LabVenture! at The Sam L. Cohen Center for Interactive Learning

Illustrative image about GMRI The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is committed to providing free access to marine science education for middle school students from every community in Maine. The Sam L. Cohen Center for Interactive Learning opens the doors to a working marine research laboratory and invite 5th or 6th grade classes from across the state to join us (free of charge) for an immersive half day program called LabVenture!.

LabVenture! asks students to use real scientific methods and tools to study a current, locally relevant resource question. LabVenture! opened in the fall of 2005 with the Mystery of the X-Fish. This mystery is based on a keystone species in both the Gulf of Maine foodweb and our coastal economy. Hands-on, minds-on activities are modeled on actual scientific research being conducted by marine scientists at work along the coast of Maine. The LabVenture! mystery topic will change about once a year to keep pace with new scientific discoveries and showcase other import species in the Gulf of Maine.

"Maine children spend time playing in the woods, boating on lakes, rivers, and bays, or learning from their parents who work outdoors. They intuit science everyday – as they wonder why some beaches are rockier than others or why a particular bait catches more fish. LabVenture! is a unique resource to help schools draw on these rich personal experiences to stimulate students’ interest and confidence in studying sciences."
Alan Lishness, Chief Innovation Officer

LabVenture!'s Mystery of the X-Fish:

Stimulates learning about marine science and the Gulf of Maine community
Illuminates current research projects
Personalizes the scientific process
Keeps pace with scientific discoveries
Inspires and enables ongoing learning
Generates excitement about science-related careers

LabVenture! is much more than a field trip. After visiting the Cohen Center, students can access their own personalized website, complete with a digital scrapbook of their experience (microscope images, team photos, video research reports, etc.). Students who are particularly intrigued by marine science will discover online opportunities for self-directed learning and an active dialogue with our research staff. Plus, teachers are supported in incorporating marine science into their lesson plans with a flexible online suite of pre-visit and post-visit classroom-tested activities.

Illustration of the Cohen Center Named in memory of Sam L. Cohen, a man with tremendous passion for Maine and a commitment to the education of young people, the Cohen Center is the culmination of more than seven years of work by a dedicated group of scientists, educators, and technology innovators. Nearly one hundred corporations, foundations, and individuals across Maine and beyond contributed $2.4 million to design and build this highly immersive education environment in a laboratory shared by some of the region’s leading marine scientists.

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute employs a dedicated staff with a background in both marine research and education to work with the scientists at GMRI, at other laboratories around the region, and out at sea, translating cutting-edge research for 5th/6th graders. Prototype testing with more than 250 students ensures that LabVenture! and The Mystery of the X-Fish is an engaging and age-appropriate experience. Free universal access to the program is made possible by the generosity of sponsors in each of Maine’s 16 counties.