Three academic programs at the University of Maine at Presque Isle are joining forces again this fall to provide the campus and community with an innovative way to explore the world of science. The Environmental Science and Sustainability, Biology, and Agricultural Science programs are hosting a lunchtime seminar series that provides a forum to present scientific research conducted by UMPI students and faculty, and local and regional scientists, as well as topics in management, medicine and applied science.
The series, now in its seventh year, fosters greater collaboration and more informative communication between UMPI, especially its students, and the greater northern Maine region. The purpose of the series is to bring the University, working professionals, and community members together by collaborating on ideas and experiments through scientific discoveries.
Seminars generally will be held Thursdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Folsom 201, UMPI’s GIS Lab, unless otherwise noted; arrive at 12:15 p.m. for the meet and greet. Anyone is welcome to come join the series, especially if interested in hearing about scientific pursuits.
The series began on Tuesday, Oct. 8 with a presentation by Mark Shepard, CEO Restoration Agriculture Development, on the topic Redesigning civilization in nature’s image.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Randy Martin, Director of the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District, delivers a talk on High tunnel production in Aroostook County.
The series continues on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with the presentation Advances in understanding geology and tectonic history of Munsungun inlier, Northern Maine by Dr. Chunzeng Wang, UMPI Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Dr. Kevin McCartney, UMPI Professor of Geology, gives a presentation on Deep sea research and biostratigraphy.
The series ends on Thursday, Dec. 5 with a presentation titled Changes in the timing of tree leafout, flowering, and bird arrival over the past 70 years inferred from two local data sets by Dr. Jason Johnston, UMPI Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology.
For more information about the Science Lunchtime Seminar Series, please contact Dr. Jason Johnston at 207-768-9652 or jason.johnston@maine.edu. To learn more about the Academic programs hosting this series, visit https://www.umpi.edu/academics/academic_programs/environmental-science/, https://www.umpi.edu/academics/academic_programs/biology/, and https://www.umpi.edu/academics/academic_programs/agricultural-science/.