Dear Brains, Minds and Machines Applicant,

It is with regret that I write to inform you that the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is cancelling the 2020 Brains, Minds and Machines  (BMM) 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 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 BMM  experience this fall.

If you are interested in taking the course in 2021 then 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, the MBL will be hosting a virtual event in July where you will have an opportunity to meet the Course Directors and some faculty, and learn more about the MBL.  Additionally, the Course Directors are planning some virtual lectures and information will be forthcoming.

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