Our
world
faces
immense
environmental
challenges–from
climate
change
and
the
loss
of
biodiversity
to
the
effects
of
air
and
water
pollution
and
the
management
of
our
natural
resources.
And
there
are
no
easy
solutions.
The
development
and
protection
of
a
healthy
environment
demands
an
understanding
of
these
challenges
and
a
comprehensive
knowledge
of
our
natural
world.
That’s
why
our program is
dedicated
to
preparing
the
future
planners,
leaders,
and
researchers
essential
to
addressing
our
global
and
local
needs,
in
government
and industry,
both
nationally
and
internationally.
Through
an
emphasis
on
field
work,
research
activities,
and
special
seminars,
you’ll
get
the
knowledge
and
experiences
necessary
to
provide
this
leadership
in
critical
thinking,
problem
solving,
and
responsible
global
citizenship.
You’re
also
in
luck:
jobs
related
to
the
environmental
sector
are
among
the
fastest
growing
occupations
in
the
U.S.
So,
go
ahead;
change
the
world
with
a
degree
in
Environmental
Science
and
Sustainability.

Apply now
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Welcome to Our Program

Our location provides ready access to more than five million acres of the great North Maine Woods, meaning we have the best field laboratory nature could offer right in our backyard.

X Marks the Spot

You’ll be helping the local community as you learn about Geographic Information Systems. Our unique GIS Certificate offering allows students to work on real GIS projects to earn hands-on experience with the technology.

Unique UMPI Benefits

UMPI faculty connect students with unique professional experiences and networking opportunities, from regional meetings to state conferences.

Not Your Typical Lab Equipment

With two solar arrays and a biomass boiler system, we have many renewable energy sources on campus that serve double duty as great opportunities for research and learning.

Research with Professionals

You aren’t just learning from professors who really care about your progress, you’re learning from researchers who are making important discoveries and contributions in their fields of study. And many times, you’re right beside them conducting fieldwork.

See the World

Through our GeoEnv Club, our students have been able to take part in local geology field trips and travel to spots like the Grand Canyon and Iceland.

Computer, Computer Keyboard, Desk, Electronics, Furniture, Hardware, Human, Keyboard, Person, Table

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Financial Aid Scholarships & Awards

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If
you’re
looking
for
an
Environmental
Science
program
that
gets
you
out
into
the
field,
look
no
further
than
UMPI’s
Environmental
Science
and
Sustainability
program.
Northern
Maine
has
plenty
of
wilderness
to
explore
and
our
faculty
frequently
leverage
our
pristine
fields,
woods,
and
waters
to
provide
students
with
the
most
unique
outdoor
research
labs
imaginable.

student by river holding a turtle

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Over
the
years,
our
students
have
conducted
GIS
projects
that
have
benefited
many
local
municipalities
and
community
organizations.
Students
get
hands-on,
out
in
the
field
experience
using
cutting
edge
technology,
enjoy
access
to
UMPI’s
state-of-the-art
GIS
lab,
and
are
able
to
add
projects
with
real
community
impact
to
their
resumes.

X Marks the spot

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Whether
it’s
attending
statewide
events
for
undergraduate
students
to
share
poster
presentations
or
participating
in
field
trips
as
part
of
the
New
England
Intercollegiate
Geological
Conference,
there
are
exciting
opportunities
for
UMPI
students
to
experience
professional
activities
in
a
wide
range
of
areas
within
Environmental
Science.

Not Your Typical Lab Equipment

At UMPI, we take advantage of every possible learning opportunity, which means incorporating the renewable energy sources located right here on campus into our classroom activities and research projects.

UMPI students in field winter looking through binoculars

Research with Professionals

One of the main strengths of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Program at UMPI is the opportunity for undergraduates to participate in research experiences, both in the lab and in the field. Students can work as work-study students or paid assistants on faculty research projects, or they can take Independent Study courses or volunteer as well. UMPI faculty are all conducting research projects and undergraduates are encouraged to participate. UMPI also has other special opportunities in the state and beyond.

students on a field trip

See the World

Ready to explore the natural world and uncover the geology all around you? The GeoEnv Club meets every Thursday at 12 p.m. in the Geology Laboratory, Folsom 302. (Email club officers for accurate meeting schedules). Dr. Chunzeng Wang serves as the adviser for the Club.

Join our club

Seminar Series

Our program partners with the Environmental Science and Sustainability program to host the Science Lunchtime Seminar Series, an innovative way to explore the world of science. This series provides the campus and community with a forum to present scientific research conducted by UMPI students and faculty as well as other local and regional scientists.

Seminars generally are held during the academic year on select Thursdays from 12:15-1:30 p.m. in Folsom 201, UMPI’s GIS Lab. Faculty, students, staff and community members are welcome to attend these free events and are encouraged to bring their lunches and join the discussion. Look for dates and topics on the latest Seminar Series on the University’s News and Events page.

Testimonials

“Choosing UMPI was the best decision I ever made. I found my true self by embracing my identity and being supported in who I am. It was empowering to discover my own strength and potential… The personal support is unmatched. My advisor encouraged me to follow my own path and to become who I’m meant to be. I don’t think I’d be where I am without that support.”

–Miranda Washinawatok, Class of 2022, B.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability, graduate student in the University of Wisconsin’s Anthropology program

“When I attended UMPI, I was working full time in the agriculture industry. The flexibility of taking classes close to home and a very accommodating employer allowed me to both work long hours and finish my degree. To have a strong and healthy Ag economy in Northern Maine, we need a school willing to educate people for an Ag-based career, and UMPI provides that. The Ag industry throughout the country is always looking for talented people to fill positions, and currently there is a shortage of qualified people to fill these. If you love working outside, I would encourage you to consider looking into a career that begins with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. It is a campus that will not only prepare you well for a career in the Ag industry, it’s strategically located in a county with almost 400,000 acres tillable land and millions of acres of forest land.”

–Marcus Flewelling, Class of 2012, B.S. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability

Areas of Study

Anthropology

About: People have studied human life, society and social relations for thousands of years. This area of study not only exposes students to fundamental anthropological concepts, but also allows them to explore those concepts through hands-on archaeological activities and research related to the indigenous people who once inhabited the northern Maine region.

Facilities: Folsom Hall classrooms; the great outdoors — professors have led students on archaeological digs throughout the Aroostook River Watershed area.

Anthropology

About: People have studied human life, society and social relations for thousands of years. This area of study not only exposes students to fundamental anthropological concepts, but also allows them to explore those concepts through hands-on archaeological activities and research related to the indigenous people who once inhabited the northern Maine region.

Facilities: Folsom Hall classrooms; the great outdoors — professors have led students on archaeological digs throughout the Aroostook River Watershed area.

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Folsom Science Laboratories

Folsom Hall houses the science laboratories on the UMPI campus. The Environmental Science department has a GIS lab with wide-format plotter, a Soil Science and Geology lab, a Chemistry lab, as well as several research laboratory spaces. There are also multiple biology labs for working with wildlife or DNA. Equipment includes drones, GPS units, ground-penetrating radar, and other technology.

Zillman Family Greenhouse

UMPI has a new state-of-the-art greenhouse that is utilized by science-focused programs for classroom instruction and research. Three large climate-controlled rooms allow for multiple projects and classroom laboratory experiences in plant biology and agriculture.

Faculty

Photo of Larry Feinstein

Larry Feinstein

Associate Professor of Biology
Location
308 South Hall
Phone
(207) 768-9498
Email
larry.feinstein@maine.edu
Photo of Udaya Jayasundara

Udaya Jayasundara

Asst Prof of Chemistry
Location
307 South Hall
Phone
(207) 768-9483
Email
udaya.jayasundara@maine.edu
Photo of Jason Johnston

Jason C Johnston

Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Location
315 South Hall
Phone
(207) 768-9652
Email
jason.johnston@maine.edu

Dave Putnam

Adjunct Faculty
Email
david.putnam@maine.edu
Photo of Judy Roe

Judith Ladd Roe

Associate Professor of Biology
Location
316 South Hall
Phone
(207) 768-9446
Email
judith.roe@maine.edu

Matthew Wallhead

Assistant Prof of Agricultural Science
Dr. Robert Vinton Akeley Chair of Agricultural Science and Agribusiness
Location
South 307
Email
matthew.wallhead@maine.edu
Photo of Chunzeng Wang

Chunzeng Wang

Professor of Earth and Environmental Studies
Location
306 South Hall
Phone
(207) 768-9412
Email
chunzeng.wang@maine.edu

Other Important Links

Aroostook County History Sustainable Education Opportunities

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Academic maps Advising Innovative Learning

Environmental Science and Sustainability Program Offerings

Our Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability is a 120-credit program that includes: the General Education Curriculum (40 credits); Core Courses; sections on Science and the Environment, Energy and the Environment, and Humans and the Environment; a Practical Learning Experience; and general electives.

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Our Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability is a 120-credit program that includes: the General Education Curriculum (40 credits); Core Courses; sections on Science and the Environment, Energy and the Environment, and Humans and the Environment; a Practical Learning Experience; and general electives.

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We offer further opportunities through our GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certificate, aimed at bringing modern GPS and GIS technologies to students of all majors and to local communities. A two-semester GIS sequence is offered, ENV308-Introduction to GIS (GIS I) in the spring, and ENV408-GIS Applications and Advanced Spatial Analyses (GIS II) in the fall.  What is GIS?

Our Environmental Studies Minor is designed specifically for students from a diversity of majors with a strong interest in environmental issues, but not strictly environmental science, to gain a basic interdisciplinary perspective on these issues and challenges, including environmental policy and law, philosophy and literature, and sustainable development.

Our Chemistry Minor provides students with a grounding in basic chemistry principles and a study of chemistry sub-disciplines, including organic chemistry, biochemistry and environmental chemistry.

Our Geology Minor is designed for students seeking a fundamental understanding of Earth materials and geological processes. This minor should especially be considered by students who may be interested in pursuing careers in the fields of chemistry, engineering and earth sciences.

Our Physical Science Minor gives students a foundation in the science of non-living systems, and encompasses principles of physics and chemistry.

If you’re interested in exploring a degree in Agriculture, check out our Agricultural Science & Agribusiness degree.

Agricultural Science & Agribusiness

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Next Step: Admissions

We’re so excited that you’re considering the University of Maine at Presque Isle! As a student at UMPI, we want your experience to be anything but ordinary! So what makes UMPI extraordinary? Our Learning Environment, Our Student Engagement and Our Location!

No matter what stage of life you are in, we can help you take the plunge into higher education and put you on YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS!

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