NSFA Unlocked reveals impact behind the acronym

The College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture (NSFA) at the University of Maine will host a live webinar called “NSFA Unlocked” from 24 p.m. Sept. 30. 

Campus leaders from the college in nursing, marine sciences, economics and more will highlight the science and student experiences that inspire their work. The showcase aims to better acquaint UMaine leaders and stakeholders with the people and programs behind the familiar, albeit nebulous, NSFA acronym. 

The current name of the college was established in 1996. In the years that followed, the organization continuously changed in response to research trends, student interests and Maine’s needs. 

Diane Rowland, who assumed leadership as dean of the college and director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station on Aug. 1, organized the event to help people appreciate the current work and potential of the college. 

“What NSFA contains is essentially the combination of disciplines scientific groups, stakeholders and legislators are calling for to respond to emerging and long-standing local and global challenges,” Rowland said. “Through NSFA, UMaine has something that I don’t know that any other U.S. institution has in one single college.”

The live webinar will feature five-minute snapshots of each program, including the hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers and the questions that drive researchers everywhere from Aroostook County to Antarctica in search of answers. Featured speakers include:

  • Heather Leslie, Darling Marine Center
  • Sandra Butler, School of Social Work
  • Erik Blomberg, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
  • David Townsend, School of Marine Sciences
  • Farahad Dastoor, School of Biology and Ecology
  • Jasmine Saros, Ecology and Environmental Sciences
  • Patricia Poirier, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Kathleen Bell, School of Economics
  • Karl Kreutz, School of Earth and Climate Sciences
  • Robert Causey, School of Food and Agriculture
  • Richard Wahle, Lobster Institute
  • Kelley Strout, School of Nursing
  • Robert Gunderson, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences
  • William Livingston, School of Forest Resources
  • Mark Hutton, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station

A 30-minute Q&A session will follow the presentation. The event is free and registration is not required. Event access information is available on UMaine’s Calendar. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Susanne Thibodeau at susanne@maine.edu by Sept. 28.