Two academic programs at the University of Maine at Presque Isle are joining forces this spring to provide the campus and community with an accessible way to explore the world of science. The Environmental Studies and Sustainability and Biology programs are again presenting a lunchtime seminar series that will provide a forum to present scientific research, as well as management and applied science, conducted by UMPI student and faculty and other local and regional scientists. This is the second time the two groups have hosted the series.
“There is a lot of science-based research happening all over the region,” Dr. Jason Johnston, coordinator of the Science Lunchtime Seminar Series, said. “The purpose of this series is to connect UMPI faculty and students, working professionals, and community members who are conducting or interested in hearing about these scientific pursuits. It’s meant to further strengthen existing ties and form new ones within our community. We have talks on everything from lung cancer research to brain plasticity coming up this semester and welcome anyone interested in these topics in particular, or in science research as a whole, to join us.”
Seminars generally will be held Tuesdays from 12:15-1:30 p.m. in Folsom 201, UMPI’s GIS Lab, unless otherwise noted. Faculty, students, staff and community members are welcome to attend these free events and are encouraged to bring their lunches and join the discussion.
The series kicked off with a presentation on Feb. 4 by Steve Sutter, titled Environmental History of the Aroostook River.
On Feb. 25, Marcus Flewelling and Kathryn Michaud presented Two UMPI Environmental Studies graduates relate their UMPI experiences to their current professional positions. Flewelling is the Executive Director of Crop Production Services and Michaud is the Executive Director of Central Aroostook SWCD.
On March 25, Allan Espinosa, M.D., Oncologist/Hematologist at Cary Medical Center, will deliver a presentation titled P13K amplification as a predictor of response to targeted therapies in lung cancer cell lines.
On April 29, Dr. Scott Dobrin will present Experience-dependent brain plasticity: How what you do today affects who you are tomorrow. Dr. Dobrin is an Assistant Professor of Biology at UMPI.
On April 22, UMPI Professor of Geology, Dr. Kevin McCartney, will deliver a presentation titled Silicoflagellates, which will focus on the research he has done into the single-celled organisms that live in ocean waters.
For more information about the Science Lunchtime Seminar Series, contact Dr. Jason Johnston at 207.768.9652 or emailjason.johnston@maine.edu.
