Two scholarships established in memory of Erin Peterson and Joan Trial.
The Erin Peterson Memorial Award was established in memory of Dr. Erin Peterson, a graduate of the University of Maine and a fisheries biologist with the State of Washington. Erin lost her life at the age of 31 doing what she loved.
The award is a collaboration with the Penobscot County Conservation Association (PCCA) and Erin’s family and friends. Beginning in 2024, the award will be made annually to an individual who is pursuing an advanced degree focused on conservation and management.
The Joan Trial Graduate Travel Award was established at the University of Maine Foundation with gifts from family, colleagues, and friends.
Of particular interest to Joan were the students she taught and mentored. Establishment of this award will continue to support student’s professional development in her memory.
To learn more about these two new awards or to make a donation to either of them, please visit – https://umaine.edu/wle/alums/give-back-department/
Wildlife in the News
See what faculty, students, staff, and alums are up to
Meet the organization on a mission to protect amphibians (Charney)
May 2026 – MSN
Maine (WABI) – It’s an important time of year for amphibians, and across the state people will be helping them, taking part in what’s known as Big Night.
Forty-one faculty members receive tenure and/or promotion or just-cause protection status and promotion (Charney/Murphy)
April 27, 2026 – UMaine News
At the University of Maine, 41 faculty members have received tenure and/or promotion or just-cause protection status and promotion effective July 1, 2026, or September 1, 2026. The annual announcement recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship and research, and community engagement.
UMaine wildlife program delivers strong job outcomes through field-based learning, a top draw for students
April 7, 2026 – UMaine News
As careers in wildlife conservation, fisheries and natural resource management draw increasing interest nationwide, the University of Maine is seeing strong enrollment in a program built around field-based learning and real-world experience.
Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ really here Forever? (Murphy)
March 26, 2026 – The Maine Question podcast
A group of chemicals known as PFAS have become a growing concern for human health, agriculture and the environment. Because they resist breaking down, these “forever chemicals” can accumulate in soil, water and food systems and expose people to a range of adverse health conditions.
UMaine researcher develops model to protect freshwater fish worldwide from extinction (Murphy)
March 1, 2026 – PenBay Pilot
ORONO — Whether it’s redfin pickerel in the Kennebec River or sturgeon in the Great Lakes, nearly one-third of freshwater fish species are facing possible extinction, threatening food supplies, ecosystems and outdoor recreation.
As conservationists work to preserve these species, the University of Maine assistant professor Christina Murphy asked herself if there was an easier way to identify threats to fish before they become endangered.
Nearly one-third of freshwater fish face extinction – AI reveals how to save them (Murphy)
February 2026 – Earth.com
Freshwater ecosystems cover less than one percent of Earth’s surface, yet they support an astonishing share of the planet’s biodiversity – and millions of people depend on them for food, jobs, and cultural traditions.
LISTEN: Conserving Wildlife on Working Landscapes (Roy ’14)
February 6, 2026 – The Wildlife Society Podcast
With nearly 60% of the United States under private ownership and management, private landscapes are a significant opportunity for large-scale wildlife conservation.
In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” TWS member Joe Roy, private lands wildlife biologist at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Erik Glenn, CEO at Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust explain how easements, incentives and other science-based management tools keep working lands intact while improving and protecting wildlife habitat.
In Memory of Albert Bourgeois ’72
December 31, 2025 – Legacy.com
Albert Bourgeois, 75, beloved husband of Deborah Winslow Bourgeois, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025. Al was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on October 18, 1950 and was a son of the late Albert and Dorothy (Chicoine) Bourgeois. He received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Maine and a Master’s Degree in Science from Michigan State University.
Author challenges readers to connect with nature in ‘These Trees Tell a Story’ (Charney)
September 4, 2025 – By WABI News Desk
Noah Charney is assistant professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Maine and coauthor of the award-winning “Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species.”