His work in Maine exists at the intersection of different industries, working to understand how Maineā€™s communities interact with one another. In addition to working on the NSF EPSCor Maine-FOREST project, he is also a trainee in the NSF National Research Traineeship: 3D Ecosystem Science program. 

ā€œIā€™ve gained experience in Maineā€™s local industries, first on waterfronts and now in forests. Itā€™s important to understand the differences between coastal and forestry-based communities, and how they interact with each other,ā€ said Colbert Stone. 

Colbert Stone, a self-described ā€œconvener,ā€ focuses on bringing people and organizations together to best support one another and create meaningful change. Originally from Ohio, Colbert Stone began his academic career at Denison University, earning a bachelorā€™s degree in Black Studies and Womenā€™s and Gender studies. He joined 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Anthropology and Environmental Policy Masterā€™s program to merge his past interests with his future career goals in the environmental sector. 

While in Maine, Colbert Stone has been involved with multiple organizations that work to increase environmental stewardship across the state while supporting local communities. As a research assistant with Maine-FOREST, he is currently involved with research on rural communities and youth education. Working with Dr. Lydia Horne and Dr. Sandra De Urioste Stone, he researches rural and tribal communities and how they can educate students for the future. The research team partners with Rural Aspirations Project, a Maine nonprofit that empowers students in rural schools to engage in their communities with place-based projects. 

The goal is to support forest communities by strengthening educational opportunities and student community engagement through the Rural Aspirations Project. He is currently interviewing community partners, teachers and administrators involved with the Rural Aspirations Project and the Maine Forest Collaborative to better understand rural education and environmental stewardship. 

ā€œTheir theory of change is that rural schools are one of the only places that rural communities have left to get together as a community and have real outcomes and change. So using the school as an avenue for rural vitality, empowering kids to know that they have a future here in Maine and donā€™t have to leave to attain their goals. Itā€™s been really nice getting to work with them,ā€ said Colbert Stone. 

Beyond his work as a researcher, Colbert Stone has further contributed to the Rural Aspirations Project through his own connections. As a recipient of a Changemakers Fellowship from the Maine Environmental Education Association, he received funding for a community project of his choice. He directed those funds to support a new school participating in the Maine Forest Collaborative, a program of Rural Aspirations Project. This program allows students to create place-based community projects relating to sustainability and forest management. 

Working with an eighth-grade class at Piscataquis Community Secondary School, he helped expand a project on maple tree awareness. Building on studentsā€™ experience with maple tapping, the class is planning a community event to highlight the cultural and historical significance of maple trees, including connections to Wabanaki traditions.

ā€œIt felt like a win for everybody,ā€ Colbert Stone said. ā€œThe students receive the funding directly and gain experience managing a project themselves.ā€

This work is part of Colbert Stoneā€™s mission to engage with Maineā€™s vital industries, such as the forest and marine sectors. After graduating this spring, Colbert Stone will become a community engagement associate with the Maine Womenā€™s Lobby, focusing on research coordination and community organizing. 

This interdisciplinary workshop represents an opportunity for researchers and partners in our state to foster connections  and develop proposals suitable for the. 

• Registration is open to Maine-based institutions that are eligible to receive EPSCoR funding.
• Travel and lodging support is available.
• Please bring a two-page research idea to develop.

Agenda at-a-glance:

• June 2, 4:30 to 6:00 pm: Reception
• June 3, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm: Updates, lightning talks, affinity conversations
• June 4, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm: Proposal strategy, writing time, feedback

We are looking forward to hosting you for the US NSF/CISE: New England Regional AI and Quantum Information Science Symposium 2026 in Portland. You will receive additional information about hotel arrangements, travel reimbursement after registration.

REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 15, 2026

Direct workshop questions to Anne Heberger Marino at anne.marino@maine.edu.

At the forefront of this effort is Bashir Khoda, a professor in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing at 91±¬ĮĻ, whose laboratory conducts research on growing algae cells while simultaneously working to train the next generation of STEM researchers through new education initiatives.Ā 

With a background in manufacturing, Khoda and his team developed an innovative method to grow and harvest algae cells with greater efficiency. Microalgae traditionally are grown in a ā€œsoupā€ of cells floating freely in liquid, but Khodaā€™s technique places the algae cells in small gel beads, forming what he calls a droplet necklace. Encapsulating the cells in these beads creates a more controlled environment and reduces stress on the cells. 

ā€œWe are hypothesizing that this stress-free technique can produce at least 50% more volumetric output than the status quo, allowing us to grow more in a smaller space. Since this is a closed system, quality and consistency are extremely important and can be achieved with this technique,ā€ Khoda said.

This work is made possible by a kickstarter grant from the NSF EPSCoR E-RISE RII-funded Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator (MARIA) project, led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences to further his research and educational objectives at 91±¬ĮĻ. The seed funding is part of a broader effort to advance algae-based solutions and manufacturing to further the blue economy in Maine, positioning the state as a leader in this field. These research projects work to advance the accessibility of algae cultivation while developing innovations that could benefit both human and animal health.  

With support from the kickstarter funding provided by MARIA and Bigelow Laboratory, Khodaā€™s lab plans to expand their research by scaling the technology for commercial use, training more students in biomanufacturing, and growing laboratory capabilities for further biofabrication and smart manufacturing. 

The field of algae research and development is increasingly used for high-value products in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and nanomaterials, creating many applications for Khodaā€™s manufacturing technique. He hopes his methods will help increase the production and output of algae, as part of a broader effort to cultivate sustainable products compared to animal or petroleum-based systems. 

Beyond the biomanufacturing process, Khodaā€™s lab is part of a broader initiative to expand multidisciplinary work at 91±¬ĮĻ and prepare students for the STEM workforce. The educational component of his work focuses on creating more opportunities for research and teaching in smart manufacturing of living systems across science and engineering disciplines. He plans on utilizing this funding to create more interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning opportunities, and new courses at 91±¬ĮĻ related to biomanufacturing, manufacturing engineering, and digital manufacturing.  

Additionally, Khoda hopes to establish an ā€œAlgae Cornerā€ at 91±¬ĮĻ as the core of his educational initiative. This space would support hands-on learning, research, and network development in living systems engineering within the Maine College of Engineering and Computing, enhancing workforce development aligned with Maineā€™s growing bioeconomy. 

With support from the MARIA team, Bigelow Laboratory and new bioengineering facilities in the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, Khodaā€™s research opens new avenues for both biomanufacturing and educating the future STEM workforce.

By Heather Johnson, Graduate Assistant

As the countryā€™s most forested state, Maine requires a multifaceted approach to resource management. Forests must be managed to sustain growth while allowing timber and other wood products to be harvested. Weiskittel first became involved with EPSCoR in 2008, when he began his affiliation with the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) at 91±¬ĮĻ. FBRI was established in 2006 as part of an EPSCoR grant to advance Maineā€™s progress in the bio-economy by leveraging forest products. A large part of Weiskittelā€™s work there focused on reframing the narrative on these products. 

ā€œOne of the challenges that we face with the forest sector is just people. People donā€™t really like seeing trees harvested, and I think weā€™re all taught at an early age that cutting a tree is a bad thing. So I think a lot of what we deal with is not necessarily technical issues, but more societal and policy issues,ā€ said Weiskittel. 

More recently, Weiskittel led the multi-institutional NSF EPSCoRTrack-2 INSPIRES project, Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resilience (Award #OIA-1920908), which laid the groundwork for cross-disciplinary forest management and increased regional capacity. As a Track-2 grant, INSPIRES highlighted the value of collaboration with regional partners, enabling Maine to share expertise and learn from other jurisdictions. Awarded in 2019, INSPIRES fostered collaboration among Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, with a focus on strengthening relationships with similarly forested states that have a vested interest in the forest sector. A key aspect of this work was increasing monitoring efforts by developing new technologies. The INSPIRES project team furthered this task by developing new remote sensing technologies to assess forest conditions in real time and by creating models for future use. Remote sensing is an important tool for forestry, as it provides easier access to data. Many research sites are densely forested and lack cell service, making on-site data collection challenging. The challenge of data collection and the use of new technologies in forestry is part of Weiskittelā€™s current work with Maine-FOREST, an EPSCoR project that began in 2024. This research track, along with his prior work with FBRI, has led Weiskittel to consider how Maine can better conduct research, prepare for changing forests, and optimize output. 

The culmination of Weiskittelā€™s previous work with 91±¬ĮĻ EPSCoR grants is manifested in his role as primary investigator and manager of the NSF E-RISE Maine-FOREST project (Award #OIA-2416915). Maine-FOREST highlights research on emerging technologies in the forestry sector that grow Maineā€™s capacity to measure and manage important aspects of forests. This grant is dedicated to advancing Maineā€™s forest-based economy through four intersecting themes: Environmental AI, Cellulosic Nanomaterials Bioproducts, Rural and Tribal Resilience, and Smart Rural Development. With this project, a diverse team of researchers across the state is working together to increase Maineā€™s position as a leader in forest-sector technology and innovation. 

ā€œThe overarching goal is, how do we do this in Maine? How do we take disruptive technologies like AI and some emerging uses of wood fiber to make new products, and how do we do that within the context of doing that in Maine? Weā€™re dominated by a lot of rural communities, as well as the number one challenge that everyone in the state seems to be having, which is workforce development,ā€ said Weiskittel. 

Currently, Weiskittel is helping 91±¬ĮĻ embark on a new, exciting chapter in forestry. The university is a for place-based development and research under the NSF Engines Initiative. ā€œThis is a bold, new program for NSF, which is very interested in research that is relevant to the local economy and the state itself,ā€ said Weiskittel. The Engine program awards a sizable investment to institutions working to improve their state through economic development and research aligned with a specific theme. 91±¬ĮĻ is one of 15 finalists nationwide to advance to the final round of the program.

The mission of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s engagement in the Engine program continues all of Weiskittelā€™s work, ā€œItā€™s the integration of our emerging new products, technologies, and AI, which are really going to drive the management of our forest, at the same time it’s developing and expanding the use of invaluable tools like LiDAR and other remote sensing platforms,ā€ said Weiskittel. Along with related programs under 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests and Weiskittelā€™s past work and continued efforts to better Maineā€™s forest sector, the future is bright and growing. 

Researchers at the 91±¬ĮĻ are advancing UAV technology as part of the NSF E-RISE Maine-FOREST project. 91±¬ĮĻ Assistant Professor of Engineering Vikas Dhiman and Electrical Engineering Ph.D. student Arman Kiani are at the forefront of this effort. 

The team assembled custom-ordered drones that encompass a small computer that the AI runs on. Kiani works on the building and programming process, enabling the drones to observe and react to their environments. Guided by Dhiman, Kiani also debugs technical issues so the drones can successfully get off the ground. Once the drones are assembled, they have to learn how to navigate the unpredictable environment under the tree canopy.   

 ā€œInstead, we aim to fly the drones below the tree canopy which is challenging because the drone needs to plan a path around shrubs and thin branches. To accomplish obstacle avoidance, we plan to use AI for detecting trees and placing them in a 3D model around which the drone plans its path,ā€ said Dhiman. 

Once these challenges are addressed, Dhiman and Kiani will be able to collect a wide variety of data that has traditionally been challenging and time-consuming to collect. By combining data from under the tree canopy with previously collected data from above the canopy, researchers can see a complete view of the forest. 

ā€œThe aim is to get a unified picture of a forest, like measuring tree trunk width, the presence of different species and any diseases. Weā€™re trying to get as much forest health data as we can,ā€ said Dhiman. 

While this research is still in the preliminary stages, Dhiman and Kiani are hopeful that these advances in UAV technology will allow for a more streamlined process in capturing forest data. Beyond the forest sector, Dhiman believes that AI-guided UAVs can be applied to many other scenarios. 

ā€œFor example, emergency responders could utilize drones when itā€™s unsafe for them to go inside a building, like in the case of a fire or earthquake. With algorithms for obstacle avoidance and multi-drone collaboration, the research we are doing is fundamental in terms of drone navigation and exploration autonomously with as little human input as possible,ā€ said Dhiman. 

This research was made possible through funding from the NSF EPSCoR RII E-CORE Maine-FOREST award.

Story by Heather Johnson, Graduate Assistant

Q: How did you become involved with Maine-TREE?
A: After graduating with my bachelorā€™s degree, I worked as a land trust steward on trails in southeastern Massachusetts. During that time, I had a phone call with a professor in the School of Forest Resources that changed the trajectory of my career. I hadnā€™t previously considered this path, but that conversation led me to pursue a masterā€™s degree in forestry. While completing my degree, I worked with the Maine Tree Farm Program, where I was first exposed to Maine TREE. I later continued contract work with Maine TREE through its Forest Ecology Research Network and now serve as the full-time Executive Director.

Q: What has your work been like with Maine-TREE?
A: Historically, the Maine TREE Foundation has offered a wide range of programming, from long-term ecological research to its Certified Logging Professionals program, which provides safety and skills training. The organization primarily focuses on K-12 engagement through educator professional development and student programming. Over the past few years, weā€™ve worked to develop a central theme across our programs: preparing people for careers in Maineā€™s forests. For students, that means introducing them to career opportunities in forestry and related fields. We also engage the broader community, highlighting the range of careers connected to Maineā€™s forest economy. Our overall goal is to support the long-term, sustainable stewardship of Maineā€™s forests. 

Q: How have you connected your work to Maine-FOREST?
A: Getting involved with Maine-FOREST was a watershed moment in my career. With support from the grant, weā€™ve expanded the Forest Ecology Research Network, which gives students the opportunity to collect data from forests near their schools, develop research questions, and track changes over time. There has long been a strong interest from educators and the broader community, but funding constraints have limited the programā€™s growth. Maine-FOREST has allowed us to create new resources and pathways that better support educators and students in monitoring forest change. This aligns closely with the mission of EPSCoR by engaging communities in ongoing research.

Q: What are your future goals with Maine-TREE with the support of Maine-FOREST?
A: Through Maine-FOREST, we are continuing to expand the Forest Ecology Research Network and build a platform for student data analysis. Our goal is to help students interpret and analyze data collected across the state and visualize trends in forest change. Organizationally, we are also developing a forest technician curriculum to increase educational pathways and workforce development in the forest products sector. There is currently a gap between formal education and on-the-ground forestry work. We are working with career and technical education centers to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in the woods after graduation. Ultimately, this will evolve into a credential that bridges that gap and provides clear value to employers.

The Maine Forest Collaborative is part of the Rural Aspirations Project, which works to honor the inherent value of rural schools, places and people by collaboratively designing educational opportunities that inspire youth aspirations and strengthen community vitality for students in rural Maine.  They operate in collaboration with educators and school administrators from across the state, providing support to rural schools through professional development, networking and connecting community partners, and designing student programs. The Maine Forest Collaborative student program works with local schools to empower students to create and implement projects in their community related to forest economies and management. The program aims to expose students to the breadth of job opportunities in these fields and awareness of natural resources that is often lacking in traditional education.  

ā€œThese cohort days allow students to see natural resource and forestry sectors from a different perspective. While students do learn about the challenges facing Maine in these sectors today, they also get to experience opportunity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving and research,ā€ said Sara King, the Maine Forest Collaborative Program Coordinator. 

At 91±¬ĮĻ, students were mixed up into groups with students from other schools, allowing them to get to know each other while attending different sessions related to forestry-related technologies, sustainability initiatives, and career pathways in natural resources. One group toured the Process Development Center to learn about cellulose nanofibrils manufacturing. Students learned how this versatile non-toxic bio-product is created and its many uses, and even explored the material hands-on. 

Other students visited the Hudson Museum to learn about brown ash basketmaking in Wabanaki communities. They additionally learned about the invasive emerald ash borer, an insect posing a threat to ash trees. 

In another session, students learned about autonomous drones used for forest management and data collection. They utilized virtual reality to tour a local Maine forest, mimicking the way drones collect data under the tree canopy and the challenges faced in this endeavor. As one student noted, ā€œI loved using the VR and seeing the challenges they face in the building of drones.ā€ Finally, students gained an economic perspective in a session focused on resource allocation. Students used trees as a shared resource and simulated the difficulties in allocating trees for paper, energy, furniture, and construction, obtaining skills in real-world decision making. 

After these sessions, students were given the opportunity to present their own progress on their class project. As part of MFC, and guided by their teachers and Rural Aspirations staff, students at each school develop a place-based project related to a natural resource challenge affecting their school or community.  At Schenk High School, the class is working to design and construct an outdoor classroom for elementary students in their school, utilizing trails behind their school to help younger students connect with nature. At Tri-County Technical Center, students are exploring ways to educate their community on invasive fish species in Maine. At Telstar High School, students are in the process of determining a natural resource challenge in their community, such as flooding, pollution, and lack of recycling options. All students and teachers were then able to share feedback and recommendations for each school. At the end of the school year, students will present their work to the MFC group and local stakeholders at a final cohort day. 

Through this experience, students were able to connect with others from around the state, explore innovative activities and research at 91±¬ĮĻ, learn about careers and post-secondary opportunities, and further their own progress with sustainability and forest management. 

This work was supported in part by the NSF RII E-RISE Maine-FOREST grant.

Story by Heather Johnson, Graduate Assistant

Pips Veazey is the inaugural director of the 91±¬ĮĻ Portland Gateway, a strategic hub providing streamlined access to 91±¬ĮĻā€™s comprehensive research, education and outreach resources. Previously, Veazey led the Alaska NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), where she developed extensive expertise in leading large-scale, interdisciplinary research initiatives. In her current dual capacity with the Portland Gateway and the NSF E-CORE RII Maine-SMART (Strengthening Maine’s Research Ecosystem and Pathways Through Strategic Capacity Building) project, she facilitates the growth of research and development networks at the state and national level. A Maine native, she brings a profound dedication and unique regional perspective to her leadership role.

Q: How did you become involved with the Gateway?

Prior to my start at the 91±¬ĮĻ, several colleagues identified this role as a natural extension of my professional background. I was immediately drawn to the positionā€™s strategic location and the opportunity for an inaugural director to define the Gatewayā€™s institutional mission. I felt compelled to establish a presence in Portland that could effectively bridge diverse capabilities, disciplines, and perspectives. One of my objectives was to leverage the field of team science to bolster the research infrastructure within the State of Maine. My previous work centered on “co-creative” frameworksā€”initiatives designed to facilitate cross-boundary collaboration and build collective team capacity. The vision for the Portland Gateway aligned perfectly with that experience. It has been a privilege to collaborate with amazing colleagues, curate cross-sector engagements, and expand the stateā€™s research capacity through innovative, high-impact connections.

Q: What work does this entail?

The mission of the Portland Gateway is defined by our core pillars: “Connect, Convene, and Converge.” We facilitate novel partnerships between ideas and stakeholders, inviting experts from diverse sectors to engage in rigorous dialogue about the challenges facing Maine today. Issues such as limited housing, food security, changes in our natural systems, human migration and social polarization are global in scope, yet we address them through a localized, disciplinary lens. By convening research teams alongside legal experts, business executives, municipal and state policymakers, and non-profit organizations, we foster an environment conducive to holistic and shared problem-solving.

In addition to these statewide engagements, we oversee a flagship graduate course, “Complex Problem-Solving for Future Leaders.” This year, 15 graduate students representing law, business, policy, and interdisciplinary research met weekly to analyze complex challenges and the sophisticated methodologies used by experts to mitigate them. The students’ final projects were remarkably diverse, proposing integrative solutions to global issues by synthesizing multiple methodologies. This work cultivates a rigorous academic environment that prioritizes innovative, cross-functional thinking over traditional, siloed approaches.

Q: How does this overlap with your work for Maine-SMART?

I have been fortunate to have a partner in all of this work, Associate Director Anne Heberger Marinoā€”who also serves as the Associate Director for Maine EPSCoRā€” and who possesses an extensive background in Team Science. We have dedicated much of our careers to studying and optimizing the efficacy of large-scale research teams. This work involves developing formal collaboration plans, clarifying roles, establishing robust communication protocols, and creating shared cognitive maps for complex projects. We use evidence-based research to guide teams through the intricacies of collaboration. Anne and I have designed a suite of exercises that allow teams to integrate their expertise and recognize the interdependencies required for success. Given that EPSCoR functions as a “team of teams,” it is essential that these units remain integrated and interdependent as they pursue a unified strategic objective.

Q: What is the process like to expand Maineā€™s network of resources?

The collaborative network within Maine is exceptional, and its expansion is a primary strategic driver for our office and NSFā€™s interests with an E-CORE RII project. Our methodology involves identifying synergies between 91±¬ĮĻ faculty and external partners in the private and public sectorsā€”including business, law, and engineeringā€”to address specific challenges. As these key constituencies engage with us, our network evolves organically. Partners recognize the capabilities within EPSCoR and the broader University system, and they increasingly look to us as a long-term resource. This creates a self-sustaining cycle of growth that strengthens the stateā€™s intellectual and economic infrastructure.

Q: Do you find there are a lot of similarities between working for EPSCoR in Maine and Alaska?

Upon returning to Maine, I was struck by the significant parallels between the two universities and the potential for strategic alignment. Several years ago, we secured funding from the National Science Foundation through the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. to facilitate a researcher exchange between Maine and Alaska. This initiative allowed participants to identify areas of complementary expertise, such as 91±¬ĮĻā€™s preeminent engineering programs and Alaskaā€™s leadership in cold-weather and Arctic engineering.

Both Maine and Alaska are rural, resource-dependent states that serve as critical entry points to the Arctic. Maine has a vested interest in the North Atlantic regarding trade, tourism, and emerging geopolitical shifts. As the Arctic becomes increasingly accessible, new opportunities and challenges will emerge, requiring proactive collaboration. Maintaining this interstate relationship is essential for exploring these collaborations and preparing for future global developments.

91±¬ĮĻ researchers are working with Colby College to improve Maineā€™s ability to monitor local forests. Professor Dan Hayes in 91±¬ĮĻā€™s School of Forest Resources has partnered with Professor Justin Becknell at Colby College to research how remote sensing tools can be utilized to create high-quality measurements of forests. Remote sensing technology obtains information about objects through drones, planes and satellites in addition to traditional on-the-ground measurements. Hayes explained, ā€œWe can use technology and remote sensing data to fill in the gaps where we havenā€™t measured things on the ground, and then project the data into the future so we can understand what to expect under different scenarios.ā€ The remote sensing data expands upon data previously collected through fieldwork on the ground, adding an extra layer of analysis. Through the partnership, both schools benefit from sharing complementary expertise and resources that creates a fun, collaborative project. The 91±¬ĮĻ team measures forests from above while Colbyā€™s team measures at ground-level. When their data is combined, it creates a complete three-dimensional view of a forest.Ā 

Both teamsā€™ remote sensing work utilizes LiDAR, a technology that uses laser pulses to determine the height of trees and other features of a landscape. The process involves flying an airplane or drone over a forest, shooting out laser pulses, seeing how long it takes for each pulse to leave the plane, bounce off a tree, and return to the plane. Based on altitude of the plane and the speed of light, those laser pulses create a three- dimensional scan of the forest. Terrestrially, the same process is repeated but the pulses are measured from a tri-pod on the ground to capture the terrain. Just like in the air, laser pulses leave a tri-pod fixed on the ground, hit an object and then return to the tri-pod, measuring the time it takes to return. 

While the project is still in the preliminary stages, Hayes is excited by the results so far.

 ā€œWe now have the ability to get high-quality data that allows us to discover and learn all sorts of things,ā€ Hayes remarked. By having access to the 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Cessna airplane and LiDAR scanning equipment, Hayes and his team are able to complete scans whenever they desire new data.

 For example, the presence of leaves in the summer creates different measurements compared to the lack of leaves in the winter, requiring more data. ā€œUsing our own airplane makes things a lot easier, as we can directly create our own data,ā€ said Hayes. With 91±¬ĮĻ and Colbyā€™s ability to collect LiDAR independently, it removes the error present in utilizing secondary sources and other institutions’ data. This information can then be used by stakeholders in the forest industry to help answer questions on the health and composition of forests. 

Both schools rely on diverse teams of experts to make this work possible. At 91±¬ĮĻ, this project would not be possible without the work of Dave Sandilands who flies the airplane that collects data, and Assistant Research Professor in Forest Ecosystem Modeling Xinyuan Wei who analyzes and models the data. 91±¬ĮĻ graduate student Max Wegner works with Becknell in operating the LiDAR technology along with undergraduate students from Colby College. Hayes also recognizes 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Wheatland Geospatial Lab for supporting this project, as well as Professor of Forest Biometrics and Modeling Aaron Weiskittelā€™s role as a PI for Maine-FOREST. 

This collaboration was made possible through funding from the NSF EPSCoR RII E-CORE Maine-FOREST award.

Story by Heather Johnson, Graduate Assistant 

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmerman@maine.edu  

Categories: Maine FOREST

Throughout his academic career, Prince Obosu has been passionate about the diverse applications of geographic information technology (GIS) and how it can be applied to community resilience. With a background in geomatic engineering and geospatial analysis, he joins the 91±¬ĮĻā€™s School of Forest Resources as a Ph.D. student and part of the NSF EPSCoR RII E-RISE Maine-FOREST program.

“This place-based framework aims to assess community resilience across multiple community capitals and provide a clearer understanding of strengths, vulnerabilities and areas for improvement,” said Obosu.  

He is currently reviewing literature as a first step in the process, analyzing preexisting frameworks to see their strengths and weaknesses. ā€œOnce I know the strengths and weaknesses of these frameworks, Iā€™ll know how to integrate them and what data to use going forward,ā€ said Obosu. He then sorts data into groups called community capitals, which splits a communityā€™s resources into different categories. 

This includes a breadth of data ranging from environmental to socioeconomic issues that a community may face. For example, Obosu collects data on responsiveness to natural disasters as well as the impact of Maineā€™s aging population. By combining social science data with data surrounding environmental risks, it creates a more holistic framework for understanding forest-dependent communities.  

By the end of this project, Obosu will have a complete conceptual and digital framework available for anyone to view. The finished product will be available online, where people can view a map of Maine with multiple layers representing different community capitals and overall community resilience of each forest dependent community. This allows filtering the map for specific information, like seeing a communityā€™s social or economic resilience score.

 Obosu hopes that this format will allow the information to be accessible to everyone, not just experts in the field. The framework will serve as a tool for Mainers for years to come, as the data will be updated on a yearly basis to reflect any changes.

This work has an opportunity to positively impact forest-dependent communities, a topic he hopes to further pursue in the future. ā€œMy goal has always been to produce work that benefits society, so being part of this project brings a strong sense of personal and professional fulfillment,ā€ said Obosu. 

He also highlights the collaborative nature of the work and the diverse perspectives it has brought. ā€œThis project is pushing me beyond what I thought I could do, and I am truly appreciating each step of the process,ā€ he remarked. Obosu would like to recognize Professor of Nature-based Tourism Sandra De Urioste-Stone, Associate Professor of Remote Sensing of Natural Resources Parinaz Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran, and Professor of Forest Biometrics and Modeling Aaron Weiskittel for giving him the opportunity to do this project. As he continues his work, Obosuā€™s perseverance keeps him going. 

ā€œAbove all, I live by a simple quote that motivates me: ā€˜The hard is always easyā€™ā€ said Obosu. 

Story by Heather Johnson, Graduate Assistant 

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmerman@maine.edu  

Categories: Maine FOREST