Glovers Reef Research Station (GRRS) offers a full complement of facilities necessary for marine research on the Glovers Reef Atoll. The station is comprised of eleven buildings, including two dormitories, the Operations Manager's house, a kitchen/dining area, wet and dry laboratories, a classroom/library, compressor and generator house, a workshop, a boating equipment locker, and an observation tower.
LODGING
The station is equipped to house up to 25 guests at a time. Two dormitory buildings, housing up to sixteen people, are set slightly away from the main ‘village’ area, looking east over the outer reef wall. There are six 2-person rooms and one large 4-person room, all with electrical sockets and shelves. Two additional 2-person dorm rooms flank the library/classroom. Sheets, pillows, and towels are provided and changed twice a week upon request. There are no laundry facilities for short-term guests. Special laundry arrangements can be made for guests staying over two weeks.
The shower facilities are located across from the dormitories. There are two showers and sinks fed by collected rainwater during the rainy season and pumped, treated well water during the driest times. There are four toilets on the island, two near the dormitories and two near the library/classroom. The toilets are Clivus Multrum composting units; enclosed and non-polluting.
DINING
The dining room seats up to 20 at any one time. A full-time cook is responsible for the kitchen and dining area. Meals are served three times a day with packed lunches available when necessary. Food is primarily Belizean and North American cuisine. Special diets can be accommodated but must be communicated well in advance of researchers’ arrival at the station. Food and other supplies are purchased on the mainland and arrive once every two weeks, normally on Fridays. Drinking water is available at all times.
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FACILITIES
The dry lab shares its space with the education center. There are four lab stations with storage drawers and electrical sockets. The station has a very limited supply of laboratory equipment, so researchers and educators coming to the station should bring any specialized laboratory or field equipment that they may need.
The wet lab is located below the dry lab. Several aquaria are available, and filtered seawater is piped from the atoll lagoon to various outlets over workstation troughs. A large table is situated in the middle of the wet lab, equipped with electrical sockets, to provide a large working area.
The classroom/library is equipped with a TV, DVD player, LCD projector, and a small marine science library. With three tables, the classroom can be configured in different ways to accommodate your group.
Wireless internet is available 24 hours a day in the dining area, wet and dry labs, and the classroom/library.
SUSTAINABILITY
GRRS is committed to minimally impacting the island and surrounding marine reserve, and therefore has developed a power system that relies mainly on renewable energy. Solar and wind power provide the main sources of power for the everyday needs of the station, with a 2,000 Watt array of solar panels that charge a bank of 12 deep cycle batteries. DC generated power is converted to standard 110 A/C system by an Outback inverter, providing standard house current which powers most appliances for the majority of the working day, and lights and fans at night. Two generators are in place as a back up when needed, and run on an average of 3 hours a day to maintain battery charge and freezer temperatures for the night.
In addition to using renewable energy, the station’s composting toilets are non-polluting, and the majority of water consumed is from filtered rainwater. Pumped and treated well water provides an alternate source of water during the driest months of the year. The station strives to be efficient in its use of both water and electricity in order to avoid waste.