University of Maine at Presque Isle Professor Kevin McCartney, northern Maine’s first ever Fulbright scholar, will share details about the research he conducted and the adventures he had during his Fulbright year in Poland when he delivers a talk on Monday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center. This evening’s talk, titled Kevin Gets a Fulbright, is presented by UMPI’s Community and Media Relations Office and Academic Affairs Office.
“My Fulbright trip to Poland helped fulfill a life-long ambition of being an internationally respected scientist in my field of study,” McCartney said. “That, and a happy marriage, have been my two great goals since I was a child.”
McCartney fulfilled his Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to Poland during the 2016-2017 academic year, spending nearly nine months in Szczecin, Poland. During his trip, he undertook two large and several smaller studies connected to his research in the field of micropaleontology, delivered presentations in several Polish cities, taught a geology course, assisted student and faculty colleagues in writing English-language papers and grant proposals, and even named a new species in honor of his benefactor U.S. Senator William Fulbright.
In addition to the scholarly work he completed, McCartney also continued in Poland the community service work he has done for many years in northern Maine. He attended weekly meetings of the local English-speaking Rotary Club, livestreamed having his head shaved as part of Planet Head Day activities at UMPI, and helped to establish a group of people working to host the event annually in Poland.
McCartney also paid visits to other parts of Poland, including visits to Poznań, Toruń, Gdańsk and Warsaw, where he squeezed in work, talks, research, and connections with other Fulbrighters. Adventures included everything from meeting fellow antique iron collectors to visiting landmarks, museums, and larger-than-life statues of Copernicus.
All are invited to McCartney’s Feb. 12 presentation to learn more about his experiences in Poland, and to attend a reception at 5 p.m., prior to his talk, at the President’s House. Light refreshments will be served and RSVP’s are requested. For more information about this event or to RSVP for the reception, contact UMPI’s Community and Media Relations Office at (207) 768-9452 or email umpi@maine.edu.