The Maine Question

Before it was a state, Maine had already earned a reputation for its great outdoors. It began as a place where anyone could hunt and fish, and served as a summer destination with numerous second homes owned by celebrities and other wealthy individuals. Today, the outdoors are a major part of the economy, generating $3.4 billion annually. A group of University of Maine faculty and staff teamed up with industry stakeholders to create the Maine Outdoor Economy Roadmap, which lays the groundwork for growing and diversifying the state's great outdoors over the next decade. Collaborative partners, including the university, the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Maine Outdoor Brands and others, launched the roadmap in January. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, a few experts who worked together to develop the roadmap discuss the various outdoor-related industries, their potential for growth and the potential challenges they face.

The man known to many students as Dean Dana or Dr. Dana retired in January after four decades of service to the University of Maine community. Robert Dana, former vice president of student life and inclusive excellence, guided students along their journeys through kindness, care and compassion. For nearly a quarter of the university's existence, Dana helped students through the highs and lows of being a college student and earning a degree — celebrating the joys and working through the challenges and tragedies. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Dana reflects on his time at UMaine one week into his retirement.

From the military to athletics to campus fraternity and sorority life, students and others endure hazing to satisfy the basic human desire to be part of a group. It operates in the shadows, but when hazing does appear in the headlines, it is often associated with tragic consequences. Elizabeth Allan, professor of higher education leadership at UMaine's College of Education & Human Development, has studied hazing throughout her career and become an authority on the subject. Founder of StopHazing.org, Allan's recent hazing education efforts encouraged Congress to craft legislation, which was recently signed into law, that addresses this national phenomenon. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Allan explains how hazing operates and provides examples on how to reduce or eliminate the practice.

What is Maine's blue economy? by The Maine Question

Romanticized by outdoor enthusiasts and feared by warm-weather lovers, Maine is faced with an era of adaptability as climate change begins to alter the state's identity. Deemed a “lost winter,” the 2023-24 snow season capitalized on what the future could look like for Maine's residents, economy and tourism. Coastal communities are racked with complications caused by extreme weather. Businesses that rely on winter-time recreation and marine life are faced with unreliable conditions. And the aspects of Maine that draw vacationers may start to disappear and be replaced. Even with negativity blooming, the future isn't all withered. Changing climate allows the state to welcome new opportunities. The University of Maine is positioned at the center of climate discussion with new research and expert voices who explain and study centuries of changes, as well as those to come. A UMaine economist and a climate data expert address the “lost winter” and “not-so-gloom-and-doom” future of the state in a new episode of “The Maine Question” podcast.

On April 8, Mainers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a rare cosmic event without traveling out of state: a total solar eclipse. Space enthusiasts from across the U.S. are flocking to communities in rural Maine like Jackman and Houlton and enjoy three-and-a-half minutes of totality, when they can see a ring of light surround the moon as it blocks the sun. Shawn Laatsch, the director of UMaine Versant Power Astronomy Center, and his graduate student, Nikita Saini, have been preparing for the event for a long time. They are coordinating the viewing and recording of the eclipse, through which they will gather valuable data. On this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Laatsch and Saini discuss the spectacle and how to experience it safely. They will also describe what inspires them to study the cosmos and answer various questions about space, such as whether there is life on another planet and what the best space-based movies and TV shows are.

Conducting research with global impact and local relevance is a quintessential service of the University of Maine. Out of all research conducted in Maine, 89% occurs here, and the insight and innovation it yields annually benefit hundreds of businesses. Research funding in 2023 reached an all time high of close to $190 million. In recent years, more of UMaine's research has been executed by undergraduate and graduate students, work that provides the knowledge and skill sets needed for the modern workforce. Opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct R&D, in particular, continue to grow. Funding support for these activities from sponsored research projects has risen 118% since 2017. In this episode of "The Maine Question" podcast, we delve into UMaine''s research enterprise and explore how students can grow their skill sets and resume, and bolster the state's economy and workforce, through conducting R&D.

Finding possible solutions to the nation's ailing infrastructure, affordable housing deficit and renewable energy needs is all in a day's work for the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). At Maine's largest university-based research facility, faculty, staff and many students are feverishly developing new materials and technologies to help address national and global issues. Projects include designing components for longer-lasting bridges, a 3D-printed home made entirely out of biobased materials and floating offshore wind energy. Through their work, the ASCC is also bolstering Maine's workforce, and helping open new markets for forestry and other major industries in the state. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, we speak with Dr.Habib Dagher, founding executive director of the ASCC, to elaborate on its research and development and discuss how it can help Maine become a global pioneer in renewable energy and infrastructure.

In every plant and tree exist tiny fibers called nanocellulose, a building block like no other with the potential to be the next material that changes the world. This plant matter, which is a billionth of a meter in length, can be used to make packaging, building products, insulation, water filters, medical tools and countless other products. An abundant, biodegradable and renewable material, nanocellulose has the potential to replace plastic as a key component in consumer goods. Nanocellulose research and production is already underway at the University of Maine. More than 100 clients worldwide purchase UMaine nanocellulose for their own research and development, and on-site client trials are conducted at the Process Development Center. The university has positioned itself as a leader in researching this material, and could help bolster Maine's forestry industry and make the state a trailblazer in this market. In the first episode of season nine of “The Maine Question,” we explore the manufacturing, functionality and possibilities for nanocellulose. We also discussed whether Maine can be home to a Silicon Valley-style nanocellulose sector, or Nanocellulose Valley. and lead a revolution in consumer goods with it.

Antibiotic resistance has become a growing problem in the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition to minimizing or negating the effects of existing medicine, these antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” are mutating faster than the development of new remedies. Caitlin Howell, University of Maine associate professor of biomedical engineering, is working on new tools that take notes from nature to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Similar to the way in which the human body keeps balance with its own bacterial populations, Howell's devices use nontoxic, non-invasive surface-based technology to trap bacteria and prevent them from spreading. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Howell discusses how nature can inspire engineers when developing new resources for improving human health. She elaborates on her research developing technology that can help reduce infections among hospital patients.

The University of Maine is home to 18 formal vocal and instrumental ensembles and many informal musical groups, each one with a distinct sound that enriches the academic and cultural life on campus. Many of these groups welcome students of all majors and community members. These performers tour Maine, New England and beyond, promoting the artistic offerings of the university with their voices and instruments. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Francis Vogt, director of choral programs and two student performers, will discuss what the music scene is like at UMaine.

Artificial intelligence, or "AI," is a hot topic in 2023. AI and machine learning make headlines every day, with stories ranging from the technology's helpful capabilities, like self-driving cars, to its scariest potential -- think "deep fake" videos fooling the public, or human workers being made obsolete by tools like ChatGPT. At the University of Maine, AI is central to research and classroom activities across disciplines, from forestry and farming to sensors and satellites. In this episode, we speak with two UMaine researchers who are at the forefront of AI research. Salimeh Sekeh is an assistant professor of computer science who is studying how AI can learn to improve itself over time. Vikas Dhiman, assistant professor of computer and electrical engineering, is looking at how robots can use AI to perform more efficiently and safely.

Darren Ranco has spent his life determining how to help Indigenous and non-Indigenous people protect the land they inhabit. Through his work as an anthropologist and chair of Native American Programs at the University of Maine, Ranco has studied tribal sovereignty, cultural resource protection, environmental justice and ways Native American communities can resist environmental destruction. As a member of the Penobscot Nation, he also is passionate about improving research relationships between universities and indigenous communities, as well as training the next generation of Indigenous scientists. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Ranco discusses his many research projects and how Indigenous and western knowledge can help preserve the planet.

Established in 1935, the University of Maine Honors College is one of the oldest continuously-running honors programs in the U.S. Its intellectually-curious students, who are among the top undergraduates at UMaine, explore texts, ideas, the arts and current events through an interdisciplinary lens in an academically-rigorous environment. Their class sizes are small and emphasize student engagement and lively discussion. In their senior year, honors students work on a thesis or project that pertains to their major and caters to their passions. In this episode of "The Maine Question" podcast, Dean Ellen Weinauer and four students discuss what it's like to learn and thrive in the Honors College.

University of Maine Athletics, the state's only Division I athletics program, is undergoing some major changes. A new director, Jude Killy, stepped up to bat in January, and several facilities are undergoing extensive upgrades as part of a $110 million master plan, funded primarily by the Harold Alfond Foundation as part of the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Killy, who previously worked for the Division I schools Miami University and University of Pittsburgh, discusses the facility renovations and other updates to Black Bear sports, the evolving landscape of college athletics and how they help higher education institutions fulfill their missions.

How can art help enrich our lives and solve everyday problems? by The Maine Question

Athletic trainers help both athletes and non-athletes recover from injuries and get back in the game, and their services are in high demand. Job opportunities in athletic training have been growing rapidly in recent years, and so too have the places in which athletic trainers work. The University of Maine has long offered a bachelor's degree in athletic training, and alumni from it have found careers at high schools, major league sports like the National Hockey League, rehabilitation facilities and in other settings. This year, however, UMaine has reincorporated its program as a master's degree, which prepares students to join the growing allied health profession providing acute care, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as prevention from injuries and illness. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Christopher Nightingale, director of UMaine's Athletic Training program, and other faculty discuss the work athletic trainers do, how the field has evolved and the learning opportunities available through the university's program.

Libraries are vital resources for many communities, and their services have evolved over time with the advent of new technology and demands. The University of Maine Raymond H. Fogler Library, a more than 150-year-old institution and the largest research library in the state, has adopted several new offerings in recent years to meet the needs of students, faculty and the general public in the digital age. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Daisy Domínguez Singh, dean of libraries at UMaine, discusses the latest developments in library services, including those at Fogler, and the role these repositories for knowledge and entertainment play in 2023.

How can Maine grow and diversify its economy? by The Maine Question

Season seven of “The Maine Question” podcast covered a broad variety of subjects in research and higher education. Topics ranged from archaeology to space research, and from the challenges in K–12 education to toxic forever chemicals and efforts to mitigate them. In the 10th and final episode this season, host Ron Lisnet looks back on the big UMaine stories he shared, all of which reflect the extensive research activity, learning opportunities and public outreach generated by Maine's public, R1-designated institution.

University of Maine research and education have ascended beyond Earth's atmosphere since the 1990s. For example, UMaine scientists have tested the latest hypervelocity decelerators for NASA space travel and created a wireless leak detection system for the International Space Station. Through its latest inventions and studies, and scholarship and fellowship programs, UMaine plays a critical role in advancing the state's space economy and training future leaders in the aerospace industry. But the university is far from reaching its final frontier. In recent years, UMaine researchers have been developing the state's first small research satellite with the University of Southern Maine and three K–12 schools. The university also launched a multipronged, multidisciplinary initiative to support research and development in space science and engineering with help from non-STEM researchers. At the same time, a Maine SpacePort Complex for nanosatellite production and other research is in development. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Ali Abedi, UMaine associate vice president for research and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Ph.D. student Joseph Patton discuss what new frontiers await Maine's space economy and the university.

The nation's first multi- and inter-disciplinary research institute to study Earth's recent and long-term climate variability was founded in 1972 at the University of Maine. That institute, now known as the Climate Change Institute, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, a milestone that honors the many groundbreaking discoveries its scientists have made in the field of climate science. CCI have scientists first mapped the difference between climate during the Ice Age and today in the 1970s; discovered the importance of marine-based ice sheets in the 1980s; connected acid rain to human causes in the mid-1980s; uncovered the concept of abrupt climate change through studying ice cores in Greenland in the mid-1990s; and led expeditions traversing Antarctica to determine the impact of human-sourced pollutants into the 2010s. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” CCI director Paul Andrew Mayewski and researchers Daniel Sandweiss and Cynthia Isenhour discuss the legacy of the institute and its future of discoveries and contributions that will help tackle the all-encompassing challenge of global warming worldwide.

Like opening any business, starting and operating a farm can be challenging without any in-depth entrepreneurial knowledge or skills. To help strengthen support for farmers' business skills, University of Maine faculty members Erin Percival Carter and Stephanie Welcomer established the Business, Agriculture, and Rural Development (BARD) technical assistance training program in the Maine Business School. The BARD program trains UMaine students to serve as consultants for farmers and operators of other small-scale and sustainable agricultural businesses. These students can assist agribusinesses with various aspects of commerce, such as data-management, price-setting, marketing, financial and strategic forecasting, market segmentation, product development, market intelligence and consumer research. The BARD program recently received a $292,000 award from the Small Business Administration that was requested by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King through the FY22 Congressionally Directed Spending process, known as earmarks. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Carter, an assistant professor of marketing, discusses how business savvy can help farms succeed.

There are about 3,500 students living on the University of Maine campus, many of whom have spent much of their high school or early college years learning remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the transition to in-person learning and socializing has been daunting to some first-year and returning students. In recent years, the Division of Student Life has retooled and doubled down on their services to help students adjust to college life during the pandemic and preserve a sense of community on campus. According to the division, participation in on-campus activities has significantly increased this fall compared to years past, but so has the demand for mental health, socialization and other services. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Ben Evans, assistant director of campus activities at UMaine, and Lauri Sidelko, assistant dean in student life, discuss what life on campus is like for students in 2022.

How can studying the humanities benefit society? by The Maine Question

In recent years, communities across Maine and the U.S. have discovered the presence of toxic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in their land and water. Also known as forever chemicals because they are difficult to destroy, PFAS have been incorporated in various products, including food containers, clothing, rugs, teflon pans, fabrics and dental floss, for decades. Emerging research, however, has linked PFAS to several health issues, including weakened immune systems, increased risk of obesity and multiple cancers, developmental problems in children and harm to negative effects on reproduction. Onur Apul, assistant professor of environmental engineering at the University of Maine, is researching how to eliminate PFAS. He is one of many UMaine faculty members studying these forever chemicals and ways to mitigate them, and providing technical assistance to Maine farmers and other stakeholders. In Episode 4 of Season 7 of “The Maine Question,” Apul elaborates on the origins of PFAS, the threats they pose and efforts to stop their widespread contamination.

Daniel Sandweiss's archaelogy career doesn't mirror depictions of those in movies like “Indiana Jones,” but for him, it's been equally as exciting. Over the years, Sandweiss, a University of Maine professor in the Anthropology Department and Climate Change Institute, has uncovered extensive evidence into how ancient civilization dealt with natural disasters, such as climate change, and how they adapted to living in a desert environment next to a rich fishery. His passion, coupled with a commitment to student success, inspired many who took his classes to advance their studies and pursue careers in archaeology. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Sandweiss shares his many experiences as an archaeologist, and describes what the field work really entails.

Dana Humphrey has hung up his hard hat after 36 years of serving the University of Maine as a faculty member and dean of the College of Engineering. During his tenure, the college has undergone tremendous growth, most recently with the opening of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center on Aug. 24. The $78 million facility — the largest project of its kind in UMaine history — has the capacity to increase engineering enrollment by 600 additional students a year, and will help advance the university's education and research to meet the needs of students, employers and the Maine economy. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Humphrey reflects on his career at UMaine, Ferland EEDC, the changes he has seen in the profession, engineers' role in a growing economy and what the future holds for him and the college.

The average school day today looks different than in years past. K–12 educators face a myriad of challenges this year, including teacher and other staffing shortages, distance learning, the politicization of curricula, calls for book bans and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first episode of Season 7 of “The Maine Question,” we speak with Penny Bishop, dean of the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development; Jim Artesani, associate dean of graduate studies, research and outreach for the college; and Courtney Angelosante, coordinate of the Positive Behavior Supports & Interventions (PBIS) Initiative, to discuss the latest issues in the field of education, as well as opportunities for new and improved learning.

Innovation fuels entrepreneurship in Maine. In recent years, several small business startups with novel ideas for products have created and sold them at a global scale. For more than a decade, the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation has collaborated with students, faculty, staff, startups and established organizations, and offered courses and other resources on how to innovate. It also serves as a hub for commercializing and developing businesses from university research. In the final episode of Season 6 of “The Maine Question,” Renee Kelly, assistant vice president of innovation and economic development at UMaine, discusses how innovation occurs, what makes an entrepreneur, and how fostering both can help Maine grow its economy and retain talented individuals. Two UMaine alumni and startup founders — Amber Boutiette, co-founder of Marin Skincare, and Tyler Delargy, CEO of Real Time Reality — also join the podcast to share what they learned along their journeys to create new goods and enterprises.

Allen and Sally Fernald of Camden, Maine have long been advocates for the University of Maine. Since graduating in 1954 and 1955, the owners and publishers of Down East Magazine have donated to various capital campaigns, sponsored art galleries and poetry readings, and led alumni groups and fundraising drives. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” the Fernalds discuss their lifelong relationship with their alma mater, and how the state and UMaine have evolved overtime, including the university's development into a top-tier, nationally recognized research institution.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Maine will require a broader adoption of electric vehicles, according to University of Maine economist Jonathan Rubin. Officials from the Maine Department of Transportation and other state agencies have a role to play in fueling the transition away from gas-powered cars and trucks. To guide them, Rubin, professor of economics and director of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, and his colleagues from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) released a report that outlines strategies for reducing emissions from the transportation sector. On this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Rubin discusses the report and what is needed to usher in a greener transportation future for the Pine Tree State.

In 2018, Joan Ferrini-Mundy became the 21st president of the University of Maine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias. In 2021, she was appointed vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System. Among her many leadership initiatives: the appointment of the President's Council on Diversity Equity and Inclusion to ensure foundational inclusive excellence, and chairing the UMS Science Advisory Board to stay abreast of fast-breaking scientific and medical developments in areas relevant for universities and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Ferrini-Mundy, UMaine's second female president in history, discusses what it's like being a university president in the 21st century. She describes her daily routine, favorite tasks, the challenges she faces and her vision for the future of Maine's only public research university. This episode is the second in a two-part series featuring the president. Last week, she discussed what being an R1 university means for UMaine.

In February, the University of Maine received an R1 designation from the prestigious Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This rank serves as the highest possible tier a doctoral research university can achieve in the Carnegie Classification, and it places UMaine among the top 4% of research universities nationwide. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy discusses what the R1 designation means for the university and the state, what it could offer students — Maine's future workforce — faculty, staff, and community partners and stakeholders. She also discusses the role of Maine's only public research university in the 21st century. This episode is the first in a two-part series featuring President Ferrini-Mundy. Next week, she will speak about life as a university president.

Changes in the Arctic affect Maine, despite them being separated by more than 1,000 miles. Several scientists from the University of Maine study these shifting conditions of the climate and environment in the region and their impacts. In 2018, the UMaine Arctic Initiative was formed to build on their work and enhance collaboration in the campus community and with outside stakeholders. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, scientists Karl Kreutz and Kristin Schild from UMaine Arctic and the UMaine Climate Change Institute discuss their research, and elaborate on the region and its shifting conditions influence the state.

Maple syrup is a staple product in Maine, and many rejoice when the sugaring season returns each year. At the end of winter when the temperatures are just right, producers harvest gallons of sap to transform into sweet syrup inside their sugar shacks. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Jason Lilley, a sustainable agriculture professional with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, describes how the producers make maple syrup from sap. He also discusses the future of the maple industry in Maine and shares a few tips and recipes.

Aquaculture is a growing industry in Maine. It yields more than $100 million in overall economic impact each year, nearly three times as much as the $50 million it contributed in 2007. Farmers and businesses in working waterfronts support themselves and the economy by cultivating Atlantic salmon, oysters, seaweed and many other aquatic flora and fauna. Despite the increased consumption of seafood harvested from Maine waters, the industry faces several hurdles to further expansion. Most Americans consume fish from overseas, and many wild-caught populations are in severe decline and danger of collapse. The Maine Aquaculture Roadmap, 2022–2032 was created to help tackle the challenges the state aquaculture industry faces and identify resources to support it. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Heather Sadusky, marine extension associate with Maine Sea Grant and coordinator for the Maine Aquaculture Hub, and Deborah Bouchard, director of the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute, describe this 10-year plan to bolster the industry.

Much of the knowledge about Native Americans comes from people who are not Indigenous. Euro-American archaeologists in particular have held notable influence on how people think about Native Americans' past and present. A team of Wabanaki researchers and students is looking to change that dynamic. They aim to reframe how their ancestors' stories are told. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Bonnie Newsom, a member of the Penobscot Nation and an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Maine, and Isaac St. John, the tribal historic preservation officer for the Houlton band of Maliseet Indians and a graduate student at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, discuss their work to change public perception of Wabanaki stories and reconnect Indigenous people with their past.

Maine faces many complex entrepreneurial, economic, environmental and educational challenges. To help tackle them, the University of Maine created the Portland Gateway, a one-stop connection to UMaine's vast resources. True to its name, the gateway provides companies and municipalities across Maine access to the university research, resources and personnel to help solve problems and support initiatives for growth. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Alice Pips Veazey, the director of the Portland Gateway, discusses the birth of this initiative and the difference she sees it making in southern Maine and the entire state.

No place on earth can escape the effects of climate change, not even Mount Everest. The highest glacier on the world's tallest mountain — the South Col Glacier — is rapidly disappearing. A new University of Maine-led study found that the glacier is losing several decades of ice and snow accumulation annually due to human-induced climate change. These findings are the latest from the 2019 National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition, led by UMaine Climate Change Institute director Paul Mayewski. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Mayewski and UMaine Ph.D. candidate Mariusz Potocki, both co-authors of the new study, elaborate on the findings and their implications for mountaineering and the glacier stored water on which more than 1 billion people depend to provide melt for drinking water and irrigation. They also describe what it takes to conduct research on the rooftop of the world.

Maine may lose two tidal marsh songbird species in the next few decades. Salt marsh sparrows face extinction, while Acadian Nelson's sparrows are threatened with extirpation — localized eradication with the possibility of survival elsewhere. Their populations along the Eastern Seaboard have been declining as sea level rise destroys their habitats and, according to a new University of Maine-led study, mercury exposure inhibits their reproduction. In the final episode of Season 5 of “The Maine Question,” Kate Ruskin, a lecturer in ecology and environmental science at UMaine who spearheaded the recent mercury exposure study, and Brian Olsen, who is now an associate provost at the university, discuss the challenges these songbirds face, and what can be done to prevent their loss. They also describe their fieldwork and the benefits for students who participate in it.

Supply chain problems are occupying many people's minds, especially with the holidays around the corner. Numerous newspaper stories and TV segments have featured images of cargo ships waiting for days or weeks to unload their goods from Asia into ports up and down the West Coast. Americans are witnessing shortages of many products they once took for granted, including lumber, various food items and computer chips, among others. Demand for goods has grown, yet producers are struggling to keep up after a slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this week's episode of “The Maine Question,” Patti Miles, an associate professor of management science with the Maine Business School at the University of Maine, breaks down the issues surrounding supply chain woes. She discusses the bottlenecks and other problems, when they might ease and whether people will get their holiday gifts on time.

Training to become a nurse has always been rigorous. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the stress and workload for nursing students and the medical professionals under whom they train, but it also provided a new opportunity for experiential learning. The School of Nursing at the University of Maine decided early in the pandemic to lend a hand wherever possible — training virtually every student to vaccinate patients against COVID-19 and provide other support. More than 400 UMaine nursing students have administered about 12,000 vaccines since January. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” host Ron Lisnet speaks with Kelley Strout, director of the UMaine School of Nursing, about that major undertaking and what it's like to be a nursing student. They discuss what students learn, the classes they take, the experiences in which they have been involved and more. Strout also describes ways nursing students, nurses and other medical professionals can avoid burnout and measures that can help satisfy the huge demand for nurses in the future.

The moose has become so synonymous with Maine that it serves as the state animal. Residents and tourists alike scout the forests and mountains to catch at least a glimpse of this majestic mammal, and their odds aren't too slim. Maine has the highest wild moose population in the lower 48 states, with 60,000–80,000 roaming the woods. Their population is considered stable, but it faces a tiny, yet lethal, threat: winter ticks. Moose populations along the southern edge of their range in the U.S. have been declining due to winter ticks, or moose ticks, and other parasites. Some moose carry as many as 70,000 ticks. Calves are especially at risk, as those with heavy tick loads often die in their first winter. Pauline Kamath, an assistant professor of animal health, is studying the impact of ticks on moose survival. On this episode of “The Maine Question,” she speaks with host Ron Lisnet about winter ticks and how they threaten the viability of Maine's state animal.

Maine is known as Vacationland to lovers of outdoor recreation from around the world. An industry grew out of Mainers' and tourists' passion for hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing and other outside pastimes, and it generates $3 billion in economic activity for the state. The Outdoor Leadership program at UMaine was created to take advantage of this opportunity. Working with an existing program at the University of Maine at Machias and University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H camps, this new program is preparing students for careers in tourism, education and other fields that pertain to outside activities and learning. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” we head outside with a roundtable discussion that explores the outdoor recreation industry.

Improving student retention and success is a key priority at the University of Maine and University of Maine System. To support this goal, the Harold Alfond Foundation earmarked $20 million of its transformative $240 million gift to the System for new efforts to keep students enrolled and support their academic growth. One of these new initiatives involves getting students involved in discovery and knowledge creation early in their studies through new research learning experience (RLE) courses launched this year at UMaine and it's regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias. These tuition-free, one-credit courses offer a variety of experiential learning opportunities for first-year and second-year students. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” we speak with John Volin, UMaine provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and Issac Cardello, a computer science student from Rhode Island who participated in one of the RLEs, about the courses and their potential to increase student retention and success.

Sports have significant value for many people for various reasons. It serves as entertainment for some, a passion for others and a $1.3 trillion international industry for entrepreneurs. College students studying business will find many career opportunities in sports management upon graduation. The Maine Business School at UMaine capitalized on the demand for college graduates with business degrees by creating a new sports management major. In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, we explore the employment prospects in the sports management field with Jason Harkins and Muralee Das, Maine Business School faculty who helped create this new major at UMaine.

Oceans serve as the dominant feature of the Earth. They sustain life, which began in their salty waters, and influence weather and climate. Despite the significance of Earth's oceans, much of their history remains a mystery. Katherine Allen, and assistant professor from the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine, looks to literally dig up that history, which can be found in mud along the ocean floor and the many objects embedded in it. Dredging up the record of Earth's oceans from the seafloor requires detective work, and provides exciting adventures. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” we explore the ancient past of the oceans, including changes in the Gulf of Maine over time, and what it means for their future.

Numerous medical professionals, biologists and other experts have been combating COVID-19 and the havoc it has wrought since the pandemic began. Physicists have also joined the fray, including one from the University of Maine. The invention of a new microscope allows Sam Hess, a professor of physics at UMaine, to obtain new insight into the structure of the virus that causes COVID-19 — SARS-COV-2 — and the influenza virus. These findings could help pave the way for effective treatments. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Hess discusses the development of this breakthrough in microscope technology and his decades-long quest to aid in the fight against these deadly diseases.

Many people nationwide are experiencing a decline in their mental health. Rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse are rising, more so in rural areas. Ten out of 16 Maine counties have a shortage of mental health professionals. Only about half of the state population receives the services they need. At UMaine, a major effort is underway to recruit more mental health care providers to serve in rural areas. Using federal funding, researchers from the Psychology Department and School of Social Work are working with other experts to increase the number of psychologists, social workers and substance abuse professionals in areas with the greatest need. We speak with those researchers about their plans on this episode of “The Maine Question”

The invasive browntail moth exploded in Maine this summer. It damages and kills trees and causes rashes and respiratory problems in humans. The moth, however, is only one of many invasive species that plague Maine forests. University of Maine entomologist Angela Mech helps combat these unwanted visitors from the front lines, and she and her team may have a solution for dealing with browntail moths. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Mech discusses her work helping communities in Maine manage browntail moths and other invasive species, such as the spruce budworm.