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���� 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����.

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 “Improve 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 “deliver recommendations for cost-effective irrigation technologies and techniques for drought, extreme heat and/or frost risk management”, “define both optimal and minimum crop water needs (i.e., frequency, volume, timing)”, and “promote farm economic tools and provide cost-benefit insights on management options.”

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.

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

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

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

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

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

REad the full story online

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.

REad the full story online

Speech, pre-medical and biomedical sciences

91���� 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.

REad the full story online

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.

REad the full story online

Animal and veterinary sciences

Enrollment in 91����’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 university’s J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, where they work with animals in applied settings and develop practical skills.

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

REad the full story online

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 “forever chemicals” 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 they’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���� 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 “The Maine Question” podcast, host Ron Lisnet speaks with 91���� 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 “The Maine Question” website. 

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

Categories:

PFAS / Research / School of Food and Agriculture

Discover campus and coastal life at the 91���� through “Life in the Pines,” where real students share their experiences studying, exploring nature and embracing community on both the Orono and Machias campuses.

“Life in the Pines,” an unscripted video series sharing stories of students at the 91���� and 91���� at Machias, has launched its second season.

Each episode follows a student along their academic journey, whether it takes them to the coast, wild blueberry fields, medical research labs, K-12 classrooms, basketball courts or, literally, through the pines. Prioritizing authenticity, this series seeks to show what life is really like for students at both campuses. Visit to watch the full series.

Students to be featured this season include: 

• Alan Chausse, a forestry major who also plays in a band and rock climbs.
• Quincy Clifford, a business management major who has studied abroad in Costa Rica and played basketball with other students from around the globe.
• Jasper Makowski, a microbiology major, Honors College student, medical research lab student researcher and Circle K New England district governor.
• McKenna Chappell, a parks, recreation and tourism major who spends mornings creating art and afternoons teaching children about Maine’s outdoors.
• Nico Durkee, a studio art major in the marching band who plays with molten metal in the sculpture studio. 
• Lauren Smack, a sociology major, singer and dancer who’s made Orono her new home. 
• Isabelle Puccio, a biomedical engineering major who conducts breast cancer research and searches for ways to combine music and science.
• Samantha Ney, an elementary education major who lives life on Marsh Island to the fullest, from walking the trails to cheering on the Black Bears. 
• Jeffrey Nowack, who never thought he would be a drum major until he recently discovered his passion — and possible career paths — for music education.
• Joey Ferguson, an integrative biology major who conducts wild blueberry research and responds to marine mammal strandings in Downeast Maine. 

Don’t miss this insider’s look at 91���� through the lens of a dynamic group of students living life in the pines.

Transcript:

I have friends that are going to school right now in Colorado and Nebraska and they’re beautiful, but Maine is forged by nature and forged by the people that are here. I feel like it’s a flex.

The underlying biogeochemical processes that support forest ecosystem function and, therefore, the ecosystem services they provide, are not adequately understood. This leads to uncertainties in the sustainability of ecosystem services (e.g., the sustainability of forests with increased use for biomass energy, the continued supply of high-quality freshwater from lakes and streams in a changing climate) that can undermine societal goals for environmental quality, a healthy economy, and sustainable management in an era of increased demands on forested ecosystems and a changing environment. The research at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine provides some of the highest quality data on nutrient cycling, acidification and recovery, and responses to climate change in small forested watersheds anywhere in the world. The data from this research informs forest managers, environmental policy makers, and other natural resource professionals on high frequency (e.g., effects of storms) and low frequency (e.g., effects of climate change) stressors on our forests. By understanding the biogeochemical process that supports the growth and function of forest ecosystems, we can improve our ability to achieve sustainability while increasing utilization. We also can develop early indicators of forest change before the change becomes more evident, often in detrimental ways. This also informs state and national environmental policy (e.g., the Clean Air Act), as it has done in the past.

Investigator: Fernandez, I.

Unit: School of Forest Resources

Termination Date: 30-Sep-19