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LETTER: Is Watertown in Balance?

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Are We in Balance? Balance: “An even distribution of weight, enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” Oxford Languages

I was reading a Watertown News article entitled: “Life Science Building Could Potentially Go on Part of the Home Depot Parking Lot” and the comments that ensued and felt the need to write. As usual, it got long! Balance in Bio Lab Development

First, thanks, Corey Dillon for the list of labs that are empty and/or underutilized at this time. May I add to your list with other lab spaces in Watertown?

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Life Science Companies’ Collaboration With Watertown Schools Will be Featured at Event

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The Watertown Business Coalition’s Life Science Panel returns on April 9 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. See the WBC’s announcement below. The Fourth Annual WBC Life Science Panel this year is called “Learning to Love Science.” This years program will focus on the amazing partnership between Watertown High School and local life science companies, thanks to the hard work of our friend Merle Kummer and the board of “CoLAB.”

CoLAB is a nonprofit organization in Watertown, MA where local life science professionals and high school educators collaborate to inspire student interest in STEM careers – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – and build new levels of STEM self-confidence. Watertown’s life science cluster continues to be a bigger part of Watertown’s economic growth – and students enrichment should be a part of that growth! WE WOULD LOVE FOR MOMS, DADS, STUDENTS and TEACHERS to join us!

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WHS Students Get Hands-On Experience with Biotech Professionals at New CoLAB Club

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Eric Perkins of Addgene works with Watertown High School students during CoLAB Club. (Courtesy of CoLAB)

The following piece was provided by CoLAB:

CoLAB, a not-for-profit organization connecting high school students with Watertown life science companies recently launched the first ever “CoLAB Club” at Watertown High School. CoLAB Club, one of the newest school organizations, is designed to provide hands-on science experience under the guidance of school faculty and employees of life science companies. The club meets after school once a month over dinner, providing a forum for students and professionals to work together to solve research-based scientific experiments. “We are thrilled with the turnout to our first meeting,” said Liz Munday, Chemistry and Earth Science Teacher at Watertown High School, and lead for the CoLAB Club.

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LETTER: City Needs to be Accountable for Noise Standards and Company Compliance

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Dear Newton Neighbors (and especially Cedar),

I want to thank you for reaching out and sharing your neighborhood’s story. I remember seeing you, Cedar, when you addressed our City Council in June. It takes a lot of thought and talent to get your whole point across in just two minutes (the time Watertown residents are allowed to express a concern in that venue), but I remember that you did it admirably, and I’ve often wondered how you and your neighbors fared. Now I know, and your neighborhood’s anger and frustration is shared by many here in Watertown who feel unheard. It is unusual for people to express a concern and propose a possible solution, taking part of the work out of it for our City.

Business

Future of Life Science Industry to be Discussed by Panel at Chamber’s Virtual Event

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host a virtual panel discussion focusing on the future of the life science sector in the area, development and more. “The Value of Life Science Development and Future Impact,” will take place on Thursday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to noon via Zoom. The event is free and open to members & nonmembers. The Chamber provided the following description:

There’s been plenty of worrisome headlines about the fate of Greater Boston’s life science sector. An oversaturated real estate market? Declining stock values and IPOs?

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OP-ED: How Safe is Watertown from a Bio Lab Emergency? Part 4: Conclusions

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

A Thank You

First, if you have been following this series, you know that many people have dedicated their time to helping Watertown residents understand this issue. I thank Provisional Chief Nicholson, Director of Health Larry Ramdin, industry professionals, including Heather McManus, for context on the biotech industry, and the volunteer BioSafety Committee for literally showing us how it’s done. I entered this process with some serious questions about how we were handling our new (and potentially dangerous) corporate neighbors. I have learned that the Fire Department, with the help of a new Lab Safety Fire Captain is “on it” and that the BioSafety Committee, with their tremendous knowledge in the Life Sciences field is tirelessly committed to making this new venture work and work safely for Watertown, despite persistent information sharing problems with the Health Department. (See BioSafety Meeting Feb.

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OP-ED: How Safe is Watertown From a Bio Lab Emergency? Part 1

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

In both numerous news articles about Watertown becoming a biotech hub and from our own personal observations here in Watertown, the vast and rapid proliferation of biotech buildings is looming large. It has become a grave concern for me and for many in this community. And in Waltham, a neighboring city, it was recently reported in the Globe that there was a chemical spill at the Waltham Azenta Life Sciences Lab, involving a liter to a gallon of acid-based, flammable solvent, and requiring the Waltham Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Hazmat team to be called in for assistance. Because of the massive proliferation of bio lab space in Watertown and a recent bio lab chemical spill just next door in Waltham, I decided that it was worth taking a closer look at Watertown’s biosafety preparedness status. To do so, I reviewed the Watertown Biosafety Committee meetings and regulations and City Council meetings.

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Watertown BioSafety Committee Shares How it Oversees Life Science Companies

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An illustration of the different BioSafety Level labs. Watertown has more than 60 life science companies, and more on the way, and they must go through the Watertown BioSafety Committee before they can start operating. Last week, the City Council got an update on what the committee has been doing in its first 2.5 years. The BioSafety Committee was formed as part of the Watertown Biotechnology Regulation, which was adopted by the Watertown Board of Health in 2019 and took effect in July 2020. Existing companies had to come before the BioSafety Committee within a year of the regulations taking effect, and new companies had to come before the committee.