Conference Program
The program for the 2017 Graduate Climate Conference is now available below!
Conference Location
This is the second GCC hosted at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA. Woods Hole is located at the Southwest tip of Cape Cod, about 1.5 hours south of Boston by car.
Registration/check-in will be on the 1st floor (front entrance) of the Swope Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) from 12-1:30pm Friday. Upon arrival, you will leave your luggage in a holding area outside of Swope and proceed to the front desk to obtain your ID. Lunch will be served upstairs on the 2nd floor in Swope.
Transportation between Boston & Woods Hole
You should receive an email from us with details of your travel itinerary between Thursday November 2nd and Monday November 5th.
Those arriving in Boston on Thursday, November 9th should make arrangements with their hosts regarding times and places to meet.
For those traveling to Woods Hole on Friday, November 10th (most of you), you will either be driving yourself or taking a vehicle from MIT’s campus to MBL. Participants who are driving to the conference should proceed directly to the the MBL Swope Center for conference registration. You can enter 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole MA 02543 on the GPS. Please plan to arrive no later than noon on Friday. MBL parking permits must be requested upon registration.
If you are taking the GCC bus or another vehicle from MIT’s campus to MBL on Friday morning, we will be meeting at 10AM at the Ames Street crosswalk on campus (25 Ames St, Cambridge, MA, 02142), as in the map below:
You can take a cab from the airport or train/bus station, which will cost about $40 and take 20-30 minutes. Or you can take the MBTA (referred to as the “T”) which includes the subway, bus and commuter rail system in Boston. The MIT campus is located at the Kendall/MIT stop on the Red Line of the subway system (see map below):
The best way to get to MIT from the airport is to catch the free Silver Line bus from outside the lower level (baggage claim) of each terminal. This bus provides a free transfer into the subway system at South Station, from which point you can catch the Red Line to Kendall/MIT (look for the Inbound train in the direction of Alewife). Those arriving via train or bus will have to purchase a farecard (<$3) to board the subway at South Station.
Get off four stops later at the Kendall/MIT station. The OpenMBTA smartphone app is a great way to track bus/subway arrival and departure times when using public transportation in Boston.
Finally, on Sunday November 12th we will have an early bus leaving from MBL to Boston at 1:30pm and a later van and drivers leaving between 5:00pm-6:00pm. Please check our final information email to find out which transportation option you’ve been assigned to according to your travel plans.
Accommodations
If staying at MBL, you will be sharing a dorm room with another GCC participant, unless you paid extra for a private room through MBL’s website. All rooms have two twin size beds. Bedding and towels will be provided.
Sunday Activities, post-conference
We will host several activities in both Woods Hole and Boston on Sunday after the conference. Some of the available options are listed below.
Woods Hole:
For those who signed up to stay in Woods Hole on Sunday afternoon, we will be offering tours of the new WHOI Research Vessel (R/V) Armstrong starting at 4:00pm and 4:45pm.
Options in Woods Hole Town include:
-Pie in the Sky
-Walk around Eel Pond
-Walk to Nobska Lighthouse
Options in Falmouth (requires transportation):
-Walk to the Knob
-Rent bikes for the bikepath
-Walking the trails of Beebe Woods
-Explore Falmouth town
Boston:
Boston is a city with countless options for things to do. Guests who chose to go to Boston immediately after the conference will be given the freedom to use this time as they wish.
Options for Boston activities include:
-Get a tour and hang out at the beer hall at Harpoon Brewery
-Walk the Freedom Trail
-Visit the New England Aquarium
-Tour the Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts or Fenway Park
-Go (window) shopping on Newbury Street
-Walk around Boston Common
What to bring
-Poster or back-up copy of your presentation, Printed or photocopied travel receipts and boarding passes (if you were awarded a travel grant)
-Warm clothes, Rain jacket, Toiletries, closed-toed shoes, Costume for Saturday party (dress as your science?)
-Cash for incidental expenses and optional activities
MBL alcohol policy
MBL has asked us to pass along their alcohol policy for you to review here. They will be providing an open (beer/wine) bar during the Saturday poster session in Swope. Please do not bring your own alcohol to this event and only consume alcohol in the event hall and during the hours of the poster session. That is, please do not wander around the campus/neighborhood with open beverages. You can, however, consume alcohol in your rooms, so long as you are of age and do so respectfully (please don’t throw a party there; there are several bars to party at down the street anyway).