College News

Macro photo of rock weed

Three graduate students study rockweed, ‘a system of curiosity’

Rockweed is sometimes called an “ecosystem engineer,” because its branched structure alters the surrounding environment, and creates space for other species to find shelter and food. The marine alga also is a valuable source of nutrients and other compounds with commercial purposes. In the past decade, increased harvesting has led to questions about the effects […]

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Ward named Coordinator of Operations

Ryan Ward has been named the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture’s coordinator of operations. “I hope to initiate a capital construction plan and bring our projects further along while meeting the goals of the college,” Ward said. In his new role, Ward will oversee major renovation, restoration and new construction projects, and manage […]

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Hutton named associate dean for research

Mark Hutton has been named associate dean for research in the University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, and associate director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Hutton joined the UMaine community in 2001, where he has held a joint appointment as an associate professor in the School of Food […]

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umaine lobster boat fishing ocean

From south to north, young lobsters find cool refuge in deep water

Maine fishermen hauled in 110.8 million pounds of lobsters in 2017 with a value of more than $400 million. While still incredibly large, this volume represented a 16 percent decline and $100 million loss compared to previous years of record-setting landings. Since the late 1980s Maine’s lobster landings have multiplied six fold, while the area […]

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Wahle named director of the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine

University of Maine marine sciences research professor Richard Wahle has been named director of the University of Maine’s Lobster Institute, effective Sept.1. He succeeds Robert Bayer, who has directed the institute since 1995 and is retiring from UMaine this year. Wahle joined UMaine’s School of Marine Sciences in 2009. He is based at the University’s […]

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bee flower maine pollinator umaine research

New publication about bees and their New England habitats available

Researchers in the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and their colleagues from neighboring institutions published a report called “Bees and Their Habitats in Four New England States” this summer. The report includes previously unpublished information and a synthesis of literature relevant to Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The report also offers recommendations for […]

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university of maine christopher gerbi

Gerbi named associate dean for research

Christopher Gerbi has been named associate dean for research in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, and associate director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Gerbi joined the School of Earth and Climate Sciences as faculty in 2007 and will be promoted to the role of professor on Sept. 1. He […]

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