Angus King to Speak at UMaine on Thursday, Sept. 24

Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571

ORONO — Angus King, Maine’s two-term governor first elected in 1994, will be the keynote speaker at a Thursday Sept. 24 event kicking off Mane’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI).

The talk, “Data-Driven Policy: the Role of Universities in Creating a Sustainable Maine,” is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Wells Conference Center.

The SSI was established in July through a $20 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) grant.  UMaine’s Sen. George Mitchell Center is heading up the research portion of this five-year initiative and its is hosting King’s UMaine talk.

“We are pleased that Gov. King has accepted our invitation to share his thoughts on our state’s future and the role higher education will play in shaping that future,” says UMaine President Robert Kennedy.  “Given his unique perspectives related to government, business, the environment and education, he is the perfect person to set the tone at this event.”

The SSI is an extensive, state-wide effort with both a research component and related initiatives that will enhance statewide education, at all levels, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

Highly collaborative in nature, the SSI will include partnerships among many of Maine’s colleges and universities, working on research and education efforts designed to advanced economic and community development while protecting the environment.

The Sept. 24 event is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.  Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Kim Raymond at (207) 581-3244 or kim.raymond@umit.maine.edu. More information is online at http://www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions.