News Center reports on marine science boot camp for first-year students

News Center Maine reported on activities held at Pemaquid Point as part of a Marine Science Bridge Week for first-year University of Maine students to engage in marine science research and team-building activities. The Marine Science Bridge Week is part of the semester-long, aquaculture-themed “Test What’s in Your Oyster” Research Learning Experience (RLE) course. It’s one of 19 RLEs offered at UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, so students can engage in research and other hands-on learning at the start of their college career. There are 816 first-year students participating in RLEs this fall, or 40% of all first-year learners. RLEs are among the offerings devised through UMS TRANSFORMS, a multifaceted initiative from the University of Maine System supported by a $320 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation.