A conversation with Eva Balog, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of New England. Eva is an Associate Professor at the University of New England, where her research focuses on proteins and focuses on biochemistry, biomaterials, and biophysics. She is also deeply interested in antidisciplinary, collaborative research. Eva was a 5 Minute Genius™ speakers at the 2024 Maine Science Festival; you can see her talk on our YouTube channel . This conversation was recor

A conversation with Kirsten Hibbard, Executive Director of the Challenger Learning Center of Maine. Kirsten is a mechanical engineering by education and initial work experience, who has transitioned to leading the Challenger Learning Center of Maine. Her passion for science, engineering, and education are palpable, and her desire to inspire kids about science is inspirational. This conversation was recorded in December 2025.

A conversation with Amber Whittaker, Senior Geologist at the Maine Geological Survey. Amber is a Senior Geologist for the Maine Geological Survey,  a state agency in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry that "provides the people and businesses of Maine with essential geologic information about the land where we live and work." Maine has a complex geologic history, and it's made all the harder to study due to the large amount of forest and cover (as oppose

A conversation with Bob Duchesne, owner of Maine Birding Trail.. Bob has been the host of a popular radio show broadcast across eastern and central Maine, has served on several economic and business development boards, and is a past member of the Maine House of Representatives. After serving in the Legislature, he began writing columns focused on the Maine outdoors with a particular focus on birds and birding. This conversation was recorded in October 2025.

A conversation with Greg Zaro, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Climate Change at the University of Maine. Greg's research looks at the interplay between humans and the environment, focusing on historical ecology, subsistence economies, agriculture, urbanism, and cosmology. His current research project is in Croatia, where he co-directs the Nadin Gradina Archaeological Project (NGAP) an internationally collaborative program of research and education between the Univers

A conversation with Emily Spaulding, Assistant Professor at MDI Biological Laboratory. Emily studies neurodegenerative disease-associated genes using super-resolution imaging of living, adult worms. Emily earned her Ph.D. at the University of Maine while embedded in the Jackson Laboratory and during her post-doc at MDI Bio Lab, she was recognized by the National Institutes of Health as an “Outstanding Scholar in Neuroscience”. This conversation was recorded in September 2025.