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UMPI students head underground for mining field trip

UMPI students head underground for mining field trip

University of Maine at Presque Isle professor Dr. Chunzeng Wang led a group of students from the Environmental Studies and Sustainability Program on an overnight field trip to the mines in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada, in late October. The trip gave them a first-hand glimpse of metal ore deposits, underground mining, and mine waste treatment, showed them the ins and outs of a large-scale mining operation, provided them with an up-close look at some of the rocks and deposits they’ve been studying, and let them see up close some of the environmental issues that come with mining and ways of dealing with them.

UMPI team seeks community input as it researches grass biomass

A team of University of Maine at Presque Isle professors evaluating the feasibility and sustainability of producing grass biomass in central Aroostook County is seeking landowner input to better understand past land usage and future interest in growing the renewable resource.

Specifically, the team is hoping to have Fort Fairfield landowners with 10 or more acres of land participate in a survey that covers agricultural resources, farming experiences, and their perspectives on grass biomass as a potential land use and production activity. There are nearly 200 landowners that fit that description and the team is hoping to get responses from a majority of them. Team members have been working since the summer to conduct these surveys, which need to be completed by early December. The survey takes about 10 minutes to fill out and can be accessed at www.umpi.edu/epscor-survey.

Putnam participates in Columbia University research trip to Bhutan

This fall, a University of Maine at Presque Isle faculty member was able to join his son on the trip of a lifetime: an international research expedition to Bhutan organized by Columbia University that could have far-reaching impacts on issues ranging from climate change to the future of water resources in southern Asia.

David Putnam, archaeologist and UMPI Lecturer of Science, participated in the trip—the very first significant scientific expedition into the high Himalayas of Bhutan—with his son Aaron Putnam, a glacial geologist and post-doctoral research associate at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Giles’ latest Pacific trip includes discovery of dog tag

University of Maine at Presque Isle Professor Anderson Giles has led dozens of trips focused on World War II in the Pacific over the years, but it’s not often that these visits to historic battle sites and other points of interest result in coverage from the likes of the Chicago Sun-Times and Fox News.

That’s just what happened, though, following Giles’ trip to the Solomon Islands earlier this year. One of the many highlights was that a member of Giles’ group was able to bring home an Army dog tag discovered on a battle site and was able to return it this fall to the family of the soldier.

UMPI’s Distinguished Lecturer Series presents Vitamin D expert Dr. Michael Holick

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host Dr. Michael Holick – one of the world’s leading Vitamin D researchers, the author of The Vitamin D Solution, and Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University Medical Center – as the next speaker in its 2012-2013 University Distinguished Lecturer Series.

Dr. Holick will deliver his talk Vitamin D: A D-Lightful Solution for Good Health on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. He will speak about his Vitamin D research and the evidence that shows how Vitamin D reduces the risk of many chronic illnesses. Holick’s lecture is free and the public is invited to be a part of this special evening.

UMPI celebrates 20th anniversary of Campus Center

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will mark the 20th anniversary of a campus building that has served as a major hub for student activities, community events, and cultural programs in the region by hosting its Campus Center 20th Celebration, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 4-6 p.m. The campus and community are invited to attend this free event.

This open house event will include guided building tours, live music provided by local artists, giveaways, door prizes, and an appetizer showcase by ARAMARK. In addition, the UMPI Bookstore will offer a 20 percent discount on selected merchandise. Guests visiting campus are eligible for a Grand Prize of discounted catering and facilities.

Presque Isle Rotary Club, UMPI present World Polio Day

The day’s Purple Pinkie Project to raise funds for polio eradication

The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Presque Isle Rotary Club are joining forces to celebrate World Polio Day on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in a big way – presenting a day’s worth of activities meant to raise awareness of Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and to raise money — $1 at a time – to go toward that global effort.

The day will include a Purple Pinkie Project event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the UMPI Campus Center, and also at three sponsoring organizations at various times throughout the day to help bring the project citywide – the Aroostook Centre Mall, Northern Maine Community College, and The Aroostook Medical Center. Volunteers will be on hand to paint your pinkie purple for $1 to help raise money for polio eradication. Funds raised will go toward Rotary International’s End Polio Now efforts. In the evening, TAMC presents its 30th Storer Boone Memorial Presentation also honoring Dr. Arthur Pendleton of Fort Fairfield – titled End Polio Now – at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center.

UMPI students host 16th Fit and Fun Day

Looking for something fun for your kids to do on a Saturday morning instead of watching cartoons? Fit and Fun Day returns to the University of Maine at Presque Isle for its 16th semi-annual event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 in Gentile Hall. Registration will begin at 9:15 a.m.; admission is free. Fit and Fun Day is designed to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles for local children. With the event being held in late October, organizers are adding another element of fun by giving participants the option to wear a costume during the event.

Cray curates show on book arts at USM-Gorham

University of Maine at Presque Isle Senior Art Major Angel Cray has earned a lot of statewide experience in the arts over the past few years. The Presque Isle native completed the first two years of her Bachelor of Fine Art degree at UMPI, and for her junior year, she went to the University of Southern Maine to focus on advanced photography techniques. Before returning to UMPI this fall, however, she was able to add art exhibit curator to her list of accomplishments.