Students of Spring 2024's INT 125 class stand with UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy (right, in tan jacket) and EPIC director Dr. Ali Abedi (far right, in dark suit). The poster created by the students is on the left side of the image displayed on an easel.
Students of Spring 2024's INT 125 class stand with UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy (right, in tan jacket) and EPIC director Dr. Ali Abedi (far right, in dark suit) at the UMaine Student Symposium in April.Izzy Bouchard, UMaine Marketing and Communications

INT 125 Students Explore the Challenges of an Aging Maine

April 22, 2024 EPIC News, INT 125 News

Students in the course INT 125, an undergraduate interdisciplinary course associated with Experiential Programs Innovation Central (EPIC), spent the Spring 2024 semester learning about a variety of research learning centers that can be found on the UMaine Orono campus.  

Two INT 125 students wearing white shirts are facing away from the camera and listening to a guest of the Student Symposium.
Izzy Bouchard, UMaine Marketing and CommunicationsINT 125 students share their poster with a guest of the 2024 UMaine Student Symposium.

Through the course, students from any major program can meet with a variety of students from different backgrounds.  Each student brings a distinct “lens” to the study of a topic of urgent concern to the campus’ surrounding communities.  This semester’s cohort ranged from first-years to seniors, and included students from five of the six UMaine undergraduate college divisions including the Honors College.

Inspired by the work of Dr. Lenard Kaye, director of the UMaine Center on Aging, students reviewed previous studies regarding the detrimental effects of loneliness on physical and mental health.  From identifying a problem, considering existing literature and data, brainstorming possible solutions, and doing some early ideation, the students experience a rapid version of the type of research and innovation activity executed on UMaine’s R1-classified campus.

Elevated perspective of the presentation floor at the UMaine Field House during the Student Symposium. A small stage space with a projector screen and a lectern can be seen in the foreground, separated from the rest of the space by blue curtains. Behind the stage are hundreds of large posters displayed on easels in rows.
Izzy Bouchard, UMaine Marketing and CommunicationsUMaine Student Symposium 2024

The course culminates in the students creating a poster and accompanying group presentation for submission in the annual University of Maine Student Symposium.  This semester’s students outlined a volunteer service program, for which they would develop a software solution to organize and pair volunteers with those requesting services according to needs.

In addition to their proposed project, the students visited the VEMI Lab, Foster Center for Innovation, the Multicultural Center, the UMaine Hackerspace, Fogler Library, the IMRC Center, the Advanced Manufacturing Center, and the Advanced Structures and Composites Center.  Students also attended lectures and workshops on scholarship, mentorship, grant, and employment opportunities, learned about critical understandings of diversity, equity, and inclusion in research environments, and received Responsible Conduct of Research Training.  

Undergraduate students interested in adding INT 125 to their schedules for either Fall or Spring semester can contact epic@maine.edu, or reach out to their academic advisors for further information.