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

At the 91爆料, 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爆料鈥檚 mechanical engineering program, now the university鈥檚 largest major, has expanded in response to national demand for engineers in industries including manufacturing, technology and transportation.

Enrollment has increased by more than 30% over the past decade. Graduates are recruited by employers such as Bath Iron Works, Pratt & Whitney, Northrop Grumman, Texas Instruments, GE and NASA鈥檚 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爆料 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爆料鈥檚 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 university鈥檚 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 

91爆料 ecology professor Brian McGill has been named a 2026 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, one of the highest honors in the scientific community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the gardens to the farms and forests, Eddie Nachamie has dedicated his undergraduate career toward protecting the environment. At the 91爆料, he has worked on projects to reduce food waste, preserve wild blueberries and mitigate the spread of a group of chemicals known as PFAS.

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

鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to have been awarded the Udall Scholarship,鈥� said Nachamie, who received support for his application from the Office of Major Scholarships and by professor Darren Ranco,  the faculty representative at 91爆料 for the scholarship. 鈥淲e鈥檙e at a pivotal moment in history where our actions on environmental issues matter more than ever.鈥�

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

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

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

鈥淚 have been lucky to have the mentorship of Rachel Schattman from the School of Food and Agriculture to support me in my research about PFAS compounds in Maine and throughout the United States,鈥� he said. 鈥淒r. Schattman鈥檚 feedback on my policy review showed me what I was capable of from a research perspective.鈥� 

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

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

鈥�91爆料 has an extremely supportive and cooperative academic atmosphere,鈥� Nachamie said. 鈥淪tudents are excited to help each other out, form study groups and work together to succeed in their classes. The academic atmosphere is rigorous but not competitive, and I鈥檝e found that professors are always willing to help accommodate student situations and concerns.鈥�

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

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

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

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

Established in 1986 through a partnership between the 91爆料 and International Paper Company, the Howland Research Forest is a forest ecosystem research site in central Maine, representing a low-elevation conifer/northern hardwood transitional forest dominated by spruce and hemlock. In 2007, the Howland Research Forest was purchased by the .

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

Learn more about the ongoing research utilizing the flux tower .

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

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

Pumpkin season starts at the 91爆料鈥檚 Highmoor Farm early in June. David Handley, a small fruit and vegetable specialist at 91爆料 Cooperative Extension, and Mark Hutton, associate professor of vegetable crop, watch as the pumpkins grow, taking calls along the way from farmers in Maine who may be experiencing their own issues with the crop.

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

鈥淧umpkins are not a crop that is typically going to be happy in Maine, because it has more southern origins,鈥� Handley said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e from central South America. So up here, we are really pushing it to try to get a crop in the short growing season that we have.鈥�

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

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

As seed companies constantly push their latest variety releases, Highmoor specialists conduct trials every year to help farmers know which pumpkin varieties will and won鈥檛 perform well in Maine. 鈥淲e take the lumps, so the farmers don鈥檛 have to,鈥� Handley said. 

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

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

鈥淔or a farmer, having somebody that you can call and ask questions that has broad experience and knowledge is really helpful,鈥� Pellerin said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e kind of out here doing this on your own.鈥�

Handley, who has been working at 91爆料 Extension for 42 years, is an invaluable resource to farmers across the state. Pellerin said every year is different, so answers to his questions aren鈥檛 just a matter of knowing everything there is to know about one crop in a single year. Weather conditions differ, plant responses differ and problems, like pests, differ from year to year. 

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

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

Moran, also a professor of pomology at 91爆料, said she gets the most calls during the spring bloom phase and the two weeks that follow. Controlling how many apples grow on a tree can determine the success of a season鈥檚 orchard. Too many and the apples will be too small 鈥� potentially down to the size of a golf ball. Too few and the tree won鈥檛 produce enough to turn a profit. 

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

鈥淕rowing apples for marketing requires a high degree of horticultural knowledge,鈥� Moran said. 鈥淢y job is to fill in the gaps and to anticipate problems that are unique to each season.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joan Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the university鈥檚 leadership at today鈥檚 Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit. 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy,鈥� she said.

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

91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy told attendees at the 2025 Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit that the state鈥檚 success depends not only on innovation, but also on the people prepared to drive it.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy 鈥� and that will be our trained, skilled workforce,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said in her plenary address at the Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay.

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

鈥淥ver the last five decades, of course, we鈥檝e been a global leader in this state, in the blue economy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about partnerships. It鈥檚 about communities coming together to bring this economy to a forefront that is critical for our state.鈥�

Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the role of 91爆料 MARINE, the university鈥檚 hub for aquaculture and marine technology research, which connects faculty, students and industry partners across the state. 

She noted 91爆料鈥檚 network of coastal research facilities 鈥� including the Aquaculture Research Institute in Orono; the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin; the Darling Marine Center in Walpole; and the Down East Institute in Beals, which serves as the Marine Science Field station for the 91爆料 at Machias.

鈥淥ur researchers are working on sustainable aquaculture methods, new feed alternatives and innovations that strengthen Maine鈥檚 seafood sector,鈥� she said.

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

鈥淲e see ourselves as Maine鈥檚 research and development department, advancing basic science, applied research and innovation that keep our communities strong and our economy competitive,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said.

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

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

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

鈥淥ur blue economy touches every coastal town in Maine,鈥� Duguay said. 鈥淚t supports tens of thousands of jobs, strengthens our working waterfronts and positions us to lead in industries of the future.鈥�

Maine鈥檚 maritime industries have always been about adapting to change.

鈥淪hipbuilding, fishing and maritime trade weren鈥檛 just industries 鈥� they were ways of life,鈥� Duguay said. 鈥淏ut what defines us is the ability to evolve.鈥�

That evolution is accelerating, with aquaculture leading the way.

鈥淢aine is the largest producer of farmed seaweed in the United States, and the value of our aquaculture industry has doubled in the last decade,鈥� Duguay said. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about oysters and mussels. It鈥檚 about kelp as a food source and as an input for everything from animal feed to cosmetics. It鈥檚 about salmon and trout farming to meet rising demand for protein.鈥�

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

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

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

鈥淭hose grants prevented closures, retained local employment and helped rebuild stronger infrastructure,鈥� he said.

That momentum extends to workforce development.

鈥淏y partnering with universities, community colleges and trade programs, we鈥檙e training Mainers for careers in aquaculture, boatbuilding and marine technology.鈥�

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

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

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

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

Gov. Janet Mills and leaders of the 91爆料 and Maine Potato Board celebrated the completion of a $3 million renovation of the flagship鈥檚 Aroostook Farm with a ceremonial ribbon cutting today in Presque Isle. 

For more than a century, the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station鈥檚 (MAFES) 425-acre Aroostook Farm has been the heart of 91爆料鈥檚 agricultural research to benefit the state鈥檚 potato industry, including breeding innovations like the Caribou Russet 鈥� .

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

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

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

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

鈥楢 game-changer for the state鈥檚 potato industry鈥�The modernization was funded using $3 million of $35 million provided to the 91爆料 System (UMS) through (MJRP) 鈥� proposed by Gov. Mills and approved by the 130th Maine Legislature to spur the state鈥檚 economic recovery and long-term growth by strategically investing federal pandemic relief funds. 

鈥淲ith tools like drones that will fly over the farm鈥檚 nearly 6,000 test plots, the Aroostook Farm will help agriculture students better determine which potato varieties are most resistant to weather, pests and disease, and develop successful new varieties, like the Caribou Russet, to keep Maine-grown potatoes in high demand,鈥� said Gov. Mills. 鈥淲hen we created the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to build an economy of the future, this is exactly the type of payoff we were envisioning. I congratulate the 91爆料 and our entire agriculture community on the transformation of the Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle into an advanced research institution.鈥�

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

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

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

鈥淭he Maine Potato Board appreciates the 91爆料 making this project a priority, and their decades of leadership, research and responsiveness to our growers and producers,鈥� said Maine Potato Board Executive Director Jeannie Tapley. 鈥淭he investments made here will help develop the next Caribou Russet more quickly and the next generation of researchers necessary for our industry to adapt and continue producing the highest-quality potatoes in the world right here in Maine.鈥� 

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

UMS has invested its share of MJRP funds to enhance world-class research led by the 91爆料, the state鈥檚 only institution to have achieved the R1 Carnegie Classification, and expand the Maine workforce in high-demand fields such as engineering and computing, education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, and tourism and hospitality. 

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

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

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

The ribbon cutting was also featured in the and .

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

More frequent heat waves, drought, heavy rain and other extreme weather events are threatening Greenlandic communities鈥� access to clean water by impacting lake levels and reducing their quality through polluted runoff. That鈥檚 why Gavin, a 91爆料 Ph.D. student in ecology and environmental sciences, is studying contemporary changes in lakes, particularly those in south Greenland, and how the lakes were impacted by past climate events. By studying the past and present, Gavin鈥檚 research can offer insight into the future of water quality and quantity in the region.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

鈥淎manda鈥檚 research is advancing more holistic approaches to lake science by crossing time scales 鈥� from seasons to centuries 鈥� and by practicing early engagement with communities affected by environmental change. I am so pleased that her great work is being recognized by various prestigious funding sources,鈥� said Jasmine Saros, associate director of 91爆料鈥檚 Climate Change Institute and professor of lake ecology.

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

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

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

鈥淚 really love teaching, and I love research, and I would like to continue being able to teach and do research, work in the Arctic and work in lakes in general,鈥� Gavin said.鈥淢y experience at 91爆料 as a Ph.D. student has been wonderful.鈥�

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

Jose Eduardo Meireles, assistant professor of plant evolution and systematics at the 91爆料, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to develop faster, cheaper methods to study biodiversity and plant function. The CAREER, or Faculty Early Career Development, awards are among NSF鈥檚 most prestigious and support research and education activities led by early-career faculty for five consecutive years.     

For his project, Meireles鈥� will develop and disseminate cutting-edge techniques to collect functional data from preserved plant specimens. It will ultimately unlock centuries of untapped data from 390 million specimens held in herbarium collections around the world. 

鈥淏y transforming how we study the vast plant biodiversity stored in herbarium collections around the world, this research opens the door to scalable, efficient studies that were previously impossible,鈥� Meireles said. 鈥淭his will make biodiversity science faster, cheaper and more globally comprehensive.鈥�

Once collaborators start using Meireles鈥� methods, researchers will likely triple the amount of data they generate about plant function across ecosystems, time and geography in a given year. The project鈥檚 open-source software, trait databases and training workshops will further lower the barriers to entry, empowering stakeholders worldwide to apply the technology to their own needs.

鈥淓very herbarium specimen has a story to tell, even specimens that are decades or centuries old,鈥� said Emily Sessa, director of the New York Botanical Garden鈥檚 William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, who is hosting a training workshop as a part of the project. 鈥淭his work will create an exciting new avenue for herbarium collections to inform us about biodiversity and new tools for collecting data on important plant traits at large scales.鈥�

In addition to collaborating with Sessa, the project will engage with curators and researchers from The Field Museum in Chicago, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay and herbaria across the United States, Brazil and Colombia. The comprehensive reach of the project strengthens the United States鈥� position as a global leader in biodiversity research, plant science and workforce training.

Springing open the potential of plants

Industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to agriculture and forestry rely on plant-based products or ecosystem services. These sectors are poised to benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of plant function and adaptability. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 fascinating to me that there are over 300,000 species of flowering plants, and we only know how a tiny fraction work,鈥� Meireles said. 鈥淭here are plants in weird places that experience extreme drought or extreme cold environments. They deal with pathogens and fungi. They hold a huge library of solutions that evolution came up with over a very long time. And so far, we鈥檝e only been able to harness a tiny portion of that.鈥�

The tropics boast the richest diversity on Earth, harboring nearly two-thirds of all known plant species. These plants continually evolve in response to changes in their environments. Understanding how plant species evolve and adapt to environmental shifts, such as moving from rainforests to savannas or deserts, was previously hindered by the slow, costly process of finding rare plants in the field. This project overcomes these limitations by dispensing with the need for live specimens. 

Meireles, along with his team of students and collaborators, will develop new statistical computer models to improve established characterization techniques. This will streamline the analysis of the treasure trove specimens held in herbaria around the globe. Their advanced computing approach will integrate genetic analysis with spectral phenotyping 鈥� which uses light to detect the chemical makeup and function of leaves, akin to how airport security scanners reveal the contents and composition of luggage.

These advancements will enable researchers to measure dozens of traits such as nitrogen levels, water content and defensive compounds without harvesting live plants or destroying specimens, making it possible to analyze thousands of specimens across multiple continents with unprecedented speed and scale.

Cultivating tech-savvy plant scientists

The project also aims to broaden participation in plant and biodiversity science. A new research course about biodiversity and the latest tools scientists use, like spectral data, will immerse students in the environment of discovery in their first year when it launches in fall 2027. Meireles will also develop a phylogenomics module for a graduate-level biology course and host workshops in spectral biology across the country and Latin America. These efforts will help techniques and findings from the project flow freely across cohorts and institutions. 

91爆料 undergraduate and graduate students will work as lab members on the project, creating a new experience in the university鈥檚 signature learner-centered R1 education. 

The project also partners with graduate students and faculty from 91爆料鈥檚 Intermedia Programs to create an exhibit about biodiversity 鈥� bridging the gap between science and the public, and sparking conversations about the value of biodiversity in everyday life.

For the public at large, Meireles encourages people to visit their local herbarium. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 sometimes hard to see the value in these places because it鈥檚 a giant room full of dried plants,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the bottom line is we can do a lot of cutting-edge science using those specimens. Herbaria are among the greatest repositories of biological knowledge, and this project uses what we already have in a new way.鈥�

In , Meireles hosts monthly meetings during the academic year where students practice curation techniques alongside professional and amateur botanists. The gatherings also have a short science talk. The collection has been carefully curated over decades by both 91爆料 faculty and community scientists, like Pat Ledlie, who previously donated her collection of 1,590 moss specimens to 91爆料鈥檚 Herbarium. 

鈥淚f people have an interest in plants, I hope they will come talk with and engage with us,鈥� Meireles said.

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu

American lobsters along Maine鈥檚 coast have relocated to new habitats, while the population simultaneously shrunk in abundance and grew older, according to a new study by 91爆料 researchers.

For decades, the vast majority of adult lobsters resided in boulder shelter habitats. This knowledge helped inform longtime conservation efforts and regulations within the more than $740 million fishery. 

A team of 91爆料 scientists, however, found that from 1995-2021, occupancy of boulder habitats dropped 60%. Meanwhile, the number of lobsters residing in sediment or featureless ledge habitats, both of which have little to no geological features to use as shelters, increased 633% and 280%, respectively. Lobster population density across all types of habitats declined too, meaning they are fewer in number and their populations are more spread out. 

Water temperatures increased nearly 3 degrees Celcius from 1995-2021 across these habitats, according to researchers, showing how lobsters and their habitats are changing with the climate. Kelp abundance declined across lobster habitats, while diminutive algal turfs 鈥� small green mats containing multiple species of algae 鈥� increased.

鈥淭hese differences in the way lobsters use their habitats provide context for the lobster stock assessment that helps to determine the health of the entire lobster population,鈥� said Robert Jarrett, lead author of the study and marine biology Ph.D. student. 鈥淪ome of the annual lobster surveys used in the assessment, like those from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, are restricted in the types of habitats that they can sample, so these findings about habitat help fill in some information gaps and show that over time the lobsters may be shifting between which surveys catch them better.鈥� 

Jarrett and his colleagues published their findings in the journal . Co-authors include Damian Brady, Agatha B. Darling Professor of Oceanography; Richard Wahle, former director of the Lobster Institute, and Bob Steneck, professor emeritus of oceanography, marine biology and marine policy.

The team investigated 20 sites along Maine鈥檚 coast, from York to Jonesport. They dove 10 meters below the surface to count and measure lobster, as well as to collect data on habitat and temperature. The team also reviewed historic data for the same sites dating back to the 1990s. 

While overall population density has declined, the mean size of an adult lobster was greater in 2021 than in 1996. According to the study, the increase in mean size is partially the result of fewer juvenile lobsters residing in these habitats. While lobsters in the Gulf of Maine are now larger, the team observed that the majority, or 93%, were still smaller than 83 millimeters, the minimum legal size to be caught and sold 鈥� a promising sign for the fishery.

Lobsters are also now favoring open spaces within their habitats over rocky shelters than previously. The percentage of lobsters living under rocky shelters dropped 34% from 2000-2019, while those using no shelter at all increased 168%. The number of lobsters that reside underneath beds of algae have also grown 160%.

According to researchers, demographic shifts among Gulf of Maine lobsters 鈥� habitat, size and population density 鈥� may have resulted from a drop in baby lobsters surviving to the seafloor and less competition between individual lobsters. The lack of predators might have also influenced more lobsters to move away from boulders to more open habitats, forgoing rock shelters for cover with only algae to hide under.   

鈥淲hen you consider that this is one of the best studied commercially important marine species in the world, it is stunning that we keep getting surprised by our iconic lobster,鈥� Steneck said.

This study is the latest example of how 91爆料 students and faculty are preserving and propelling the state鈥檚 blue economy, industries that use ocean resources for economic growth without jeopardizing the environment. 

Through innovation and workforce development, the university broadens insight into ecological and sociological changes that affect the state鈥檚 coastal communities and businesses. Its faculty and students are also exploring opportunities for new sectors and markets and investigating potential resources to mitigate the ramifications of climate change. 

Bolstering these efforts is the 91爆料 Marine Aligned Research, Innovation, and Nationally-recognized Education (MARINE) Initiative, which fosters collaboration and synergy among researchers, industry, government and communities. Together, they integrate and innovate transdisciplinary marine research, education and outreach to enhance the socioeconomic well-being of people in Maine and beyond.  

鈥淭his study exemplifies how the 91爆料 supports Maine鈥檚 blue economy. In a changing Gulf of Maine, sustainable management of the largest fishery in North America requires better understanding how lobsters are using habitat鈥� said Brady, also the principal investigator of a National Science Foundation-funded Navigating the New Arctic project that supported this work. 

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