U.S. Department of Energy grant supports 91¸£Àû study of forest recovery after timber harvesting led by Daniel Hayes, professor of geospatial analysis and remote sensing

Maine’s forests support jobs, supply wood for homes and businesses, and provide places to hunt, hike and enjoy the outdoors. University of Maine researchers will study what happens after a timber harvest — and how the forest grows back.

A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant announced Friday, Oct. 16, will support the project.

The findings could help forest managers better understand how harvesting affects the trees left behind and the next generation of growth. The research focuses on partial harvesting, a common practice in northern U.S. commercial forests that removes some trees while leaving others standing.

Led by Daniel Hayes, 91¸£Àû professor of geospatial analysis and remote sensing, the team will study a section of Howland Research Forest in central Maine that was harvested in August 2025. Researchers will compare it with a nearby area that was not harvested to see how logging changes the forest’s growth and recovery.

Howland has been used for forest research for decades, providing researchers with extensive historical data.

“Here, we have this really unique opportunity. It’s almost a perfect test bed site for a research study,� Hayes said.

They will track the growth of remaining trees and seedlings and examine how leftover branches and wood break down. That process releases nutrients that can help new trees grow. Researchers also will measure how much carbon dioxide the forest takes in and releases.

An airplane carrying laser mapping equipment will capture detailed, three-dimensional pictures of the forest each year. Those images will show how its height and structure change as trees grow.

Researchers collected measurements from both the air and ground before the August 2025 harvest, establishing a baseline for studying the forest’s recovery.

“We measured everything we could in the short time that we had,� Hayes said.

The team will combine the images with tree rings, measurements from 96 forest plots and more than 25 years of carbon dioxide measurements at Howland.

The research will help improve the DOE’s Earth system model that predicts forest growth and carbon storage. It currently does not account for partial harvesting and recovery after logging.

The four-year project will provide new data on how forests respond to harvesting, helping researchers improve predictions of future forest conditions.

91¸£Àû School of Forest Resources researchers Shawn Fraver, Xinyuan Wei, Aaron Weiskittel, and Rose Z. Abramoff will collaborate with Hayes and Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the project.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

Beneath Maine’s salt marshes, an invisible transformation is constantly underway. Water moves through soil and rock. Chemicals react. Tiny microbes living underground help determine whether minerals dissolve or form, how fluids move and whether pollutants break down or spread.

Existing computer models used to guide decisions about energy infrastructure and contamination often treat microbes as fixed and unchanging, even though they constantly adapt to their surroundings. For decades, incorporating molecular biology information into those models has remained one of the field’s biggest unsolved challenges.

Now, a research team led by University of Maine professors Jiaze Wang and Amanda Albright Olsen is aiming to close that gap after receiving funding through the .

Using artificial intelligence, the 91¸£Àû researchers are working to incorporate molecular biology information into the physical models scientists rely on to predict what’s happening underground. The challenge is one of scale. Microbial genomic data is extraordinarily detailed but has historically been too complex to integrate into large-scale underground models.

The project will analyze microbial genetic information using AI to identify the biological processes that most strongly influence underground chemical reactions. Those insights will then be integrated into existing subsurface models, allowing scientists to better simulate how microbes, minerals and groundwater interact in changing environments.

By bringing molecular biology into subsurface models, the researchers hope to improve predictions that support groundwater management, environmental remediation, responsible critical mineral development and energy infrastructure planning. Improved models could help scientists and decision-makers protect groundwater, clean up contaminated sites and plan energy projects with greater confidence.

The Genesis Mission award

The Genesis Mission is a historic new national initiative led by the U.S. Department of Energy, which is building the world’s most powerful integrated science discovery platform. By uniting government, industry, academia and philanthropy, it is accelerating breakthroughs in energy, scientific discovery and national security through a new platform that combines AI, supercomputing, quantum systems and advanced scientific instruments.

91¸£Àû was selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Genesis Mission-funded research teams, making it one of the first universities participating in the innovative initiative. The awards were announced Wednesday at a U.S. DOE event in Washington, D.C.

91¸£Àû is leading the project in partnership with the University of Delaware and Argonne National Laboratory. The collaboration brings together expertise in bioinformatics, computational biology, AI, subsurface modeling and geochemistry.

The 91¸£Àû-led project was one of 278 selected by the DOE from more than 5,000 proposals. It was also the only project selected from Maine.

What it means for 91¸£Àû

The project builds on 91¸£Àû’s nationally recognized strengths in environmental research and computational modeling while expanding collaborations across disciplines and institutions.

The grant funds a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher at 91¸£Àû, both of whom will train directly on the project. That hands-on experience reflects 91¸£Àû’s mission as the state’s R1, learner-centered university, giving students opportunities to contribute to nationally significant research while working alongside leading scientists and preparing to lead and innovate in the state’s workforce.

“We are proud to be part of the inaugural Genesis Mission and to see our researchers contributing to this new era of scientific discovery,â€� President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said. “This project exemplifies what makes 91¸£Àû such a special place to learn and innovate. Our students have the opportunity to work alongside nationally recognized experts on projects that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges while developing solutions that can make a difference here in Maine and well beyond.â€�

Giovanna Guidoboni, interim vice president for research, said the award reinforces 91¸£Àû’s leadership in interdisciplinary research.

“At 91¸£Àû, leading research that addresses complex, real-world challenges is at the heart of our mission,â€� said Guidoboni, also the dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. “This project demonstrates the impact of bringing together expertise across disciplines while creating meaningful, research-based learning opportunities for our students. What we learn matters, but how we apply that knowledge to improve lives and communities is what defines us.â€�

AI and environmental science converge

Wang, the principal investigator, said the project brings together disciplines that have historically worked in isolation.

“This project is trying to bring together concepts from very different disciplines and unite them,� Wang said. “We know the subsurface is a combination of geology and biology, and our goal is to bring that expertise together.�

The challenge, she said, extends to the microbes themselves.

“The microbes are like magicians,� Wang said. “They can transform the subsurface in ways we don’t fully understand yet, and we know so little about them.�

For Olsen, the co-principal investigator, the use of AI and the Genesis Mission award represents a turning point.

“This is a problem I didn’t think we would solve,� she said. “Having this project, where I can actually see a path to solving something people have worked on for my entire career, that feels like a paradigm shift in how we do this kind of work.�

Starting with the coast

In this first phase, the team is focusing on coastal systems, including salt marshes like the ones that define much of Maine’s shoreline. The team will test its work using real-world data from coastal wetlands from Lake Erie to the Chesapeake Bay.

Coastal environments change quickly, making it easier to observe how microbes, minerals and groundwater interact than in slower-changing systems. They also face challenges such as saltwater intrusion, groundwater contamination and declining water quality, making them an ideal testing ground for the team’s approach.

Salt marshes are systems people in Maine already understand and value, Olsen said, making them a natural starting point for tools that could eventually benefit land-locked communities.

Applications far beyond the coast

Although the work begins on coastlines, the researchers say the tools they’re developing could be applied to subsurface systems around the world. The same modeling approach could help determine where it’s safe and healthy to build energy infrastructure, whether contamination found at a site will break down or spread and how critical minerals can be mined more responsibly. 

The work could also inform decisions about using the subsurface in other rapidly changing environments, including polar regions.

By the end of the project, the team plans to deliver:

• A library of microbial genetic information for subsurface physical models
• An upgraded version of a widely used subsurface simulation model
• A faster AI model emulator capable of running large-scale subsurface predictions

“Any system where you’re trying to understand whether a soil is healthy, or whether water is contaminated, requires understanding how these reactions couple together,� Olsen said. “That’s true almost anywhere on Earth’s surface.�

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

As the May 1 college decision deadline approaches, students are showing increased interest in academic programs with clear career pathways.

At the University of Maine, that trend is evident across disciplines tied to growing sectors of the U.S. economy, including engineering, health care and biomedical sciences, business, natural resources and environmental sciences, agriculture and food systems, communication sciences and disorders, and biotechnology.

University data highlight several indicators of that demand:

• Mechanical engineering enrollment has increased by more than 30% over the past decade, with a 95% student satisfaction rate.
• The wildlife, fisheries and conservation biology program reports that 95% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school, with 82% working in natural resource fields.
• The Maine Business School, which will enroll 330 first-year students, filled nearly half of those seats before April and reports a 94% positive outcome rate.
• In animal and veterinary sciences, about 20% of graduates continue to veterinary or medical school.
• Health-related fields tied to several majors are projected to see continued jobgrowth over the next decade.

Mechanical engineering

91¸£Àû’s mechanical engineering program, now the university’s largest major, has expanded in response to national demand for engineers in industries including manufacturing, technology and transportation.

Enrollment has increased by more than 30% over the past decade. Graduates are recruited by employers such as Bath Iron Works, Pratt & Whitney, Northrop Grumman, Texas Instruments, GE and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The curriculum progresses from foundational coursework in math and physics to advanced engineering applications, with an emphasis on analysis, design and problem-solving. Experiential learning is integrated throughout, with students participating in internships, co-ops and a yearlong senior capstone design sequence focused on design, prototyping and testing.

Students may pursue concentrations such as aerospace engineering, along with minors or certificates in robotics, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. The program reports a 95% positive student sentiment rate.

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Wildlife, fisheries and conservation biology

The wildlife, fisheries and conservation biology program has more than doubled in enrollment over the past two decades, reflecting sustained interest in conservation and natural resource careers.

The curriculum emphasizes field-based learning. More than half of courses include outdoor labs, and students complete a required immersive field experience in Downeast Maine that is frequently cited as a defining part of their education. More than 80% of undergraduates report that fieldwork influenced their decision to enroll.

Students gain experience through field surveys, internships and research. 91¸£Àû 70% complete field experiences, and more than half participate in faculty-led research. Faculty and students have also produced more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and secured nearly $16 million in research funding during the past five years.

Among graduates, 95% are employed or enrolled in graduate school, and 82% work in natural resource fields.

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Speech, pre-medical and biomedical sciences

91¸£Àû is reporting increased interest in programs that prepare students for careers in health care, research and biotechnology, reflecting broader national workforce trends.

Fields such as speech-language pathology and audiology are projected to experience above-average job growth over the next decade, according to federal labor data. Demand is influenced by factors including an aging population and expanded access to care.

Programs in communication sciences and disorders, biology, biochemistry and microbiology provide preparation for graduate study and professional careers, including speech-language pathology as well as medical, dental and veterinary school.

Students frequently participate in faculty-led research, gaining experience that supports applications to graduate programs or entry into the workforce. Faculty say the programs emphasize both academic preparation and applied learning.

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Business

The Maine Business School is nearing capacity for its incoming class, reflecting strong student demand for business education.

The program will enroll 330 first-year students, and nearly half of those seats were filled before April. Administrators say the pace of enrollment indicates sustained interest throughout the admissions cycle.

Students are drawn to the flexibility of the degree, particularly the general business major, which allows exploration across disciplines before selecting a concentration. Finance and marketing remain among the most popular areas of study.

The school reported a 94% positive outcome rate for the Class of 2024, defined as graduates employed, enrolled in graduate school or participating in service programs within six months. Officials say the program is designed to prepare students for a range of careers across industries.

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Animal and veterinary sciences

Enrollment in 91¸£Àû’s animal and veterinary sciences program has increased since before the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting demand for careers in animal health, veterinary medicine and agriculture.

The program prepares students for careers in veterinary medicine, research and agriculture-related fields. 91¸£Àû 20% of graduates continue to veterinary or medical school, while others enter the workforce directly.

Students gain hands-on experience at the university’s J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, where they work with animals in applied settings and develop practical skills.

All students also participate in research with faculty on topics including animal health, environmental systems and disease. Faculty say the program is structured to support both exploration and career preparation as workforce demand continues to grow.

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Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu 

University of Maine ecology professor Brian McGill has been named a 2026 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, one of the highest honors in the scientific community.

AAAS Fellows are a group of scientists, engineers and innovators recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. 

Other AAAS Fellows from 91¸£Àû have included Susan Brawley, professor emerita of plant biology and marine ecology and 2012 AAAS Fellow; Joyce Longcore, research professor of fungal pathogens and 2012 AAAS Fellow; Daniel Sandweiss, professor of anthropology and climate studies and 2014 AAAS Fellow; and R. Dean Astumian, professor of physics and 2016 AAAS Fellow; and Heather Leslie, professor of marine sciences and 2022 AAAS Fellow.

“I am grateful to have my research recognized by this honorary fellowship. I’ve been lucky to have great collaborators and students throughout. I take this recognition as a challenge to do bolder, more innovative research and teaching to find the solutions so badly needed to enable humans to successfully coexist with nature before irreversible changes happen,â€� McGill said. 

McGill studies biodiversity at large scales of space and time across many species. His 

ideas have a wide-ranging impact in his field of macroecology. 

McGill’s work established the importance of prediction in ecology and identified unifying principles in the field. He also pioneered solutions to conceptual issues in his discipline related to the widely-used and vaguely-defined term biodiversity. He and his colleagues developed a series of scientifically measurable concepts to resolve this long-standing source of ambiguity in the field of ecology and provided concrete tools to better measure and assess biodiversity in management contexts.

Through the blog “Dynamic Ecology,� McGill and two co-authors shape the way research is conducted in labs across the planet and provide mentorship globally on successfully navigating academic cultures. The blog, with as many as 700,000 visits per year, is the most widely read in academic ecology.

In addition to being named a AAAS Fellow, McGill was named one of the most cited researchers in the world in 2019, 2020 and 2021 by Web of Science. His research is also featured in textbooks from high school to the graduate level. 

McGill is a lifetime honorary fellow of the Ecological Society of America, which is bestowed to approximately 250 of the organization’s 9,000 members. In 2023, he was awarded the Humboldt Research Award, one of the most prestigious scientific honors in Germany. He also received the  91¸£Àû Presidential Research and Creative Achievement award in 2024, 2020 Outstanding Faculty Research Award from what is today 91¸£Àû’s College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. 

McGill, whose lab is part of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, has been a faculty member in the School of Biology and Ecology since 2010. He also holds a joint appointment in the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and a cooperating appointment in the Climate Change Institute. He served until recently as editor-in-chief of Global Ecology and Biogeography and formerly as associate editor of Frontiers of Ecology and Environment, American Naturalist, and Global Ecology and Biogeography. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

From the gardens to the farms and forests, Eddie Nachamie has dedicated his undergraduate career toward protecting the environment. At the University of Maine, he has worked on projects to reduce food waste, preserve wild blueberries and mitigate the spread of a group of chemicals known as PFAS.

As a result of his efforts, Nachamie of North Andover, Massachusetts received the 2025 , identifying his potential as a leader in environmental stewardship. He was and is the first recipient from 91¸£Àû in over 15 years.

“I am incredibly grateful to have been awarded the Udall Scholarship,â€� said Nachamie, who received support for his application from the Office of Major Scholarships and by professor Darren Ranco,  the faculty representative at 91¸£Àû for the scholarship. “We’re at a pivotal moment in history where our actions on environmental issues matter more than ever.â€�

Nachamie, a 91¸£Àû Honors College student majoring in ecology and environmental sciences, has been involved in research targeted at improving public health and the environment throughout his college career. 

During his first year at 91¸£Àû, Nachamie worked on a study to reduce food waste in K-12 schools conducted by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. After implementing several measures, such as including school community fridges and educational programming, the four school districts that participated in the study were able to reduce their food waste by 20%. 

In 2024, Nachamie drafted a policy review of PFAS legislation in Maine and the U.S. It details ways other states and local governments can mitigate people’s exposure to these toxic chemicals, which can lead to immune system disorders, thyroid hormone disruption, cancer and other adverse health outcomes. He worked on the review with associate professor of sustainable agriculture Rachel Schattman. 

“I have been lucky to have the mentorship of Rachel Schattman from the School of Food and Agriculture to support me in my research about PFAS compounds in Maine and throughout the United States,â€� he said. “Dr. Schattman’s feedback on my policy review showed me what I was capable of from a research perspective.â€� 

Nachamie previously worked as a research technician collecting data that supported wild blueberry research at 91¸£Àû’s Agroecology Lab overseen by Schattman. He has also worked as a forest technician for the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit and the University Forests, through which he learned about low impact forestry practices.

Outside of school and research, Nachamie serves as president of the Permaculture and  Gardening Club at 91¸£Àû and as a resident steward at the Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center. He hosts workshops and events focused on gardening, food preservation and other topics.

“91¸£Àû has an extremely supportive and cooperative academic atmosphere,â€� Nachamie said. “Students are excited to help each other out, form study groups and work together to succeed in their classes. The academic atmosphere is rigorous but not competitive, and I’ve found that professors are always willing to help accommodate student situations and concerns.â€�

When he graduates, Nachamie plans to work in environmental education and advocacy with nonprofit organizations in Maine and Alaska. After a few years, he hopes to return to school and obtain his Juris Doctor and Masters of Law in Environmental Law.

91¸£Àû undergraduate students interested in applying during the 2026 cycle of the Udall Scholarship must do so through the Office of Major Scholarships by Feb. 6 to meet the national deadline of March 4. Those interested in applying can reach Nives Dalbo-Wheeler at the Office of Major Scholarships by emailing nives.dalbowheeler@maine.edu, or Ranco, chair of 91¸£Àû’s Native American Programs, by emailing darren.ranco@maine.edu.

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Indigenous communities in fields related to health care and tribal public policy. It also provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and to the Native Nations Institute to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues and training. Additionally, it offers assessment, mediation, training and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

Established in 1986 through a partnership between the University of Maine and International Paper Company, the Howland Research Forest is a forest ecosystem research site in central Maine, representing a low-elevation conifer/northern hardwood transitional forest dominated by spruce and hemlock. In 2007, the Howland Research Forest was purchased by the .

Home to the second-longest flux record in the United States (20+ years, since 1996), the Howland Research Forest is a founding member site of the network. Flux data from three towers at the Howland Research Forest is currently shared with this network.

Learn more about the ongoing research utilizing the flux tower .

Collaborations between the , , , the , , and the have maintained an active research program in carbon and nutrient cycling, remote sensing, climate change, and more.

Researchers are also working with , , , and on an innovative, multi-scale, and cross-disciplinary study to identify the conditions and mechanisms driving methane sink/source activity across soil moisture gradients in northern forests. More information on this project can be read

Pumpkin season starts at the University of Maine’s Highmoor Farm early in June. David Handley, a small fruit and vegetable specialist at University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Mark Hutton, associate professor of vegetable crop, watch as the pumpkins grow, taking calls along the way from farmers in Maine who may be experiencing their own issues with the crop.

Handley said drought was the biggest challenge for pumpkin growers this year. The season started off cold and wet, then experienced drought throughout the summer.

“Pumpkins are not a crop that is typically going to be happy in Maine, because it has more southern origins,� Handley said. “They’re from central South America. So up here, we are really pushing it to try to get a crop in the short growing season that we have.�

Farmers aim to find the balance between planting a seed in warm-enough soil and giving the pumpkins time to fully mature. Many, like Estes Blueberry Farm in Buxton — which also harvests and wholesales three acres of pumpkins, have invested in irrigation to mitigate inconsistent rainfall.

Highmoor Farm, located between Augusta and Lewiston in Monmouth, is one of several locations that comprise the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES), which leads research and initiatives to help farmers across the state.

As seed companies constantly push their latest variety releases, Highmoor specialists conduct trials every year to help farmers know which pumpkin varieties will and won’t perform well in Maine. “We take the lumps, so the farmers don’t have to,â€� Handley said. 

The farm also compiles data to educate growers about details such as which varieties have the deepest orange hues, the strongest stems, the shallowest ridges, the largest average weight and the most plentiful growing season.

Matt Pellerin, owner of Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant, said he calls Handley several times per week at certain points of the year. Treworgy has a corn maze, apple orchard, pumpkin patch, fall raspberries, hay rides and a cafe that sells cider, hot chocolate and doughnuts during the fall. Pellerin, a second generation farmer, said he asks Handley about signs of disease, spray treatment and water supply during the growing season.

“For a farmer, having somebody that you can call and ask questions that has broad experience and knowledge is really helpful,� Pellerin said. “You’re kind of out here doing this on your own.�

Handley, who has been working at 91¸£Àû Extension for 42 years, is an invaluable resource to farmers across the state. Pellerin said every year is different, so answers to his questions aren’t just a matter of knowing everything there is to know about one crop in a single year. Weather conditions differ, plant responses differ and problems, like pests, differ from year to year. 

“I’m always growing the same types of crops, but I experience different problems each year,� Pellerin said. “I’m a verbal processor, so having somebody to talk to helps me to think and make decisions.�

In addition to pumpkins, Highmoor Farm has 17 acres of orchards, where they test new apple varieties alongside ones commonly found growing in Maine. Renae Moran, an Extension tree fruit specialist, advises growers on problems that arise throughout the season. 

Moran, also a professor of pomology at 91¸£Àû, said she gets the most calls during the spring bloom phase and the two weeks that follow. Controlling how many apples grow on a tree can determine the success of a season’s orchard. Too many and the apples will be too small — potentially down to the size of a golf ball. Too few and the tree won’t produce enough to turn a profit. 

This year came with another unique challenge in the bloom phase. Moran said the persistence of cold weather into the spring kept bees from pollinating apple flowers.

“Growing apples for marketing requires a high degree of horticultural knowledge,� Moran said. “My job is to fill in the gaps and to anticipate problems that are unique to each season.�

Later in the growing season, when the apples are almost ready to pick, Moran travels around the state to different orchards and helps farmers determine when to pick the tree fruit. She uses a tool to test how much chlorophyll has broken down in the apple peel by measuring how much light the peel is absorbing. Whether the apples will be placed in cold storage or used immediately after harvest determines when they need to be picked.

Highmoor Farm also deploys scouts as part of the program at Extension to look for signs of pest and disease in orchards during the summer. The scout program covers a variety of crops across the state, including potatoes, apples, sweet corn and strawberries. 

Tom Stevenson of Stevenson Strawberry Farm, which grows other crops including sweet corn and pumpkins, was a scout himself in high school and is now a part of the network of farms in Maine who use the program. Not only does the scout program help the farms it directly connects with, it informs other farms in the state of what disease and pests the scouts are finding. 

In addition to on-the-ground support, the university tests soil for farmers through the MAFES Analytical Laboratory and Maine Soil Testing Service. Don Estes, who owns the blueberry farm in Buxton, said he sends soil tests in at the beginning of the growing season and receives a list back detailing what it needs. 

Farmers with operations of all scales are encouraged to contact their for more information on the resources available to them. 

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

Joan Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the university’s leadership at today’s Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit. ‘You don’t get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy,’ she said.

On Maine’s rugged coast, where shipbuilding, fishing and working waterfronts have defined generations, leaders say the future is once again tied to the sea — this time through aquaculture, marine technology and research.

University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy told attendees at the 2025 Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit that the state’s success depends not only on innovation, but also on the people prepared to drive it.

“You don’t get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy — and that will be our trained, skilled workforce,� Ferrini-Mundy said in her plenary address at the Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay.

She recalled 91¸£Àû’s history as a land grant university rooted in agriculture and forestry. That mission broadened more than 50 years ago when the university began federally funded research into cold-water marine environments — work that helped launch decades of leadership in the blue economy.

“Over the last five decades, of course, we’ve been a global leader in this state, in the blue economy,� she said. “It’s all about partnerships. It’s about communities coming together to bring this economy to a forefront that is critical for our state.�

Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the role of 91¸£Àû MARINE, the university’s hub for aquaculture and marine technology research, which connects faculty, students and industry partners across the state. 

She noted 91¸£Àû’s network of coastal research facilities — including the Aquaculture Research Institute in Orono; the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin; the Darling Marine Center in Walpole; and the Down East Institute in Beals, which serves as the Marine Science Field station for the University of Maine at Machias.

“Our researchers are working on sustainable aquaculture methods, new feed alternatives and innovations that strengthen Maine’s seafood sector,� she said.

She added that 91¸£Àû scientists also collaborate with boatbuilders and coastal communities on projects ranging from vessel design to extreme weather. 

“We see ourselves as Maine’s research and development department, advancing basic science, applied research and innovation that keep our communities strong and our economy competitive,� Ferrini-Mundy said.

The Oct. 3 summit drew business leaders, researchers, policymakers and students from across the state. The agenda included plenary remarks, panel discussions, breakout sessions and an innovation showcase. Program tracks focused on aquaculture and fisheries, coastal engineering and boatbuilding, and community resilience.

Michael Duguay, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, delivered the keynote address.

The sea has always shaped Maine’s economy, he said — from shipyards to lobster boats. What’s changing is how the state is harnessing that connection through aquaculture, advanced marine technology and ocean-based research.

“Our blue economy touches every coastal town in Maine,� Duguay said. “It supports tens of thousands of jobs, strengthens our working waterfronts and positions us to lead in industries of the future.�

Maine’s maritime industries have always been about adapting to change.

“Shipbuilding, fishing and maritime trade weren’t just industries — they were ways of life,� Duguay said. “But what defines us is the ability to evolve.�

That evolution is accelerating, with aquaculture leading the way.

“Maine is the largest producer of farmed seaweed in the United States, and the value of our aquaculture industry has doubled in the last decade,� Duguay said. “This isn’t just about oysters and mussels. It’s about kelp as a food source and as an input for everything from animal feed to cosmetics. It’s about salmon and trout farming to meet rising demand for protein.�

He also pointed to growth areas such as seafood processing, biotechnology and advanced materials.

“Our tradition of boatbuilding, combined with new composite technologies, positions Maine at the forefront of sustainable marine transportation,� he said. “And marine biotech — from pharmaceuticals to new materials — is another frontier where our researchers are already laying the groundwork.�

State support has been crucial in preparing the industry for its next phase, Duguay said. More than $10 million in grants were directed to businesses and nonprofits after last winter’s storms.

“Those grants prevented closures, retained local employment and helped rebuild stronger infrastructure,� he said.

That momentum extends to workforce development.

“By partnering with universities, community colleges and trade programs, we’re training Mainers for careers in aquaculture, boatbuilding and marine technology.�

91¸£Àû was central throughout the summit. Debbie Bouchard, director of the Aquaculture Research Institute, moderated a panel, while researchers Damian Brady and Sarah Barker shared the stage. Breakout sessions also featured 91¸£Àû experts from the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and Maine Sea Grant.

Visit to learn more about its efforts to grow the state’s blue economy.  

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu 

The research farm recently underwent a $3 million renovation funded by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan so that the land-grant university could accelerate its development of new potato varieties, like the successful Caribou Russet, and the growth of Maine’s agricultural economy and workforce

Gov. Janet Mills and leaders of the University of Maine and Maine Potato Board celebrated the completion of a $3 million renovation of the flagship’s Aroostook Farm with a ceremonial ribbon cutting today in Presque Isle. 

For more than a century, the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station’s (MAFES) 425-acre Aroostook Farm has been the heart of 91¸£Àû’s agricultural research to benefit the state’s potato industry, including breeding innovations like the Caribou Russet — .

Thanks to the success of this high-yield spud, which 91¸£Àû researchers intentionally bred to be disease-resistant and tolerant of weather-related stress, Maine is one of only three states where potato production expanded between 2000 and 2022. The industry now has a $1.3 billion annual economic impact in the state, supporting more than 6,500 jobs, according to . 

Developing a new potato variety like the Caribou Russet typically takes 10-12 years, requiring evaluation of multiple potential varieties in the pipeline at a time.

Changing climate and markets are necessitating speeding up that process, something that can be achieved by measuring and assessing yield and other characteristics of more potential varieties simultaneously. The advanced technology improvements to Aroostook Farm will now make that possible.

In a renovated potato storage building now converted into a lab, new DNA phenotyping and imaging equipment, optical sorters, sensors and even machines that detect sugar levels will give 91¸£Àû researchers the ability to breed the most desirable potatoes. In the farm’s fields, new drones will enable them to more efficiently monitor and manage nearly 6,000 test plots, allowing for a better understanding of how changing conditions, including weather and pests, affect each variety under development.

‘A game-changer for the state’s potato industry’The modernization was funded using $3 million of $35 million provided to the University of Maine System (UMS) through (MJRP) — proposed by Gov. Mills and approved by the 130th Maine Legislature to spur the state’s economic recovery and long-term growth by strategically investing federal pandemic relief funds. 

“With tools like drones that will fly over the farm’s nearly 6,000 test plots, the Aroostook Farm will help agriculture students better determine which potato varieties are most resistant to weather, pests and disease, and develop successful new varieties, like the Caribou Russet, to keep Maine-grown potatoes in high demand,� said Gov. Mills. “When we created the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to build an economy of the future, this is exactly the type of payoff we were envisioning. I congratulate the University of Maine and our entire agriculture community on the transformation of the Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle into an advanced research institution.�

The Maine Potato Board and Farm Credit East, ACA also contributed to the capital project. 

A portion of MJRP funds are supporting paid internships at Aroostook Farm for dozens of students from the land-grant 91¸£Àû, the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Farmington.

“Modern research facilities are necessary to deliver the skilled talent and cutting-edge innovation Maine needs to compete in the 21st-century global economy. This new state-of-the-art breeding facility will accelerate the development of future varieties and a workforce necessary to the resilience of Maine’s top agricultural commodity and dependent rural communities, while providing hands-on research learning experiences for our students that prepare them for rewarding careers,â€� said 91¸£Àû President and UMS Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “We are grateful to Gov. Mills and her Administration, the Legislature and our industry partners for the investments that made possible the modernization of Aroostook Farm and 91¸£Àû’s continued contributions to the success and sustainability of Maine’s iconic potato industry.â€�

“The Maine Potato Board appreciates the University of Maine making this project a priority, and their decades of leadership, research and responsiveness to our growers and producers,â€� said Maine Potato Board Executive Director Jeannie Tapley. “The investments made here will help develop the next Caribou Russet more quickly and the next generation of researchers necessary for our industry to adapt and continue producing the highest-quality potatoes in the world right here in Maine.â€� 

“The modernization of Aroostook Farm made possible by the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan will be a game-changer for the state’s potato industry,â€� said 91¸£Àû College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences Dean and MAFES Director Diane Rowland. “These new technologies will deliver new varieties to our farmers quicker and with greater certainty, ensuring processors have the high-quality Maine potatoes they need and consumers enjoy, and our natural resource economy and dependent rural communities can continue to thrive.â€� 

UMS has invested its share of MJRP funds to enhance world-class research led by the University of Maine, the state’s only institution to have achieved the R1 Carnegie Classification, and expand the Maine workforce in high-demand fields such as engineering and computing, education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, and tourism and hospitality. 

The System’s MJRP-funded initiatives have already provided career development or job training to more than 5,300 Mainers, supported nearly 2,000 student internships and apprenticeships and helped 800 individuals earn a new license or credential.

The modernization of Aroostook Farm was one of four MJRP-funded capital projects undertaken by 91¸£Àû to strengthen and grow the state’s natural resource industries and is the first to be completed. Construction on the Orono campus is currently underway for the Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce and Innovation Center, Green Engineering and Materials Factory of the Future and Food Innovation Lab, all of which also benefited from Congressionally Directed Spending secured by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, the current chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King. 

Contact: Samantha Warren, 207.632.0389; samantha.warren@maine.edu

The ribbon cutting was also featured in the and .

For nearly a decade, Amanda Gavin has studied and conserved lakes, including many in Maine, that provide drinking water and support agriculture. Today, she’s investigating what the future may hold for tens of thousands of crystalline blue lakes within an Arctic country experiencing rapid ecological change: Greenland. 

More frequent heat waves, drought, heavy rain and other extreme weather events are threatening Greenlandic communities’ access to clean water by impacting lake levels and reducing their quality through polluted runoff. That’s why Gavin, a University of Maine Ph.D. student in ecology and environmental sciences, is studying contemporary changes in lakes, particularly those in south Greenland, and how the lakes were impacted by past climate events. By studying the past and present, Gavin’s research can offer insight into the future of water quality and quantity in the region.

To support her work, the National Science Foundation awarded Gavin an Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant. Gavin also earned an American Dissertation Fellowship from the American Association of University Women, which recognizes doctoral candidates who serve women and girls in their communities, professions or fields of research.

“The lakes are a really big part of sheep farming. South Greenland is a lake rich landscape, and lakes are used for irrigation,� Gavin said. “These lakes in south Greenland, they are used for drinking water for humans and for sheep, so it’s important to know that the headwaters to drinking water sources are clean.�

When the ancient Norse arrived in south Greenland hundreds of years ago, they introduced sheep farming — the first recorded instance of the practice in the Arctic. Gavin said the Norse also changed the landscape by planting grass, plowing the land and building dams. In the 15th century, however, they disappeared and so did sheep farming. 

Inuit reintroduced sheep farming in the 1700s, and it has since become a crucial part of south Greenland’s economy and provided food sovereignty to their communities. 

“I went to south Greenland for the first time with a basic understanding of how the climate was changing and the types of freshwater resources. But my specific research questions were really something that came out of preliminary conversations with sheep farmers and learning about what they are concerned with,â€� Gavin said. 

In those conversations, farmers told Gavin about their concerns with drought — the uncertainty it brings and how it can impact hayfield management — and changes in water quality and access. 

Community engagement plays a key role in Gavin’s efforts to ascertain how Arctic freshwater lakes respond to environmental change across different periods of time. 

She also harvests sediment cores from the bottom of lakes that provide a record of past conditions. In particular, she examines diatoms, a group of algae with cell walls made of silica that leave behind fossils in lake sediments. Because diatoms are extremely sensitive to environmental change, they provide insight into changes in lake level over the past 200 years. Additionally, Gavin has deployed and gathered data from sensors to determine how lake water levels are responding to periods without rain and the recovery time after an extreme event.

“Amanda’s research is advancing more holistic approaches to lake science by crossing time scales — from seasons to centuries — and by practicing early engagement with communities affected by environmental change. I am so pleased that her great work is being recognized by various prestigious funding sources,â€� said Jasmine Saros, associate director of 91¸£Àû’s Climate Change Institute and professor of lake ecology.

Gavin is among dozens of graduate students working in Greenland to help address socio-environmental challenges in the Arctic, the world’s most rapidly changing environment. Their work is made possible through a $3 million NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) grant awarded in 2020 to 91¸£Àû, an internationally-recognized leader in polar science, for an initiative called Systems Approaches to Understanding and Navigating the New Arctic (SAUNNA), led by Saros. 

“Jasmine is an excellent scientist, and she really supports her students in a way that gives them what they need to become the best scientists that they can be,� Gavin said. “And so I feel like I’ve really grown as a scientist and had the support behind me to ask really interesting questions and have the tools I need to to do that research.�

SAUNNA is what encouraged Gavin, who earned a master’s degree from 91¸£Àû in 2018, to pursue her Ph.D. at the same place, as it would allow her to work with top-tier scientists from a variety of disciplines. Since joining the Ph.D. program, Gavin has taught undergraduate courses in lake ecology and facilitated a research forum course that examined the roles of environmental science, policy and Indigenous knowledge in the Arctic research.

“I really love teaching, and I love research, and I would like to continue being able to teach and do research, work in the Arctic and work in lakes in general,â€� Gavin said.“My experience at 91¸£Àû as a Ph.D. student has been wonderful.â€�

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu