UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station
Dr. Sarah Oktay
Managing Director
180 Polpis Road
Nantucket, MA 02554

Office Phone:
508-228-5268
Lab Phone:
508-228-9475

sarah.oktay@umb.edu

:: UMass Boston's Nantucket Facilities

The university facility

main Nantucket house

In 1963, the Nantucket Island estate of the late Mr. Stephen Peabody was donated to the University of Massachusetts by the Nina Hazen Foundation for use as a teaching and research field station. In 1965, the late Katherine Coe Folger gave an additional gift of land. In 2004, The Nantucket Conservation Foundation bought the land and the University is allowed to use the facilities for teaching and research. The Nantucket Field Station (NFS) site includes a 40 acre salt marsh, 2,000 feet of sandy beach fronting on Nantucket harbor, mowed fields, upland shrub habitat, and a large freshwater pond.

bunkFour buildings including a classroom, laboratory, workshop, and office occupy the 107 acre site on Nantucket Harbor some five miles from Nantucket center. A 1,200 sq. ft. laboratory provides workspace and bench space for visiting researchers. A two story 2,200 sq. ft. building houses a workshop used for maintence of the facility as well as boats, vehicles, motors, and scientific equipment. The shop building also provides a 1100 sq. ft. residence for the NFS Research director. A 500 sq. ft. cabin constitutes the Field Station office.

Gouin Village housing unitStudent, faculty, and reseachers housing is provided at Gouin Village housing (20 Vesper Lane), located close to the center of Nantucket. Gouin Village contains five 2 bedroom apartments capable of accommodating 26 people.

Resident staff at the NFS maintains laboratory facilities, field equipment, and classroom facilities for year-round use. Activities include research and education use by groups and investigators from a number of Northeast regional institutions in addition to UMB, undergraduate summer courses, year-round interdisciplinary seminars and field trips, and use by numerous local community and governmental groups:

image of a group at the nantucket facilitiesIf you are interested in using the Field Station facilities (for education, research, or community service), contact the scheduling office to check for avilability of space and scheduling information.

To visit the new Field Station self-guided Nature Trail, contact the Field Station Office and arrange a time to come, or take a virtual tour of the Nature Trail.