News release — list

A photo of hands working with shellfish on the Maine coast

New way to track toxic algae that threatens shellfish industries developed by researchers

Tiny organisms called algae can have an outsized impact on working waterfronts. While many benefit their ecosystems, others can cause devastating economic and ecological effects.  University of Maine Ph.D. candidate Sydney Greenlee, alongside researchers Robin Sleith and Peter Countway from the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, have developed a faster, more accurate way to detect […]

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An aerial view of a snowy UMaine campus

For Maine’s visionaries, students and early adopters, record investment generates opportunities

Amid a dynamic funding landscape, the University of Maine concluded its 2025 fiscal year on June 30 with record productivity for the sixth consecutive year, powering expanded opportunities for students, researchers and partners statewide.  Total research and development expenditures reached $297.6 million, up 19% from last year. External research and development funding received reached $243.6 […]

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A photo of a person giving a presentation.

First years devise side hustles to pitch at ‘Shark Tank’ competition

At the University of Maine, first-year students don’t just learn the concepts of running a business; they make a plan for one.  As part of the “Intro to Business” course, teams of students spend the semester developing plans for side hustles, ranging from cleaning services to custom t-shirt and fitness coaching services.  In an auditorium […]

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A photo of people in the Maine woods

New federal award reinforces UMaine’s commitment to protecting forests from destructive pests

On any given day, “chemistry magic” is happening inside the University of Maine’s Spruce Budworm Processing Lab. That’s how scientific research assistant Tucker Wile described the work he does. Wile started there as an undergraduate and said the experience began to legitimize his confidence as a scientist. Now he is one of three full-time staff […]

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A screenshot from the student film

Students film professional documentaries in UMaine Machias course 

At the University of Maine at Machias, students in Alan Kryszak’s film class are not just learning how to operate cameras or edit scenes. They’re tackling nearly every aspect of production for documentaries that reach national audiences and tell stories about real people. Each semester, roughly 10 students form a crew that helps Kryszak with […]

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A photo of two people on a boat measuring kelp

Kelp farming is expensive, but a new resource points to lower costs 

Farming kelp to sell as food, beauty products, fertilizer additives and other goods is a growing industry in Maine, but also a costly one. One key barrier for new farmers is a lack of cost-analysis tools to help reduce expenditures and develop sustainable business plans.  Researchers from Kelson Marine in Portland, Maine and the University […]

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