History
In 1976, three friends – Dr Graham Giese, Dr Charles “Stormy” Mayo and Dr. Barbara Shuler Mayo – combined passionate interest, scientific know-how, and unflagging energy to launch what today is an internationally acclaimed marine research, education and rescue organization. Along the way, the Center has changed and grown:
From 3 young scientists to a staff of 40, working alongside 60 adjunct and citizen scientists, interns, apprentices and volunteers, ranging in age from 16 to 84
From a storage room in the attic of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce to a 12,000 square foot, state of the art, state-certified laboratory
From observing the way waves hit the base of the Truro cliffs, to designing new techniques and strategies to mitigate impacts of coastal erosion and sea level rise
From trying out old whale hunting techniques to slow down giant free-swimming entangled whales, to creating and leading an international network of disentanglement experts
From taking three people on a field walk with clipboards and binoculars, to an education program reaching more than 20,000 people each year
From a curiosity about the sounds whales make, what they eat, and why they congregate around Cape Cod, to two of the most detailed and longest-running whale research programs in the world
From concern over Boston Harbor’s pollution moving to Cape Cod Bay, to becoming the lead institution in testing, monitoring and working to protect the waters surrounding Cape Cod.
We invite you to join us at the Center for Coastal Studies as we discover and investigate the next important issues.
