Tuesday, August 25, 2026
It was an honor to join Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, UMass Amherst re...
It was an honor to join Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, UMass Amherst representatives, state and local officials, and Gloucester community members for the ribbon cutting at the Gloucester Marine Station and for the dedication of the Ann-Margaret Ferrante Living Lab for Marine Science and Education earlier this summer.
The completion of these long-planned upgrades includes a Living Seawall — the second in North America — that will serve as a coastal laboratory, along with a new dock and crane system and 17,000 square feet of upgraded research and education space. Thanks to these improvements, students will have access to a seamless lab-to-ocean experience as they study coastal resilience.
This $4.4 million investment is about much more than improvements to a facility. It strengthens a critical North Shore resource for marine research, hands-on education, coastal resilience and the future of our blue economy.
I am especially pleased to see this new Living Lab named in honor of the late Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante. Ann-Margaret was a tireless advocate for Gloucester and the North Shore, and she understood the importance of investing in research, innovation and the people who call our coastal communities home.
I was proud to work alongside Ann-Margaret to help make this project a reality. Seeing her name carried forward in a place dedicated to learning, discovery and service is a fitting tribute to her legacy.
It was meaningful to see this tribute come to life alongside my colleague, Rep. Dru Tarr. Ann-Margaret believed deeply in the power of research, education and opportunity to strengthen Gloucester and the Commonwealth.
This Living Lab will carry that vision forward for generations to come — a fitting and lasting tribute to a remarkable public servant, colleague and friend.
