<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000'><br><p><img src="http://blportalmc.burrellesluce.com/LogoDir/releases/MC91209_8cc7228d7c37dae.jpg" alt="" dfsrc="http://blportalmc.burrellesluce.com/LogoDir/releases/MC91209_8cc7228d7c37dae.jpg" border="0"></p>
<p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p>
<table cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr valign="top">
<td><strong>Contact:</strong></td>
<td>Susan Joslin</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td> </td>
<td>Marine Biological Laboratory</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td> </td>
<td>Phone: (508) 289-7281</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td> </td>
<td>E-Mail: sjoslin@mbl.edu</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Tuesday, February 12, 2013</strong></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Free Hands-on Lab Experience for Middle School Students at MBL, February 20</h1>
<h2 align="center"></h2>
<div><strong>MBL, Woods Hole, MA</strong> – Middle-school students are invited to explore “life under the lens” at a free school vacation week activity at the MBL (Marine Biological Laboratory), Wednesday, February 20<sup> </sup>from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in the Loeb Laboratory, 18 MBL Street, Woods Hole. The event, sponsored by the MBL Associates, is free, but space is limited and registration is required.
<div> </div>
<div>Students will move from station to station, trying a variety of hands-on experiments using the microscope or magnifying lens. Following along in their own observation booklets, students will be introduced to scientific inquiry, and for some, to their first use of a microscope. The event is open to children in fifth through eighth grade.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For more information about this event, or to register, contact Kama Thieler at the Woods Hole Science, Technology, and Education Partnership (WHSTEP), <a href="mailto:whstep-info@whoi.edu" target="_blank">whstep-info@whoi.edu</a> or (508) 289-3478.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>—###—</div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery and improving the human condition through research and education in biology, biomedicine, and environmental science. Founded in 1888 in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the MBL is an independent, nonprofit corporation.</em></div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>The MBL Associates are a group of individuals and businesses that support the scientific mission of the MBL through their gifts to the Annual Fund. The Associates sponsor educational and research programs for the MBL and raise funds for special projects. In addition, they operate the MBL Gift Shop, located on Water Street in Woods Hole, the profits from which support scientific fellowships.</em></div>
</div>
<p><img src="http://magent.enr-corp.com/logopen.asp?reltrans=346791-0021" alt="" dfsrc="http://magent.enr-corp.com/logopen.asp?reltrans=346791-0021" height="1" width="1"></p>
<br><br><br></div></body></html>