Aquaculture Educators Network hosts STEM workshop

The Aquaculture Educators Network (AEN) invites ​teachers statewide to a free professional development workshop Monday, Oct. 23 at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

The event, co-hosted by AEN, is a collaboration between Maine EPSCoR, the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute, Island Institute, Herring Gut Learning Center, and Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership.

Organizers have designed the workshop to cultivate a network of aquaculture educators and to develop tools and resources to support aquaculture education and workforce development.

The workshop will feature interactive presentations and roundtable discussions, and provide STEM teachers with opportunities to learn and share with academic researchers and industry professionals.

“Coastal communities in Maine have a strong cultural and economic connection to the sea,” says Anne Langston, AEN co-founder. “Sea farming has the potential to maintain these traditions, but for that to become a reality developing educational curricula and building a workforce is of paramount importance.”

The Maine AEN seeks to provide tools to make that a reality. Lunch will be provided. For more information, and to register, visit the Aquaculture Educators Network website.