ABOUT THE LITTLE CAYMAN RESEARCH CENTER

LOCATION
The Little Cayman Research Center (LCRC) is located on the north side of Little Cayman island. It is approximately 6600 sq. ft in size and located on 2 acres of land with 1400 ft of reef-protected beach. The Little Cayman Research Center opens onto the beautiful Caribbean Sea and the world-renowned Bloody Bay Marine Park lies less than 1/2 mile to the west.

GETTING HERE
The Little Cayman Research Center is easy to travel to with flights from most major U.S. cities to Grand Cayman. From Grand Cayman, it is just a short-hop flight to Little Cayman.

STATION CONTACT
For further information, please contact the LCRC Station Manager (Contact Us)

DESIGN
The Little Cayman Research Center was designed by architect and imagineer John Doak of Cayman Style to be a series of connected pavilions (see figure below). The Main Pavilion (center), Kitchen Pavilion (right), and Outdoor Wet Lab Pavilion (left) form the main core of the center. A Bath House Pavilion (far left - not shown) completes this part of the project.

FACILITIES

MAIN STATION PAVILION
The Main Station Pavilion includes a classroom, library, laboratories, dormitories and private rooms, an Office center, a Visitors center, and a Student center. Other facilities include computers with wireless internet access, and marine and other biology-oriented texts.

> Visitor Center: Main Station Pavilion First Floor
The Visitors Center provides displays and illustrations portraying the dangers to reefs in the Cayman Islands and around our planet. In addition, displayed posters depict some of the current research being undertaken by the Center's scientists. Finally, local youths have also developed biological and ecological displays of the coral reef creatures so many people visit the Cayman Islands to see. The Visitors Center is a key part of the educational mission of the Little Cayman Research Center in the Cayman Islands

> Classroom Facing the Sea: Main Station Pavilion First Floor
The island of Little Cayman and the surrounding reefs are the classroom for students visiting the Little Cayman Research Center. However, sometimes teaching requires tools that nature alone can not provide. For this reason we have a large Multimedia Classroom. The Classroom can easily seat 50+ students and is located on the ground floor of The Little Cayman Research Center, facing the Caribbean Sea to the north. The classroom is currently outfitted with a PC projector, fast wireless internet access.

> Laboratories: Main Station Pavilion First Floor
Lab 1 - Indoor Wet Lab is a 195-square-foot indoor wet lab. This lab is intended for easy processing of field samples. It provides ample work areas, and has multiple fresh-and salt-water taps and deep and shallow processing tables and tanks.

Lab 2 - Critter Analysis Lab is a 195-square-foot analysis lab. This lab is used to analyze samples collected and have already been processed in the wet labs or to evaluate the progress of ongoing experiments. It contains dissecting microscopes, centrifuges, and basic glassware. A drying oven and storage refrigerator is also available.

Lab 3 - Tech Lab is a 175-square-foot lab that is intended for geochemical or climate-control experiments. This lab is used for experiments that require environmental control.

> Library: Main Station Pavilion Second Floor
The Little Cayman Research Center has a library with literature on previous research conducted in the Cayman Islands as well as important journals and books documenting tropical biological studies. The library is computer-link and Conservation Biology provides the Library with a free subscription to the journal.

> Dormitories & Private Rooms: Main Station Pavilion Second Floor
The sleeping quarters are located on the second floor of the station. Four separate dorm rooms can house up to six students each (accomodating up to 24 people). Two rooms are allocated as visiting scientists quarters with separate men's and women's washrooms. There is also a comfortable lounge on the second floor where students can sit and relax after a long day of work.

WET LAB PAVILION
Lab 4 - The Wet Lab Pavilion is a 540-square-foot open-air wet lab pavilion. This is used to observe and process coral reef organisms in an outdoor shaded environment with free-flowing sea water. It also contains large aquariums and specimen tanks.

AUNT MITZI'S KITCHEN PAVILION
A fully-equipped commercial kitchen and screened-in dining area. Open for 3 meals per day when groups of 4 or more are resident. We can easily accommodate 30 visitors. The screened community dining area provides an excellent place for visitors to reflect on the days events while enjoying dinner.

BATH HOUSE PAVILION - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN AT LCRC
The Bath House is an off-the grid, solar-powered bath house with composting toilets and a grey water garden. The Bath House at the Little Cayman Research Center is the first sustainably designed facility in the Cayman Islands.

BOATS & TRANSPORT
BOATS: 21 ft. MAKO (for 4 divers or 6 snorkelers), 32 ft Pontoon Boat, 34 ft specially-designed Dive and Research Vessel (equipped for 14 divers (2 tanks each) or 18 snorkelers).

DIVING
Air and Nitrox available. SCUBA gear is available for rental. This summer we will complete our SCUBA Shack for drying and storing gear.

COMING SOON
Managers Quarters, Boat House, Outdoor Wet Lab, and sustainable living bungalows...