Dear Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences Applicant,

It is with regret that I write to inform you that the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is cancelling the 2020 Optical Microscopy (OMIBS) course. As I am sure you are aware, the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus global health emergency have triggered a series of events that require travel constraints, stay at home orders, and social distancing. Given these circumstances, the MBL has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of the entire MBL community, and therefore, has chosen to cancel the course following guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Given complexities of coordinating a course such as this, including the concern that many participants might be unable to come to the MBL even if we did hold the course, it is clear that it would not be possible to recreate the full OMIBS experience this summer.

If you are interested in taking the course in 2021, your 2020 application will automatically be considered. We will contact you in November to inquire about your continued interest and availability and relay any additional relevant information. You may also wish to add and/or update your application at that time.  In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact education@mbl.edu  On a related note, we will be hosting a virtual event in July where you will have an opportunity to meet the Course Directors and some faculty to learn a bit more about the MBL. The decision and steps being taken to mitigate the spread of the virus are disruptive to all of us and I thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.

I hope that most of you will be able to join us in Woods Hole next year.

Regards,

Nipam H. Patel
Director