February 5, 7:30pm: MSF Pop-up evet: Aquaculture on land. Join us for a MSF Pop-up event at the Bucksport Performing Arts Center for a MSF Forum that will look at some of the science behind land-based aquaculture systems. Speakers: Ian Bricknell, Libra Professor of Aquaculture Biology, University of Maine; Jennifer Fortier, Whole Oceans; and Michael Pietrak, National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, USDA. 
Bucksport Performing Arts Center, Bucksport Middle School, 100 Miles Lane, Bucksport
February 10, 1:00pm-3:00pm: MSF Pop-up event: There’s Science in My Beer! The Maine Science Festival and Foundation Brewing Company are delighted to announce the first of our series of MSF Pop-up Events: There’s Science in My Beer! Join us for a deep dive into the science of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen in beer. This event will double as a fundraiser for the MSF, and space is limited to 20 participants. Tickets are $15; sign up at Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/2TQhzmo.
Foundation Brewing Company, 1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
February 28, 7:00pm-9:00: MSF Pop-up event: Salmon in Maine. In partnership with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Maine Field Station and the Maine Discovery Museum, the MSF is hosting a Maine Science Festival Pop-up event: Salmon in Maine as part of the International Year of the Salmon. The Main Street Gallery will be open for this after-hours gallery event, featuring artist Karen Talbot’s Maine’s River Run Fish. In addition to the exhibit, we will also have brief presentations on the history of salmon in Maine, the scientific study of Atlantic salmon that NOAA has done (and continues to do), and Karen’s work to meld the scientific with the artistic to tell the story of Maine’s river run fish, and salmon in particular. Speakers: Catherine Schmidt, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park; Ed Baum, salmon expert (retired, NOAA); Karen Talbot, artist.
Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main Street, Bangor [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
19th Century Curran Homestead Villae at Fields Pond & Newfield
February 18-22, 10:00am-3:00pm: S.T.E.A.M. Workshop Week for Kids (Newfield). Do one day or all five days with workshops in foot treadle sewing machine and hand sewing, letterpress printing, cooking, baking and pickling, electric lamp building, crystal; radio set building, catapult building, and fiber arts (with live sheep!).
Ages 8-13; Cost: $30-45 dependent on workshop, discount if you sign up for the whole week: $175. Bring a bag lunch; snack provided.
Contact: thecurranhomestead@gmail.com; (207) 205-4849
19th Century Curran Homestead Village at Newfield, 70 Elm Street, Newfield[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
February 27, 6:00pm: Author visit:J. Malcolm Shick. Along with images from his book, Dr. Shick will be talking about how corals have become part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Seen as rainforests of the sea, coral reefs have become emblematic of the fragility of marine biodiversity, their declining health a warning sign of the human-driven climate change that has produced warming seas, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels.
Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
February 17, 2:00pm-3:00pm: Tie-DyeScience. Do science and create art: try out the mysterious patterns of Tie Dye with fabric or paper, inks, and droppers. Recommended 4+, $1 materials fee. Get your ticket day-of at the admissions desk.
February 18, 11:00am-12:00pm: Geology Is A Piece of Cake! Naturally presented by Maine Discovery Museum and Fork & Spoon, Geology Is a Piece of Cake author, Katie Coppens, visits Maine Discovery Museum & layers on the learning into the world of geology – using CAKE! This event is free with museum admission. All ages – space is limited – register today! Maine Discovery Museum – p: (207) 262-7200
February 18-22, 8:00am-4:00pm: February Vacation Camp. Different topic each day!
$50.00 per child/day for non-members, $45.00 per child/day for Museum Members. Ages 5-12; Morning snack provided, please bring your own lunch and afternoon snack.
February 20, 11:00am-11:30am: Flubber & Bouncy Balls. Turn gooey, sticky chemicals into stretchy flubber or bouncy balls. Recommended 5+ and free with admission.
February 20, 2:00pm-2:30pm: Icy Science Fun. Experiment with frozen liquids and chilly gases for seriously silly science fun. Recommended 5+ and free with admission.
February 21, 11:00am-11:30am: Paddle Boats. Design, build and test a little boat powered by the laws of physics! Recommended 5+ and free with admission.
February 21, 2:00pm-2:30pm: Marble Racers. Can you build a working maze with the materials at hand? Problem solving and creativity combined in a fun building challenge! Recommended 6+ and free with admission.
Tuesdays (February 5, 12, 26), 11:00-11:30am: Science Detectives. Science for preschoolers, recommended for ages 3+. Free with admission.
Thursdays (February 7, 14, 28), 11:00-12:00pm: Nature Time. Budding naturalist and biologists can go on nature excursions without ever leaving the museum. Get up close to some of MDM’s amazing live animals, pelts, claws, shells, bones, rocks and more. Each session starts with an introduction of the specimen or nature science discovery followed by guided gentle exploration and lots of time for science conversations. Occasionally we will have appropriate make and take activities to end the session. Recommended for ages 3-5. Free with admission.
Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main Street, Bangor; Admission: FREE for members! $7.50 general admission.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
February 9, 8:00am-10:00am: Winter ature Walk: How plants & animals survive the winter. Learn how different plants and animals survive the winter. Join staff scientists Nick Fisichelli, Seth Benz, and Hannah Webber for an entertaining and informative 2-hour winter hike.
9 Atturbury Circle
February 9, 7:00pm-9:00pm: Old Bucketnose – Icon of the North Woods Lee Kantar, State Moose Biologist will discuss aspects of moose biology and management in Maine, highlighting some of the things that make moose so unique as well as research currently underway in Maine which has one of the highest concentrations of moose in the lower 48 states.
Moore Auditorium
Tuesdays (February 5, 12, 26) 8:45am-12:00pm: Tuesday Morning Birding Field Trip. Join Bird Ecology Director Seth Benz for any or all of these 3 hour field trips that explore the nooks and crannies of Schoodic Peninsula in search of wintering birds. Open to all skill levels from beginner to advanced birder. Each field trip will meet at and travel by van from Schooner Commons on the Institute campus. Complimentary hot beverage at 8:45 in Schooner Lounge.
$10/field trip. Please pre-register by calling Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356. Limited to 12 participants; Schooner Commons
Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Winter Harbor
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February 18-22, 8:00am-4:00pm: Febrary Vacation Camp. Five days of fantastic science fun! Different theme each day.
$60/day; grades K-5; campers need to provide their own lunch and morning/afternoon snacks.
Challenger Learning Center of Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
February 21, 7:00pm: Science Lectue Series, Harnessing the Power of Ocean Currents. How can we use currents to generate sustainable energy? What are the environmental impacts of doing so? Explore how tidal turbines can optimize energy extraction and understand how coastal environmental conditions are affected by the long-term implementation of tidal turbines. Dr. Lauren Ross from Civil and Environmental Engineering will share her research in this area and its potential for Maine.
Fridays (February 1, 8, 15, and 22) 7:00pm: Faster Than Light. Take a virtual ride aboard spacecraft of the future based on whole new technologies designed to achieve ultra‐high speeds, which might provide ways to travel to new worlds.
Sundays (February 3, 10, 17, and 24), 2pm: Earth, Moon and Sun is a fast-paced full dome demonstration of lunar phases, eclipses, day and night, the sun and other puzzling events with the help of a confused coyote.
$6 for Adults, $5 for UMaine Students/Senior Citizens, $4 for children 12 and under.
Emera Astronomy Center and M.F. Jordan Planetarium, 167 Rangeley Road, Orono[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions
February 4, 3:00pm-4:00pm: The Gains of Going Green: Opportunities for Collaborative Research with The Nature Conservancy in Maine. From forests to fisheries and wildlife to waters, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Maine is committed to understanding how Maine’s ecosystems work and the many ways in which they’re vitally connected to Maine people. Andy Cutko, Director of Science, The Nature Conservancy Maine will describe some of TNC’s multi-faceted efforts in Maine, focusing on TNC’s interests in applied conservation science. He will discuss several existing collaborative research projects with the University, including river restoration, forest ecology, and social resilience. This presentation is intended to spark discussion of new opportunities for collaborative research, and Andy will outline some possible pathways for new collaboration.
February 11, 3:00pm-4:00pm: Conservation Science for Changing Times: An Emerging Transdisciplinary Research Program at UMaine. Global and local changes in environmental, social, and climatic conditions increasingly stress, alter, or degrade ecosystems and human quality of life despite continued efforts to develop integrated natural and human models that help support effective decision-making. In response, many organizations focus on managing for resilient human-natural systems—those that are able to respond and adapt to the effects of rapid change. Members of UMaine’s NSF-NRT Team will discuss our recently awarded National Science Foundation Research Traineeship grant to create a new graduate education model that integrates faculty and students from the social and biophysical sciences in order to prepare the next generation of conservation leaders to address these challenges presented by a rapidly changing world.
February 25, 3:00pm-4:00pm: Racing the clock to preserve the past…A community-based approach to managing Maine’s shell middens. The Maine Midden Minders is a volunteer, citizen science organization being developed with the support of the Senator George Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and Maine Sea Grant to help document and monitor Maine’s eroding shell middens. These features are composed of mollusk shells, artifacts, and faunal remains, and archive up to 4,000 years of coastal occupation by the state’s indigenous population. Over 2,000 of these sites exist along the Maine coast, and virtually all are threatened by climate change as increasing rates of sea level rise intensifies damage from storm-driven waves and increased freeze-thaw cycles promote erosion. Only one or two middens are professionally excavated each year due to funding constraints. Valuable archaeological and paleoenvironmental information is lost to the sea with each storm. The Midden Minders program will train interested volunteers from conservation organizations, tribal communities, and individual citizens to document seasonal to annual changes at middens. Alice Kelley, School of Earth & Climate Sciences, and Bonnie Newsom, Department of Anthropology, University of Maine will talk about the program.
107 Norman Smith Hall, Mitchell Center, University of Maine, Orono [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#a8aa31″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]