October 23 , 2006 News from the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research Headlines: 
2007 Maine Water Conference: Call for Abstracts issued The Call for Abstracts for the 2007 Maine Water Conference has been issued. The conference will take place on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at the Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine. Oral Abstracts
Oral abstracts must fit within one of the session topics listed below. The submission deadline for oral abstracts is Friday, December 1, 2006. Full guidelines are available on the MWC Call for Abstracts page. 2007 Maine Water Conference Session Topics
- Legislative issues
- Municipal Issues: compliance, stromwater, comprehensive plans, regionalization
- Wetlands, vernal pools, salt marshes, riparian restoration
- Contaminants - arsenic, uranium, mercury, pharmaceuticals, hormones
- Environmental education: informal and experimental
- Water resources and climate change
- Landscape change: fish assembleages, invasives, urban vs rural, forests
- Volunteer Monitoring - developing a VRMP
- Sustainable water use
- Enforcement of environmental laws - Regulation versus actual protection
Poster Abstracts
Posters invited for display will address one or more aspects of water quality or quantity issues. These may include chemical, biological, hydrological, and geochemical aspects of surface and ground waters, and their policy and economic implications. Poster abstracts will be accepted for juried high school, undergraduate and graduate competitions. Non-student poster presentations based on appropriate research findings are also accepted for display. However, space is limited and student submissions will take precedence. Deadline for poster abstract submission is Friday, February 23, 2007. Undergraduate and graduate students should go to the MWC Poster page for complete abstract and poster guidelines. High School students should go to the Juried High School Competition page for complete abstract and poster guidelines.
Environmental Solutions Initiative — Former Senator Mary Cathcart to discuss "Engaging with Augusta" The Environmental Solutions Initiative is an interdisciplinary collaboration of UMaine faculty, students, and others interested in improving links between knowledge and action regarding environmental management and sustainable development. Several distinguished speakers will share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities associated with creating interdisciplinary research and teaching programs focused on solving pressing environmental problems. Seminars are sponsored by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, the Graduate Program in Ecology & Environmental Science, and the School of Marine Sciences . Speakers will give a formal presentation for approximately one hour, followed by an extended discussion period for 30-60 minutes. Refreshments will be served. Thursday, October 26 (12:30-2pm)
Mary Cathcart and Lee Webb, Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, UMaine
Title: "Engaging with Augusta - Strategies to increase the relevance and value of environmental research programs for Maine"
Mary and Lee have extensive experience in state-level politics and policy development. They will discuss their recent research focusing on how UMaine researchers can meet State needs more effectively. All seminars take place in Room 107, Norman Smith Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine and are open to all. For parking permits and directions contact Ruth Hallsworth at hallsworth@maine.edu. Click here for a complete list of upcoming fall seminars.
Water Festival Fun
On Tuesday, October 10, 2006, over 600 fifth- and sixth-graders were on campus at the University of Maine to participate in the Northern Maine Childrens' Water Festival. Making science fun and exciting is just one of the goals of the festival, which is held every other year for northern Maine schools and which features classes, presentations and exhibits — all with a water theme. The idea is to help pupils and teachers understand the threats to water quality and what they can do to keep water clean. Festival activities also are intended to help pupils understand the role of water as an animal habitat; its uses in meeting human needs; the different forms water takes in the water cycle; and water conservation. Another aim is to help develop student interest in careers related to the environment. Sponsors of the Children's Water Festival included Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Maine Department of Health and Human Services Drinking Water Program; Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District; Penobscot Nation; Union River Watershed Coalition; University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research.
A Bangor Daily News article is available on this year's festival or learn more at Maine's Children's Water Festivals. |
