Newsletter

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Building STEM Knowledge and Confidence Through Traditional Ecological Knowledge

By Caty DuDevoir Maine EPSCoR partner Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) is committed to providing Indigenous youth and communities with hands-on learning opportunities about Indigenous Knowledge and western scientific methods. Fusing western science practices with Indigenous Knowledge allows Wabanaki communities to reclaim spaces in the scientific community.  Jason Brough, a Ph.D. student in Anthropology and […]

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student in lab coat and mask organizes samples on lab bench.

Incorporating eDNA Curricula in Undergraduate Education Across Maine

By Ilaria Bardini, Writing Intern The many applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in research and conservation has inspired educators to find ways to implement such topics into their various curricula. As an emerging appliance, eDNA can allow researchers and stakeholders to track population fluctuations of keystone species in order better understand the impacts of climate […]

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Map showing the overlay of approximate location of Wabanaki Nation Tribes over current US and Canada Borders

Implementing Biocultural Markers in Research Data Practices

By Caty DuDevoir, Writing Intern In any scientific and humanistic discipline, ethical collection of samples is a vital step in the research process. With a field like environmental DNA (eDNA), researchers sample soil, water, and organisms from the physical environments. The knowledge derived from them is collected on the land of Indigenous tribal nations, which […]

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Line of buckets with nets over them are lined up along a hedge.

An Introduction to the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment

By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern Focused on bringing together researchers across multiple disciplines, the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment (MGCE) has worked to develop and energize Maine’s genetic research community. MCGE was founded in 2019 in order to further advance the type of research being generated by the $20 million NSF EPSCOR RII […]

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Woman in blue jacket holds a salt marsh sparrow in a salt marsh

Genomic Architecture: RNA research of tidal marsh sparrows under the influence of environmental stressors

By Stefania Irene Marthakis and Colin Gallagher, Media Intern In the field of RNA (ribonucleic acid) research, the NSF EPSCoR RII Track-2 grant, GECO (Genomic Ecology of Coastal Organisms: A Systems-Based Research and Training Program in Genome-Phenome Relationships in the Wild) has made significant research progress in understanding the interaction and differences in genotypes and […]

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From LASST to FIRST

By, Colin Gallagher, Media Intern and Caty DuDevoir, Writing Intern The Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies (FIRST), formerly known as the Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology (LASST), is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Maine (UMaine), with the vision of becoming a leader in materials, devices, and systems research. The […]

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Maine EPSCoR Newsletter (Winter 2023)

The latest Maine EPSCoR print newsletter is out now. This newsletter covers some of the amazing work researchers across both Maine and the state’s EPSCoR grants. Maine EPSCoR Newsletter March 2023:   Featured Stories: Maine-eDNA Research Learning Experience Forest Bioproducts Research Institute Mind the Gap: Ecology, evolution, and the impact of humans on the natural […]

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Photo of Karen James outdoors with hat and walking poles in Siberia. Text reads "Meet Maine-eDNA's Research Coordinator"

Meet Maine-eDNA’s Research Coordinator, Karen James

By Daniel Timmermann In early 2022, Maine-eDNA brought on new research coordinator Karen James. This inclusion to the project will help Maine-eDNA coordinate the grant’s vast amount of work happening across the state. James brings with her a deep knowledge of genetics, environmental DNA (eDNA), and its application in marine and terrestrial habitats. While James […]

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