Maine Impact Week to showcase diverse research, creative work benefiting the state
Maine Impact Week will showcase the depth and breadth of research and creative activity of the University of Maine community and its effect on Maine’s workforce and economic development through events planned for the week of April 16.
Improving the quality of life of Alzheimer’s disease patients, detecting and characterizing a tick-borne pathogen in Maine’s moose population, and assessing the economics of Maine’s coastal tourism development are three UMaine student projects featured in the third annual Student Symposium on April 17.
The Student Symposium, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, will showcase projects by more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students. The free public event is the cornerstone of Maine Impact Week, April 16–20, featuring events highlighting the breadth and depth of the state’s research university.
“Maine Impact Week is intended to provide an opportunity for the public to gain awareness about the latest efforts by Maine’s research university in contributing to the social and economic advancement of Maine and beyond,” says Kody Varahramyan, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School.
Dan Regan, a biomedical engineering graduate student, is eager to present “Enhanced Properties of Coated Paper Liquid-Infused Surfaces for Bacteria Handling and Detection,” which aims to make devices used in bacteria detection more efficient.
“Maine Impact Week is a great way for the university to engage with the community about the impact of their studies in a setting that allows for a personal connection to be made,” says Regan.
Scholarly accomplishments such as published books, works of art and musical recordings will be on display at the April 19 Celebrating Scholarship event that recognizes the impact of creative works by UMaine faculty.
Highlights of Maine Impact Week:
Student Symposium
10 a.m.–5 p.m., April 17
Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Free and open to the public
Posters, exhibits and presentations
Keynote address at 3:30 p.m. by Owen McCarthy, UMaine alumnus and entrepreneur, co-founder and president of MedRhythms, a digital medicine company
Business Connect
5–7 p.m., April 17
Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Free and open to the public
A networking event for business leaders and students, offered in partnership with the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.
Presentations by the winners of UMaine’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition.
Celebrating Scholarship
5–7 p.m., April 19
Collins Center for the Arts, UMaine
Free and open to the public
Featuring more than 50 faculty works in research, scholarship and creative achievement.
Maine Sea Grant Research Symposium
1–5 p.m., April 20
Buchanan Alumni House, UMaine
Free; RSVP online
The Maine Sea Grant Biennial Research Symposium serves as a forum for new and seasoned Sea Grant investigators and students to share their research plans and outcomes, receive input from the community, and plan collaborative outreach activities. The event will include presentations, panels and a reception.
Stephen E. King Chair Lecture
4:30 p.m., April 20
Wells Conference Center, UMaine
Free and open to the public
“Getting it Right, Investigative Journalism in a ‘Post-Truth’ Age” by Patricia Wen, editor of the Boston Globe Spotlight Team
More about Maine Impact Week is online.
Contact: Christel Peters, 207.581.3571, christel.peters@maine.edu