Tabor's location and facilities for Marine Science study are unrivaled at the secondary school level. The Marine and Nautical Science Center, established in 2005, is a state-of-the art research facility that is, literally, surrounded by a tidal salt marsh. This pristine location, donated to the school specifically as an environmentally protected educational/teaching resource, allows students to perform sophisticated, ongoing marine biological research and investigation. The Center houses over 75 tanks and a variety of controlled salt water flow-through options for study. Aquaculture facilities, a touch tank for indigenous organisms, and a series of tropical tanks all contribute to a vibrant and versatile laboratory resource. The Schaefer Oceanology Laboratory, established in 1996, is a second marine lab facility that provides similar research and educational opportunities for Tabor science students. Both labs are in full operation throughout the year accommodating winter and summer programs.
During the fall/winter/spring, Tabor students concentrate on a variety of intertidal and salt marsh investigations. Students work on developing a credible database of plants and animals found in the adjacent coastal areas. Their work has included creating a comprehensive list of invertebrates, birds and mammals inhabiting these areas. Currently among the lab’s many scientific activities are joint aquaculture projects with the Town of Marion involving raising clams, oysters, and scallops from seed.
Independent projects are also encouraged. One senior, for example, recently analyzed populations of local Japanese shore crabs, an invasive species. The research objective was to determine the numbers of crabs per square meter in a local intertidal zone to help develop a baseline database for later comparison.
Tabor's Marine Science program is well known in the local area, and the school takes the fullest possible advantage of opportunities for collaboration with nearby organizations. The world renown Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is less than 30 minutes from campus, which allows students easy access to programs and research opportunities sponsored there. WHOI scientists are also frequent guests on the Tabor campus to present research or provide expertise on a given topic. Organizations such as the Coalition for Buzzards Bay, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the Mystic Aquarium are also partners in providing resources for Tabor students.
