WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR – The annual High School Science Program of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is being held this week at the laboratory’s facility on McKown Point. Now in its thirteenth year, the program honors and introduces sixteen high school juniors to a week of marine research with scientists.

Students chosen this year in the Bangor Daily News circulation area are Katie Alton of Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford; Laura Bragdon-Rowell and Aaron Doody of Stearns High School of Millinocket; Kyle Hendrickson and Erin Leigh Hews of Presque Isle High School; Leslie Matthews of Hampden Academy; Elisabeth Morse of Hermon High School and Jennifer Reynolds of Mount Desert Island High School.

The activities and workshops are intended to broaden and strengthen the students’ interest in science and to provide a better understanding of the diversity of scientific professions. The students were chosen based on their interest in marine science, overall scholastic record and communication skills.

Application materials were sent to all Maine high schools in January. During the week, the daily activities of the students, personal observations and photos will be posted on Bigelow’s home page, www.bigelow.org.