. Rich Blundell, as a featured presenter for its September Science Speaker Series. His presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 25 at 7pm via Zoom. This event is free to all. “Harbor Monitoring Project Report #1: Deployment, Preliminary Data, and Interpretations” In this presentation, Dr. Richard Blundell will present the activities concerning the MMA’s oceanographic research buoy's deployment and interpret some of the initial data. Blundell will also discuss the logic and findings of the decisions and considerations for collaborative research as the project progresses. Blundell is an ecologist and philosopher working at the convergence of art, science, nature, and culture. As the founder of Oika, his research examines how transformation happens across the scales of person, place, and planet. As a communicator, Blundell tells a scientific story of the universe that includes art and human creativity as natural phenomena. His research and work have received numerous grants and awards including, an ongoing TIDES innovators award, The National Science Foundation grant for Science Out There, the Michael Brinkman Award, The Deep Time Values video award for An Earth Story, The Macquarie University Innovation in Scholarship award for The Cosmosis1 Explorer app, an Oculus Creators Award for In the Light of the Forest VR, and nomination for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Best New Media for “Saving Grey’s Zebra.” Blundell’s creative video work has appeared on PBS, National Geographic, and numerous social media platforms. He is currently the Scientist-In-Residence at the Maria Mitchell Association. To register for this event via Zoom, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LDU0-aFvRAChPQF-GoRkeA#/registration This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that its annual Aquarium Release Day will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 10am - 12pm at the MMA Aquarium’s new location, 32 Washington Street. Join MMA staff for refreshments, face painting, and games as you help the staff release this season’s Aquarium inhabitants back into the ocean. This event is FREE to the public and a great opportunity to learn and celebrate the marine life that live in the waters of Nantucket Island. The MMA Aquarium is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of biodiversity in our unique marine ecosystems found here on Nantucket. Each summer, the MMA Aquarium Manager, Christina Norman, as well as her team of dedicated college interns and volunteers, explore the shores of Nantucket and find and document an assortment of over 7,500 individual marine animals, most of which are recorded and released. They snorkel, seine, and beachcomb to collect over 300 different marine animals. These animals are studied and cared for so that the MMA can help people to learn more about these important marine organisms while they are featured at the popular Washington Street Aquarium throughout the season. These marine animals represent roughly seventy different species collected by the MMA staff in tandem with local fishermen. Pre-registration is encouraged. Register at the link below: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/2024-Aquarium-Release-Day The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces the upcoming 177th anniversary of Maria Mitchell’s discovery, a comet that was subsequently named C1847V1, on October 1, 1847. The MMA will celebrate by hosting Miss Mitchell’s Comet Party at Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street Ext. on Saturday, October 5 from 7 – 9pm. Tickets are available to the public for $25 and can be purchased here: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/Miss-Mitchells-Comet-Party On the evening of October 1, 1847, Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) climbed to the rooftop of the Mitchell family home, then located at the Pacific Bank where her father, William Mitchell, was cashier. This was her nightly regimen, but it was not to be an ordinary night. On that cool evening, Maria swept her telescope across the sky and noticed something that did not belong. It was a comet. Confirmation from her father and then their friends, the Bonds at the Harvard College Observatory, helped lead Maria to be awarded a gold medal from the King of Denmark for her discovery, setting her on a path that changed the trajectory of her life forever. From professor of astronomy at Vassar College, to lifelong friendships with the great scientists and thinkers of the nineteenth century, to employment as one of the first women to work for the US federal government, Maria Mitchell created a legacy that not just influenced the path for women, but for all of us in the sciences, even today. Maria Mitchell was born to Quaker parents on Nantucket, on August 1, 1818. The Quaker tradition taught that both boys and girls should be educated, and Maria received an education at island schools, her father’s schools, and at home. Her father was a major influence on her life; Maria developed her love of astronomy from his instruction in astronomy, mathematics, surveying, and navigation. At age 12, Maria helped her father to calculate the position of their home by observing a solar eclipse. By 14, ship captains trusted her to rate their ships’ chronometers for their long whaling voyages. Maria pursued her love of learning as a young woman, becoming the Nantucket Atheneum’s first librarian. She and her father continued to acquire astronomical equipment and conduct observations, working for the US Coast Survey among other entities. “Maria Mitchell grew up in a unique community in which she witnessed women standing up and speaking in front of Quaker meeting, women making financial decisions for their families, and large numbers of women working outside their homes,” says MMA Deputy Director and Curator of the Mitchell House, Archives, and Special Collections, Jascin Leonardo Finger. “Witnessing this, and having the support of her Quaker parents, Maria Mitchell helped to forge a path for women in education and women in the sciences that not only influenced her generation and that of her students, but the generations that came afterwards including into the present day.” The MMA was founded by Maria Mitchell’s former students, family members, and admirers in 1902. Today, the organization bearing her name strives to continue her legacy through preservation of her birthplace and papers, astronomical and natural science research, and interactive, hands-on educational programs for all ages. Located on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the MMA creates opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. It serves both visitors and seasonal and year-round residents. Now celebrating over a century of discovery, the MMA is dedicated to opening up the universe to curious minds and allowing people to see what before was unseen. The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ######