The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) today announced $3 million in new PFAS Fund research grants to support Maine farms impacted by PFAS. While the vast majority of Maine farms are not impacted, DACF is currently working with 127 sites, ranging from small properties to large, diversified farms, to provide testing, financial assistance, research, and technical support that help farmers make informed decisions and continue operating safely.

Over the past five years, DACF has built robust programs of testing, expert guidance, and financial assistance to ensure safe food and continued farm operations on properties impacted by PFAS contamination. Most contamination stems from the historic use of wastewater sludge as an abundant, low-cost fertilizer, a practice banned in Maine in 2022. The presence of PFAS on agricultural land raises questions about how PFAS circulate through soil, water, plants, and animals; where PFAS accumulate within plants, animals, and animal products; and what management practices can be adopted to protect food safety and worker health. The PFAS Fund research grant program was established to help answer these questions.

DACF awarded a first round of research grants in Spring 2025 to fund projects investigating topics ranging from the use of biochar to immobilize PFAS to bioaccumulation and depuration in dairy sheep and understanding and managing the transfer of PFAS from soils to poultry and eggs.

 ā€œThese new grants expand and accelerate agricultural PFAS research,ā€ said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal. ā€œThe results will help impacted farmers in Maine and across the country make informed decisions so they can continue to operate and thrive.ā€

For this round of applications, the PFAS Fund invited two categories of proposals: major grants focused on a broad set of research priorities to be carried out over two years, and targeted grants focused on narrower research questions that can be investigated over a shorter period. The Fund received a total of 31 grant applications requesting over $11 million. The application selection process was highly competitive. Each proposal was evaluated by a team of peer reviewers drawn from academia, State and Federal agencies, and the private sector.

The nine selected projects will focus on:

• Improving soil tests;
• Understanding plant, animal, and pollinator uptake of PFAS;
• Impact of PFAS on animal and pollinator health;
• Advancing predictive modeling of soil to livestock pathways;
• Whether plant uptake and PFAS leaching can be reduced through biochar;
• Possibilities for alternate crop production.

Full project descriptions are available at .

Major Grants, Round 2

Philip Fanning, 91±¬ĮĻ
PFAS Bioaccumulation in Floral Rewards: Evaluating the Consequences for Bee Pollinators and the Environment, $489,719

Investigating the consequences of PFAS for bees by evaluating the presence of PFAS in bee-collected pollen, identifying flowering plants associated with higher PFAS concentrations, and characterizing pollinator-specific responses to PFAS exposure.

Jessica Cristina Lemos Motta, 91±¬ĮĻ
Assessing the Effects of PFAS Contamination on Reproductive Function and Embryo Development in Livestock, $499,615

Studying how PFAS exposure affects female reproduction in sheep to help understand how PFAS disrupts fertility and embryo development in livestock.

Media contact: Jim Britt

The Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee (WBAC) is a group of 7 industry representatives appointed by the Commission to set research, development, and Extension priorities and recommend funding allocations for the 91±¬ĮĻ wild blueberry research and Extension projects. All WBAC award funding is derived from the wild blueberry tax.

After hearing research and Extension faculty present their proposals in February, and a thorough discussion of their merits, the WBAC, made the following 7 awards totaling $190,324 to support wild blueberry research and Extension work at the 91±¬ĮĻ.

Investing in the Economic Health of the Wild Blueberry Industry ($16,725) – Dr. Malacarne

This project will take stock of the financial health of the wild blueberry industry and create resources to help growers make informed decisions related to price and production risk management and on farm capital investment. 

Prototyping and Commercialization of the Alan Rau Harvester ($60,000) – Kirkmann, Wentworth, and Dr. Calderwood

This funding allows this core group of researchers and engineers to conduct an additional field season of prototype design, manufacture, and testing of a novel wild blueberry harvester.

Actionable Nutrient Tests: Does Foliar Nitrogen Predict the Need for Fertilizer ($28,664) – Drs. King and Calderwood

This project aims to ā€œImprove understanding of soil and tissue test-based recommendations to inform improved wild blueberry nutrient application timing, rates, and methods.”

Planning for and Addressing International Market Barriers ($10,000) – Dr. Fanning

This project will develop decline curves for management tools that target SWD, BMF, and fungal pathogens to aid the industry in accessing offshore markets. Dr. Fanning is working to leverage this small award to secure significant additional external dollars.

How Worth it is Irrigation? Using soil-water, plant physiology, and enterprise tools to guide mid-season water management decisions ($15,673) – Drs. Schattman, Calderwood, Malacarne, and Barra Netto-Ferreira

This project aims to ā€œdeliver recommendations for cost-effective irrigation technologies and techniques for drought, extreme heat and/or frost risk managementā€, ā€œdefine both optimal and minimum crop water needs (i.e., frequency, volume, timing)ā€, and ā€œpromote farm economic tools and provide cost-benefit insights on management options.ā€

Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) of a Freshpack Wild Blueberry Processing Line ($33,604) – Kirkmann and Dr. Calderwood

This project aims to develop a complete reference package for a typical wild blueberry freshpack processing line including minimum viable line size, equipment list and specifications, utility requirements, space and building needs, safety considerations, and scalable layout options using SLP.

2026 Wild Blueberry Disease Project Support ($25,658) – Dr. Annis

This funding will help deliver recommendations on the impacts of fertilizer rate and timing on mummy berry and leaf spots, improve understanding of the spread of red leaf disease and management, maintain disease forecasting stations and alerts.

The 91±¬ĮĻ Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has announced the award winners from the 2026 91±¬ĮĻ Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity, which drew over 2,400 attendees.

The symposium awards undergraduate and graduate students who displayed outstanding research, presentation and creative ability. Award winners were selected through judging across academic categories, all receiving a medal and a $500 cash prize. There were also several special awards, including the Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards, given to students and faculty. 

Over 350 projects from researchers at 91±¬ĮĻ and its regional campus, the 91±¬ĮĻ at Machias, were submitted to the annual event, co-hosted by CUGR, Student Government and the Graduate Student Government. 

Undergraduate category award winners

• Allied Health: Alyson Shook and Hannah Maker, for their project titled ā€œStrengthening EMS Retention in Maine: A Path to Improved Patient Outcomes.ā€ They were advised by Sarah Hanscome.
• Arts: William Fortier, Oliver Rodi and Mikey Arbelo, for their project titled ā€œThe Creativity of Mapping.ā€ They were advised by Andy Mauery.
• Biomedical Sciences: Hayden Kittell, Diana Goode and Moria Weese-Myers, for their project titled ā€œMHCII Expression in Differential Doses of Chemotherapy Treatment on Mice.ā€ They were advised by William Otto.
• Business: Brady Merritt, for the project titled ā€œCan Large Language Models Pass the CFA Exam.ā€ Merrit was advised by Sebastian Lobe.
• Education: Carly Philbrook, for her project titled ā€œComparison of High School Mathematics Textbooks Analyzing Higher Order Thinking Skills in New England.ā€ Philbrook was advised by Kamal Chawla.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Elsa Perez Abella and Ahmed Kandil, for their project titled ā€œSurface Flow Visualization Enhancement Using AI.ā€ They were advised by Ahmed Aboelezz.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Wyatt Fessler, Cadence Kluck, Isabelle Irani and Marc Zoorob, for their project titled ā€œA Tissue-integrating, Resealable Hemodialysis Port for Reducing Complications Associated with Repetitive Vascular Access.ā€ They were advised by David Neivandt.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Richard Viveiros, for the project titled ā€œSublethal PFAS Exposure During Larval Stages of Culex: Consequences for Development, Survivorship, and Tissue Bioacculation of PFOA, PFBA, and PFBS.ā€ Viveiros was advised by Allison Gardner.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Luke Connolly, for the project titled ā€œNano-Pattern Fabrication Using Electron Beam Lithography.ā€ Connolly was advised by Dinh Loc Duong.
• Natural Sciences: Josie Aprea, Brendan Dahl, Emma Perry and Ian Bricknell, for their project titled ā€œpH vs. Predator.ā€ Bricknell also served as advisor for the project.
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Avery Richard, Ziyad ur Rehman, Henry Carfagno and Nuri Emanetoglu, for their project titled ā€œFabrication and Characterization of Indenofluorene-based Organic Single Crystal Field-effect Transistors.ā€ They were advised by Dinh Loc Duong.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Maya Aylesworth, for the project titled ā€œRobert Johnson, the Crossroad Mythos, and the Lasting Effects of a Legend.ā€ Aylesworth was advised by Jennifer Moxley.

Graduate category award winner

• Allied Health: Katherine Brewer, for the project titled ā€œTelehealth and Prenatal Care Utilization in Rural Communities: Addressing Access, Satisfaction, and Health Outcomes.ā€ Brewer was advised by Kathryn Robinson.
• Arts: Celena Powell, for the project titled ā€œAt the Threshold: Domestic Space as a Site of Contemporary Resistance.ā€ Powell was advised by Susan Smith.
• Biomedical Sciences: Chloe Bossow, Lydia McCarthy and Melody Neely, for the project titled ā€œInteractions Between Group B Streptococcus and Candida albicans Are Influenced by Environmental Stress.ā€ Neely also served as the advisor for the project.
• Education: Kayla McLagan, Kate Ruskin, Alison Jolley, Karen Pelletreau and Edgelynn Venuti, for their project titled ā€œTo What Extent Does a Weekend-long Field Course Influence Studentsā€™ Sense of Belonging? A Focus on Influential Course Elements.ā€ They were advised by Kate Ruskin.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Mahbuba Daizy, Yu Zhang, Douglas Bousfield, Jinwu Wang and David Neivandt, for their project titled ā€œComparison of Stabilization Systems for Soybean Wax Emulsions to Produce Sustainable Water-resistant Paper Based Packaging: Surfactant vs. Pickering.ā€ Neivandt also served as the advisor for the project.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Zainab Jafri, for the project titled ā€œReimagining the Waste Disposal Landscape ā€“ Industrial Symbiosis in Maine.ā€ Jafri was advised by Reed Miller.
• Natural Sciences: Nabanita Das, Islam Hafez, Colleen Walker, Douglas Bousfield and Mehdi Tajvidi, for their project titled ā€œFactors Influencing the Effectiveness of Cellulose Nanfibril Coatings on Molded Fiber Substrates.ā€ Tajvidi also served as the advisor for the project.
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Hettikankanamge Kalani Samarasekara, for the project titled ā€œPaving the Way for Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Peptoid Nanoparticles.ā€ Samarasekara was advised by Alessia Battigelli.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Catherine Segada, Chyanne Yoder, William Breneman and Gianna DeJoy, for their project titled ā€œReuseME: Investigating Waste Reduction and Cost Benefits in Coastal Communities Through a Pilot Reusable Food Packaging Program.ā€ They were advised by Cynthia Isenhour.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Cynthia Cushing, Catherine Taylor, Rachel Coleman, MaryLou Ciolfi, Jennifer Crittenden, Len Kaye and Sarah Currie, for their project titled ā€œBuilding a Workforce Readiness Model for Older Adults: Partner Insights From AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Program.ā€ Crittenden also served as advisor for the project.Ā 

Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards

• First Place: Nabanita Das.
• Second Place: Amir Baharvand.
• Third Place: Noro John.

Additional awards

• Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award: Joshua Hamilton.
• Dean of the Graduate School Faculty Mentor Award: Christine Beitl
• Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award: Gregory Simms, Mikayla Reynolds, Isabelle Irani and David Neivandt.
• Provostā€™s Innovative and Creative Teaching Award: Jillian Fedarick.
• Susan J. Hunter Undergraduate Award: Madelynn DeBest.
• Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Mya Griffith.Ā 

Categories:

Outreach / Research / Student Life

Last week our senior and national team placed 3rd behind Texas A&M University and Penn State University, two extremely competitive programs. Retired School of Food and Agriculture Professor of Animal and Veterinary Science, Dr. Dave Marcinskowski noted “Only twice before since 1998 has our national team placed third never higher.”

Dairy Challenge began in 2002 with the goal to develop tomorrowā€™s dairy leaders and enhance
progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among
students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel. Every year students from across
the U.S. and Canada gather to apply their dairy knowledge skills, and the 91±¬ĮĻ
has been participating in this contest since its inception.

This year the contest was held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with 282 student participants from
42 Universities across the U.S. and Canada. Representing 91±¬ĮĻ at the contest were Amanda
Allan majoring in Zoology, Cece Desautell, Felicity Gregware, Makayla Dingle, Opal
Beauchesne, and Riley McAllaster, majoring in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. In order to
prepare for this contest the students met weekly over the past year and reviewed dairy farm
benchmarks, learned how to interpret dairy records, and conducted a ā€œmock challengeā€. During
this ā€œmock challengeā€ held in Deering Hall this past March 2026, the students evaluated a local
alumnus dairy farm, Taylor Dairy, and prepared a presentation with recommendations which was
presented to a panel of judges who were industry experts. This mock challenge emulated the
dairy challenge contest the students would participate in once in Sioux Falls.

At the contest held in South Dakota, juniors Makayla Dingle and Opal Beauchesne participated
in the Academy learning experience, while the seniors participated in the National Contest.
There were 4 dairy farms to evaluate, and this year 91±¬ĮĻ evaluated dairy farm B and
competed against 8 other Universities. Amanda, Cece, Felicity, and Riley each applied their
teamwork and expertise to evaluate a very well-managed 6,000 dairy herd that produced on
average 79 lbs of milk per cow per day and 5.5 lbs/cow/day of fat plus protein. The 4 91±¬ĮĻ
students put the dairy knowledge that they have learned from 91±¬ĮĻ professors, the staff and
cows at Witter Center, their peers and Maine dairy farmers to the test. The students were able to
earn 3rd place among the 8 teams that evaluated dairy farm B.

The 91±¬ĮĻ students were coached by Dr. Glenda Pereira, however, various members helped prepare and travel with the students including Dr. Dave Marcinkowski, Dr. Jessica Motta and Ethan Robertson. The students fundraised in order to travel to South Dakota and are thankful for the support from the College of Earth, Life and Health Sciences, cow level sponsors Phoenix Feeds of Maine, Poulin Grain, as well as calf level sponsors Cabot, and Jason Johnson.

Congratulations to the students for their success at the 2026 North American Intercollegiate
Dairy Challenge.

Story by Glenda Pereira, Associate Professor of Animal Science and Extension Dairy Specialist

Contact: Glenda Pereira, 207.581.3240; glenda.pereira@maine.edu

The first thing the students noticed at the 91±¬ĮĻā€™s J. Franklin Witter Teaching and Research Center was the smell ā€” fresh hay and something earthier, followed by the low hum of cows shifting in their stalls. Then came hesitation and, finally, curiosity, as small hands reached out to touch an animal many had only seen in books.

Dawna Kulakowski teaches first through third grade in Troy, Maine. For her, moments like this are the point.

ā€œI think itā€™s important for kids in these grades to come to the farm and learn about agriculture here at the university, because they have a lot of this out in their own communities, and they might be interested in a career in this area in the future,ā€ Kulakowski said. ā€œI think a lot of these kids like hands-on learning to experience things in the real world.ā€

Public access is central to operations at Witter Farm in Old Town. It welcomes K-12 students, community residents, university groups and professional organizations to meet the animals, learn about the research and contribute to Maineā€™s agricultural industry.

On a cool March day, students from Troy Central School, including those in Kulakowskiā€™s class, traded their desks for a behind-the-scenes look at a working agricultural operation just outside 91±¬ĮĻā€™s campus.

Trotting horses, mooing cows and fresh hay greeted the group as their chatter and laughter filled the barns. The visit connected Maineā€™s traditional classroom education with the stateā€™s agricultural industry ā€” one that relies on a new generation to sustain it.

Guiding them through the barns were 91±¬ĮĻ student workers, who balance coursework with leading tours and completing their daily responsibilities on the farm ā€” an example of the universityā€™s learner-centered approach as an R1 research institution.

Their work gives visiting students a peer-led introduction to agriculture while reinforcing their own hands-on education.

ā€œAs part of the class, students come in during their sophomore year and start working on the farm doing all kinds of things. The highlight, though, is when they are assigned to a pregnant female cow,ā€ said Chelsea Carr, livestock operations manager. ā€œThey get to be here for the birthing as part of their grade, and once the calf arrives, they get to name it as a group.ā€ 

The Witter Center houses multiple operations, including Witter Farm, and serves as a hub for animal sciences and sustainable agriculture. As a primary facility for the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, it integrates hands-on undergraduate and graduate education with high-level research.

The farm houses 78 animals and regularly welcomes school groups that engage directly with the animals and learn where their food comes from.

Many students also connect with the farm beyond their visit through the ā€œAdopt a Cowā€ program, a Discover Dairy and New England Dairy joint initiative that features Witter Farm as one of several participating farms across New England.

ā€œEvery farm puts up two calves that get adopted by classrooms. I believe last year we were adopted by 600 classrooms of kindergarteners, and the adopted cows that we have this year are Darling and Doris. Iā€™m sure that most of the tours on my schedule are here to see them,ā€ Carr said.

Through this yearlong virtual initiative, educators can bring the world of farm life into their classrooms. By adopting a calf from a New England dairy farm, students can follow a specific calfā€™s development over the course of the school year. This immersive experience is supported by complimentary educational materials from Discover Dairy, helping students understand dairy farming and how milk reaches their tables.

ā€œWe send updates, photos and videos of our adopted calves to Discovery Dairy, who then shares this information with the participating classrooms that have adopted our calves,ā€ said Patricia Henderson, Witter Farmā€™s superintendent.

Beyond traditional farm work, Witter Farm reflects the modernization of agriculture through its robotic milking barn.

ā€œWe put in the VMS300, a voluntary milking system, about a year ago in March. Itā€™s a robot that milks the cows without people having to do it. The cows can come in whenever they want, and the robot will milk them, clean the teats and collect a whole bunch of data for us,ā€ Henderson said.

The farmā€™s openness is intentional. Leaders say inviting the public in and encouraging questions helps challenge misconceptions about agriculture.

ā€œI think thereā€™s a lot of stigma behind dairy farming, so opening our tours to any and all questions is important for opening farms like this to the public and growing their knowledge of our industry,ā€ said Riley McAllaster, a senior in the animal and veterinary science program with a pre-veterinary concentration.

That effort is tied to a broader concern: fewer people are entering the agricultural workforce.

ā€œI hope these tours spark an interest in agriculture for these kids. With our new technology, like the robot barn, I hope people will understand that this is a modern, informing industry,ā€ Carr said. ā€œI want more people to be aware of the many agricultural jobs beyond working as a farmer, including research roles. Renewable farming is a growing industry, and it is full of jobs that need to be filled, and I hope these kids realize these opportunities early on.ā€

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

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

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

At the 91±¬ĮĻ, 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±¬ĮĻā€™s mechanical engineering program, now the universityā€™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 NASAā€™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. About 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±¬ĮĻ 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±¬ĮĻā€™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. About 20% of graduates continue to veterinary or medical school, while others enter the workforce directly.

Students gain hands-on experience at the universityā€™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 

A group of chemicals known as PFAS have become a growing concern for human health, agriculture and the environment. Because they resist breaking down, these ā€œforever chemicalsā€ can accumulate in soil, water and food systems and expose people to a range of adverse health conditions.

From nonstick cookware and disposable tableware to everyday items like toothbrushes, these oil- and water-repellent chemicals became widespread in the late 20th century. Today, communities across the country are grappling with the residue theyā€™ve left behind.

Maine has emerged as a national leader in responding to PFAS contamination, advancing policies aimed at protecting farms, ecosystems and public health. Researchers at the 91±¬ĮĻ are working to understand how PFAS moves through soil, crops and livestock; develop technologies to break it down; and design sustainable materials that could replace it in everyday products.

On this episode of ā€œThe Maine Questionā€ podcast, host Ron Lisnet speaks with 91±¬ĮĻ researchers Jean MacRae, Christina Murphy, Caroline Noblet and Rachel Schattman about how their work, spanning engineering, economics, agriculture and conservation biology, is helping communities confront PFAS and chart a cleaner path forward.

Listen to the podcast on , , , , or ā€œThe Maine Questionā€ website. 

What topics would you like to learn more about? What questions do you have for 91±¬ĮĻ experts? Email them to mainequestion@maine.edu.

Categories:

PFAS / Research / School of Food and Agriculture

Wild blueberries ā€” the iconic Maine crop dotting hillsides, decorating sweatshirts and adding personality to local menus ā€” is more than a cultural symbol. Over 20 years of preclinical and clinical studies suggest that regularly consuming wild blueberries supports gut and heart health and may reduce risk factors associated with chronic disease.

Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, professor of clinical nutrition at the 91±¬ĮĻ, recommends one half to one cup per day. She eats them alongside her morning oats or blends them into smoothies. 

She has spent her multi-decade career researching the health benefits of wild blueberries in relation to cardiometabolic health. Her work is featured in from a Cardiometabolic Health Symposium of experts hosted by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America in Bar Harbor in 2025. Twelve experts ā€” including Klimis-Zacas ā€” participated, their work spanning the fields of nutrition, food science, dietetics, nutrition metabolism and physiology, cardiovascular and cognitive function, gut health and microbiology. 

Blueberries contain polyphenols, which are bioactive compounds found in many berries, that have particularly powerful effects on vascular health. When compared to conventional blueberries, wild blueberries have twice the antioxidant content, 72% more fiber and 33% more anthocyanins ā€” flavonoids related to the widespread health benefits of the berries, such as improved cardiometabolic health.

Research led by Klimis-Zacas was the first to show that wild blueberries reduce inflammation and vascular dysfunction by targeting the endothelium, the thin layer of cells lining blood vessels that regulates their contraction and relaxation. In preclinical studies, her team found that animals with hypertension and obesity showed reduced inflammation and improved vascular health after consuming wild blueberries for six weeks.

Further analysis revealed that a wild blueberry diet alters vascular structure via glycoproteins ā€” key molecules involved in endothelial signaling processes. These structural changes not only improved endothelial function, but also made the endothelium more resilient to high blood lipids and high blood pressure changes.

ā€œIf your endothelium becomes dysfunctional, then everything starts going downhill,ā€ Klimis-Zacas said.

Her lab has also investigated how wild blueberries influence local and systemic inflammation in metabolic syndrome, as well as glucose, lipid metabolism and gut health, to have a greater understanding of blueberriesā€™ potential role in supporting overall metabolic function.

Whatā€™s the best way to eat wild blueberries?

Wild blueberries ā€” whether fresh, frozen or freeze-dried ā€” can all provide health benefits. Frozen berries are a convenient option because they are flash-frozen shortly after harvest, which helps preserve their nutrients, and are widely available in grocery store freezer aisles. Freeze-dried berries also retain beneficial compounds and are highly bioavailable.

Blending wild blueberries into smoothies is effective, as breaking down the berryā€™s skin helps the body absorb more of its bioactive compounds. Studies have also shown they can be baked into muffins and other foods without significantly reducing their health benefits.

Pairing wild blueberries with other nutritious ingredients that have acidity, such as orange, lemon or lime juice, further supports the body in absorbing their bioactive compounds. Adding cinnamon is another option, as it has been associated with supporting healthy blood glucose levels.

Who benefits most from eating wild blueberries?

Wild blueberries offer benefits for people with a range of chronic health conditions, particularly those related to inflammation and cardiovascular health. Klimis-Zacasā€™ clinical studies, in collaboration with the University of Milanā€™s DeFENS-Division of Human Nutrition, have examined blueberriesā€™ positive effects on individuals with vascular dysfunction, including people who smoke or are hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, diabetic, obese or have other inflammatory conditions.

Because wild blueberries contain natural carbohydrates, individuals with diabetes may benefit from more moderate portions, such as limiting intake to about half a cup per day.

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

Categories:

News / Research / School of Food and Agriculture

Whether itā€™s conducting cutting-edge research, commenting on current events or receiving that diploma, 91±¬ĮĻ faculty, students and leaders made headlines locally, nationally and internationally in 2025.

From research labs and classrooms to commencement stages and championship arenas, 91±¬ĮĻ was featured in more than 18,000 stories published from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. In addition, our faculty, students and leaders were quoted or referenced 25,000 times in outlets based in every U.S. state and over 40 countries. 

Below is a sampling of 91±¬ĮĻ media placements in 2025.

Portland Press Herald ā€” ā€˜Think of 91±¬ĮĻ as the R&D department of Maine itselfā€™

In an op-ed published in the , 91±¬ĮĻ President Joan Ferrini-Mundy encouraged Mainers to think of the university as the stateā€™s research and development department. 

ā€œWhile all research universities provide value to their home states, 91±¬ĮĻ is invaluable to Maine,ā€ wrote Ferrini-Mundy, who also serves as vice chancellor for research and innovation for the 91±¬ĮĻ System. ā€œWith an economy almost entirely reliant on small businesses that typically lack in-house expertise and facilities necessary to develop and improve products and processes, our university is Maineā€™s Research & Development (R&D) Department.ā€

Bangor Daily News ā€” Showcasing campus capital projects, 2026 look-ahead 

In December, the touted the many capital projects which will move the university and the state forward in the coming years. The BDN interviewed Ferrini-Mundy, Interim Vice President for Research Giovanna Guidoboni, and many others.

The BDN highlighted upcoming facilities like the GEM Factory of the Future and Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce and Innovation Center.

ā€œI think we can see how our faculty, staff and students have helped to make all of these things attractive and possible. We have the talent here on this campus to warrant these kinds of facilities, and so itā€™s appropriate that they happen,ā€ Ferrini-Mundy said.

People Magazine ā€” Two senior citizensā€™ road to graduation

At age 88, Joan Alexander likely became the oldest undergraduate degree recipient in 91±¬ĮĻā€™s 160-year history, concluding a journey she began in the 1960s. Local and national news organizations, including magazine, told Alexanderā€™s story, and how she was acknowledged during one of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s undergraduate ceremonies in May

also featured Jules Hathaway of Veazie, Maine, who graduated with a masterā€™s degree in student development in higher education from 91±¬ĮĻ at age 73.

Bangor Daily News ā€” Multi-story graduation celebration

When hundreds of students were awarded diplomas amid cheers from family and friends at the Cross Insurance Center, the BDN celebrated alongside them with not one, but four stories on 91±¬ĮĻā€™s 2025 commencement ceremonies. The package included a , , and . 

ā€œI myself realized that we are all blessed by an immeasurable amount of families,ā€ said valedictorian Meg Caron during her speech, as quoted by the BDN. ā€œFrom the sports teams Iā€™ve been a part of, the labs Iā€™ve researched in, the teachers and classmates Iā€™ve grown close to, and the roommates Iā€™ve had in Maine, Michigan, France, Costa Rica and Canada, Iā€™ve formed familial relationships with a thousand souls, and theyā€™ve each gifted me a part of themselves.ā€

The New York Times ā€” ā€˜How healthy are potatoes?ā€™ 

When exploring the nutritional benefits of potatoes before Thanksgiving, the tapped an expert from the home of the popular Caribou Russet. 

Mary Ellen Camire, professor of food science and human nutrition at 91±¬ĮĻ, spoke to the Times about how potatoes contain a modest amount of vitamin B6, which is needed for cardiovascular, immune and mental health. Purple and red potatoes have pigments called anthocyanins that promote cardiovascular health, slow starch digestion and help stave off cognitive problems, she said.

The Boston Globe ā€” Hockey East champions 

The 91±¬ĮĻ menā€™s hockey team secured its sixth Hockey East Tournament title with a 5-2 win over UConn at Bostonā€™s TD Garden. and were among the dozens of media outlets that reported on the Black Bearsā€™ first conference championship since 2004.

And they did it before a sellout crowd of over 17,000, most of them making the trip south from Maine.

ā€œIā€™m extremely proud of them, and happy for the guys in the room, happy for the school, and really the whole state of Maine, because it felt like the whole state was there,ā€ coach Ben Barr said after the game.

Scientific American ā€” The dire wolf debate 

As memes and social media chatter spread worldwide about Colossal Biosciencesā€™ genetic modification of gray wolf pups to resemble the dire wolf, publications like got the rundown from the experts. 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Jacquelyn Gill, professor of terrestrial paleoecology, spoke to the inability of such extinct species to exist the same as they once did. 

ā€œ[The pups] donā€™t have any traits that would allow us to understand the dire wolf any better than we did yesterday,ā€ Gill said, adding that understanding ice age organisms isnā€™t just a matter of knowing what they looked like or what they ate ā€” but also about knowing what they did in those ancient ecosystems. ā€œSome of those things are coded genetically; some of those are cultural.ā€

The New York Times ā€” Struggles of rural children

The struggles of children in rural America and why they are dealing with increasing barriers to support services was explored in a op-ed published in November. 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Catharine Biddle, associate professor of education, discussed the challenges rural districts face when trying to provide food, health care and counseling services to students who canā€™t access them elsewhere.

The op-ed notes that ā€œIn , where she spoke to over 100 educators in rural Maine about how they dealt with children with adverse childhood experiences, a teacher mentioned that the school nurse is on site just once a month, and that teachers feel as if they are acting as ad hoc social workers on a daily basis.ā€

WABI-TV (CBS) ā€” Seeking a universal flu treatment 

91±¬ĮĻ students are using physics to fight the flu, and joined them in the lab to showcase their work. 

A group of undergraduate and graduate students, led by physics professor Sam Hess, has been doing single molecule microscopy combined with molecular simulations to learn about how influenza viruses mutate and hijack the cells of their host. Their discoveries could lead to the creation of a universal flu treatment with potential applications for other viruses, offering more effective treatment options to defend against cold and flu season. 

ā€œThe idea is, can we come up with something more universal. So that way weā€™re not playing this guessing game every year,ā€ said David Winski, a graduate student at 91±¬ĮĻ working on his PhD in Biophysics.

CNN ā€” ā€˜How do we identify hazing?ā€™ 

Following a staged kidnapping at a high school in Syracuse, New York, interviewed 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Elizabeth Allan, professor of higher education leadership, about the culture of hazing, its relevancy in schools and prevention methods. 

ā€œItā€™s not really focused on ā€˜thou shall not haze,ā€™ itā€™s more, how do we think about the groups weā€™re in and the relationships we have with our teammates or with our fraternity brothers or with our band mates?ā€ she said.

Allan is a national expert on hazing, founder of and director of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Hazing Prevention Lab. 

HISTORY ā€” Life during the American Revolution

During the American Revolution, the British Army captured and held many major cities like New York and Boston for months, if not years. In an interview with , Liam Riordan, a 91±¬ĮĻ professor and chair of the history department, presented a picture of what the war was like beyond battlegrounds and street protests, as Americans lived under British occupation. 

ā€œNo matter your political allegiance, most people are just hunkering down and trying to survive the war without sacrificing their families,ā€ he said.

FOX Bangor/ABC 7 News ā€” Training with cutting-edge robotics for manufacturing 

joined the grand opening of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s B.O.T. Loft, a new robotics and automation training facility inside the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC). The facility is committed to ā€œbuilding, optimizing and trainingā€ the manufacturing workforce in Maine and beyond. This in-demand workforce needs to know how to operate new and efficient industrial technology for everything from wood products to composite materials.

ā€œA lot of manufacturers are hesitant to put in technology and automation unless they have a workforce thatā€™s really trained in it,ā€ said John Belding, director of the AMC. ā€œOur goal is to help upscale that workforce and help train their existing workforce so that they are comfortable using robotics and automation in the workplace.ā€

Good Morning America ā€” Printing affordable homes 

During Earth Week, featured BioHome3D, the first 100% bio-based 3D-printed home in the world. Made from local wood fiber and other recyclable materials, BioHome3D was developed by the 91±¬ĮĻ Advanced Structures and Composites Center to address labor shortages, supply chains issues and affordable housing shortage. 

ā€œIn Maine, we produce about a million tons of wood waste every year in our sawmills. So we thought, ā€˜How do we take that waste, and make it into something valuable?ā€™ā€ said ASCC executive director Habib Dagher during the interview. 

Nautilus ā€” ā€˜Has culture surpassed genes?ā€™ 

reported that human evolution may no longer be driven primarily by genetics, according to a new theory by 91±¬ĮĻ researchers. 

Timothy Waring and Zachary Wood argue that cultural systems are now shaping the way humans survive, adapt and reproduce. ā€œCultural evolution eats genetic evolution for breakfast,ā€ Wood said. ā€œItā€™s not even close.ā€

Maine Public ā€” Exploring cosmic phenomena with Neil DeGrasse Tyson 

Before a total lunar eclipse illuminated the night sky with an eerie red glow in Mid-March, Maine Public hosted famous astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson for a segment of its ā€œā€ radio show on the latest astronomy news. Joining them on the call was 91±¬ĮĻā€™s own Shawn Laatsch, director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center on campus. 

NPR ā€” Origins of the word ā€˜broadcastingā€™

What is the connection between broadcasting and agriculture? 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Michael Socolow, professor of communication and journalism, got to the bottom of it with for a report that explored the origins of the word ā€œbroadcasting.ā€ 

What began as a word describing a method of spreading plant seed expanded its meaning in the early 20th century as radios became the most common way for people to receive news, starting with the election of President Warren G. Harding in 1920. 

ā€œBy the end of the 1930s, when you used the word ā€˜broadcasting,ā€™ Americans all knew it meant radio broadcasting,ā€ Socolow said.

Gizmodo ā€” Tiny technology advancing nuclear generation 

praised the tiny, but powerful sensor created by 91±¬ĮĻ researchers to enhance monitoring capabilities and safety for next-gen nuclear reactors. These microelectronic sensors are capable of withstanding extreme environments ā€” temperatures up to 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit and intense radiation. 

Mauricio Pereira da Cunha, the Roger Clapp Castle and Virginia Averill Castle Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was the principal investigator on the project. The breakthrough positions 91±¬ĮĻ at the forefront of high-temperature, radiation-resistant materials innovation. 

CBS News ā€” New tick species for Maine 

In August, 91±¬ĮĻ Cooperative Extension and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) confirmed the presence of a new species of tick for the state: the invasive Asian longhorned tick. The news of its detection for the first time in Maine garnered headlines nationwide, including on .

ā€œThis discovery underscores the critical importance of continued tick surveillance in Maine,ā€ said Griffin Dill, director of the 91±¬ĮĻ Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab. ā€œWhile this appears to be an isolated case, we are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal partners.ā€

News Center Maine ā€” Providing meals for those in need 

joined hundreds of students and other volunteers as they packaged 52,920 meals to donate to people experiencing food insecurity for the Maine Day Meal Packout on April 30 at the Memorial Gym.  

The event was organized by Honors College faculty, staff and students, who raised over $19,400 to purchase the meals, which were given to over two dozen food banks and pantries in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties. 

ā€œItā€™s really wonderful to now be on this side and now see the full circle of how we get these meals to communities in need,ā€ said Jasper Makowski, 91±¬ĮĻ student and outreach coordinator for the Maine Day Meal Packout. 

U.S. News & World Report ā€” Growing the blue economy workforce 

A story from highlighted 91±¬ĮĻ degrees that help prepare students for careers in the blue economy. Those include the bachelorā€™s degree in marine science with options to specialize in aquaculture, marine biology or physical science, MaineMBA that offers a blue economy concentration.

U.S. News interviewed Jason Harkins, executive dean of the Maine Business School, and Diane Rowland, dean of the College of Earth, Life and Health Sciences, and director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.

Mainebiz ā€” Reynolds gym revitalization 

In April, students, regional and state leaders and other guests celebrated the reopening of the newly renovated Reynolds Gymnasium on the 91±¬ĮĻ at Machias campus. 

highlighted facility updates, which include new, NCAA-compliant hardwood floor, new bleachers, upgraded scoreboards, a new sound system and other enhancements to support student and community events. 

ā€œThis project represents more than just a new floor and bleachers ā€” it represents a revitalized space for our students, faculty, staff and the wider Downeast community,ā€ said Megan Walsh, 91±¬ĮĻ Machiasā€™ dean and campus director. 

Associated Press ā€” Energy and environmental cost of AI 

With the use of artificial intelligence growing rapidly nationwide and the emergence of many data centers designed to support it, the examined the impacts of the technology on our energy and the environment. 

Jon Ippolito, professor of new media at 91±¬ĮĻ, spoke to AP on the potential impact of AI and showcased his that explores the environmental footprint of using it for different digital tasks. Ippolito said tech companies are constantly working to make chips and data centers more efficient, but that does not mean AIā€™s environmental impact will shrink. This story was shared in about 200 news outlets across the globe.

WMTW (ABC) ā€” Little insect and its big threat for Maine woods

Spruce budworms are among the most destructive native forest pests in North America. Outbreaks kill trees, rendering the timber useless, increasing the risk of wildfire and causing a series of ecological effects.

In February, Angela Mech, director of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Spruce Budworm Lab, spoke with about their destructive impact on Maine woods and efforts to curtail their damage. 

ā€œItā€™s normally here all the time, but in very low densities, we canā€™t normally find it. But about every 40 years, it explodes,ā€ Mech said. 

Newsweek &²Ō²ś²õ±č;ā€” Tackling prescription drug costs with science

Researchers discovered a sustainable method to produce the key ingredient in a broad range of pharmaceuticals, which could help address high prescription drug costs in the U.S. 

Thomas Schwartz, project lead and associate director of 91±¬ĮĻā€™s Forest Bioproducts Research Institute, and Philip Kersten, research collaborator from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spoke with about their work. They explored a new, cost-reducing pathway to produce one of these crucial building blocks, (S)-3-hydroxy-Ī³-butyrolactone (HBL), from glucose at high concentrations and yields. 

ā€œInitial economic analysis suggests our process can be used to produce HBL much less expensively than the current process, which opens the door to producing new consumer products as well as more affordable pharmaceuticals,ā€ Schwartz and Kersten explained.

WGME (CBS) ā€” Improving cancer detection with AI

A research team led by two 91±¬ĮĻ Ph.D students developed an artificial intelligence system that could make it easier and faster for doctors to identify signs of breast cancer in tissue samples, possibly preventing delays and saving lives.

Jeremy Juybari and Josh Hamilton spoke with (Channel 13 in Portland) about this new tool, which introduces a deep learning architecture designed to interpret microscopic images of tissue with greater precision than conventional AI models.

ā€œWe have one part of the model that looks at a detailed resolution of an image, you can see down to the cell level,ā€ Juybari said. ā€œItā€™s not just the detailed tissue region that matters, itā€™s the surrounding tissue structure that also contains a lot of information thatā€™s important for the model to figure out if this detailed region has cancer or not.ā€

The Independent ā€” Safely enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers

Many people enjoy eating Thanksgiving leftovers, but without proper storage, they can lead to foodborne illness. In an article warning readers against leaving leftovers out too long, shared tips from Extensionā€™s Gulsun Akdemir Evrendilek on how to safely enjoy Thanksgiving for a second time. In particular, the publication noted Evrendilekā€™s tips on reheating food and reboiling gravy. 

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

Jordan Ramos first stepped into a wild blueberry field the summer before her sophomore year at the 91±¬ĮĻ. What started as environmental research transformed into the beginning of an artistic path rooted in Maineā€™s working landscapes.

Raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, Ramos was familiar with New Englandā€™s history but had never spent time in Maineā€™s wild blueberry barrens. That first season in the field introduced her not only to the ecology of the crop but to the people, labor and traditions tied to one of the stateā€™s iconic foods.

Now preparing to graduate as an Honors College student with a double major in ecology and environmental sciences and studio art, Ramos shaped her education around that experience. As a rising sophomore, she joined the 91±¬ĮĻ Cooperative Extensionā€™s Wild Blueberry Research Team and spent three summers exploring barrens in the midcoast and Downeast regions. 

Working alongside growers and researchers, she learned to observe the landscape closely, recording what she saw through notes, photos and sketches that would later inform her art. 

Her time in the fields quickly influenced her academic direction. What began as environmental research grew into a deeper artistic interest, prompting her to pursue additional studio courses and eventually focus her art on Maineā€™s wild blueberry heritage. 

ā€œMeeting such passionate professors who believed in me and my work, it really helped me feel confident that I could pursue a degree in art,ā€ Ramos said. ā€œI have a connection to ecosystems, and I think thatā€™s the part that I really see myself continuing to develop as a growing artist.ā€

Perspective of places, sciences she studies

Through her work, Ramos shares her perspective of the places and sciences she studies. She has focused part of her Honors thesis on the cultural heritage and history of Maineā€™s lowbush blueberries. 

Her series of watercolor paintings show the vastness of the fields and the people who handrake them each summer. Her colors are earthy and soft, created from natural soil based pigments.

In the future, Ramos may even explore using blueberries and other plants or fruits with natural pigments to create her own watercolors. After earning her degree this winter, she plans to stay in Maine making environmental art that speaks to the importance of conserving natural resources and places that, like people, are entangled in Earthā€™s larger ecosystems.

ā€œI definitely feel so much love for Maine that Iā€™ve come to really feel like itā€™s my second home while studying here in college,ā€ said Ramos, who is also an ambassador for the Honors College. ā€œThereā€™s so many different, intersecting factors of the natural landscape and community.ā€

Connecting fieldwork with cultural heritage

In high school, Ramos said she never connected to science classes like chemistry and physics. She never saw herself as being a lab scientist and had always been drawn to ā€œthe humanity side of learning and topics.ā€

It wasnā€™t until she came to 91±¬ĮĻ and gained research experiences outdoors that she started using art to communicate what she was learning about in the environment. One of her first pieces that combined science and art was a large watercolor painting depicting workers in long rows of vegetable fields, held up by two large hands. 

She aimed to raise awareness of how these agricultural workers harvest much of Americaā€™s food. Ramos continued to thread that theme into her work with Extensionā€™s Wild Blueberry Research Team, led by Extension specialist Lily Calderwood.

ā€œIt is incredibly important to share the grit and humanity behind agricultural commodities in a time when people are very disconnected from their food, especially who harvests their food,ā€ Calderwood said. ā€œThis industry is culturally and economically important for the state of Maine. Its preservation touches a lot of people who live here year round and those who visit.ā€

Talked to growers about management and more

With Calderwoodā€™s team, Ramos talked to growers about management practices, economics and ecological obstacles, such as from pests, disease and drought. She said they echoed similar challenges regarding low-profit seasons and labor shortages, as well as unpredictable temperatures and precipitation making field management and yield predictability difficult. 

Despite the challenges they face, Ramos said the growers uphold a strong commitment to and pride for the wild blueberry industry and its cultural significance in Maine.

Along with talking to the growers, Ramos harvested blueberries with local, seasonal and Passamaquoddy and Miā€™kmaq tribal hand-rakers in the fields to learn about their perspectives and traditions when it comes to wild blueberries.

Calderwood said Ramosā€™ paintings reflect aspects of Maineā€™s wild blueberry industry that research does not ā€” the social aspects of the people who grow them, the fields where theyā€™re grown and the state economy in which blueberries contribute $360 million annually.

ā€œArtwork has always been a special way to convey the natural world, and it is grounding to see that art is still such a powerful communication tool,ā€ Calderwood said.

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