Episodes
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Walt Golet (migratory fish)
Walt’s interest in, and enthusiasm for, larger fish species - think tuna and shark - was fostered in childhood, inspired in part by his father's work in commercial fishing and charter boat operations. Studying these larger fish can be difficult, given their wide-ranging movements, and advances in...
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Megan Hess (public works)
Megan's science background focused on aquatic entomology and she entered town government work as an environmental specialist handling stormwater management and invasive species removal. Megan became the Director of Public Works for the Town of Orono in July 2026, and she leans into both her...
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Logan Johnson (forestry nonprofit)
Logan is the Executive Director of the Maine Tree Foundation, a role he has been in since 2022. Logan grew up in Calais and discovered a passion for plants, and then forests, while studying biology and then forestry at the University of Maine. Logan and his team at the Maine Tree Foundation…
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Karyn Sporer (criminology)
Karyn is an Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Maine. She earned her Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is an expert in qualitative and life history research methods, with a focus on hidden and marginalized…
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Jason Bubier (genetics & microbiome)
Jason is a Senior Research Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory who's work sits at the intersection of genetics, behavior, and public health, His career has been shaped by curiosity about why individuals respond so differently to addictive substances. Jason's research investigates the biological...
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Julia Brown (ocean viruses)
Julia is a Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, where she has been working on ocean science research since 2016. Her current research aims to characterize the diversity and roles of marine viruses and microbes in order to better understand their activity within climate relevant...
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LeAnn Whitney (phytoplankton molecular ecologist)
LeAnn is a phytoplankton molecular ecologist, or, according to her daughter, a phytoplankton nerd. LeAnn grew up in Machias, and thanks to her participation in the Keller BLOOM Program at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences as a junior in high school, she found her love for plankton and…
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Jessica Pawlak (biochemistry)
Jessica has had a cool path in biochemistry, with work in both academia and industry, as well as an internship at the National Institutes of Health. She is the Director of New Product Development at LCG Clinical Diagnostics, where she oversees the R&D department. In addition to her work at LCG...
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Jane Disney (environmental health & education)
Jane found her way to science via her high school biology class and earned her PhD studying trout and salmon evolution. After research positions at Washington State University and The Jackson Laboratory, Jane transitioning to teaching high school biology, which she did for for 10 years. She then...
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Matt Mahoney (computational scientist)
Matt is a Principal Computational Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory. Trained as a mathematician, Matt then moved into the area of systems biology - driven by a lifelong curiosity and the opportune timing of the 2009 financial crisis. He is currently working on two main projects: studying aging...
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Kelley Strout (nursing)
Kelley is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Maine, and her research focuses on addressing burnout for nursing students, faculty, and staff. Under her leadership, UMaine Nursing was ranked by U.S. News and Reports in the top 11% of baccalaureate of science in nursing programs...
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Maine Discovery Podcast - Taproom Tales
Maine Discovery Museum is launching a new podcast that will focus on programs and events of the Maine Discovery Museum (MDM). In this episode, we have a live recording of an event MDM launched in November 2025 - Taproom Tales. The Maine Discovery Podcast will be coming your way in May 2026! One...
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Eva Balog (protein biochemistry)
Eva is an Associate Professor at the University of New England, where her research focuses on proteins and utilizes biochemistry, biomaterials, and biophysics. She is also deeply interested in antidisciplinary, collaborative research. Eva was a 5 Minute Genius™ speaker at the 2024 Maine Science...
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Kirsten Hibbard (informal science education)
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...
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Amber Whittaker (geology)
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...
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Bob Duchesne (birding)
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...
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Greg Zaro (archeology & anthropology)
Greg is an Associate Professor at the University of Maine, where his research looks at the interplay between humans and the environment, focusing on historical ecology, subsistence economies, agriculture, urbanism, and cosmology. Greg's current research project is in Croatia, where he co-directs...
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Emily Spaulding (neurobiology)
Emily is an Assistant Professor at MDI Biological Laboratory where she 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…
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Kristen O'Connell (neuroscience)
Kristen is an Associate Professor at The Jackson Laboratory where her research focuses on the effects of age on brain function and dementia risk. As a first-generation college student, Kristen's path to doing cutting edge basic research is both inspirational and informative. Kristen was one of…
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Asheesh Lanba (mechanical engineering)
Asheesh is a mechanical engineer with over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and entrepreneurship. He's an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Director of Research at the Composites Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), at the University of Southern Maine. He teaches...
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Lydia Gilmore (mechanical engineeering)
Lydia grew up in Bangor and has been immersed in mechanical engineering since entering college at the University of Maine. A four-year varsity athlete, Lydia was was UMaine's co-valedictorian in 2024, and in her graduate work has focused on textile properties, blending her love of running with...
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Damian Brady (oceanography)
Damian grew up in Brooklyn, NY and found his way into marine science and then to Maine. His research is broad, covering aquaculture, seaweeds, and kelp, and using oceanographic tools to help make decisions about aquaculture projects. Damian was one of the 5 Minute Genius™ speakers at this past...
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Sue Hunter (farmer/PFAS)
Susan Hunter is a farmer who lives in Unity, Maine. She and her husband were longtime dairy farmers, and after her husband passed away Sue turned to hay farming. A few years ago, testing of her soil - which she talks about in this conversation - revealed that her land was heavily contaminated…
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Cory Johnson (cell biology)
Cory grew up in Maine and after spending time as a sea kayak guide and a ski instructor, found his way to biology and laboratory research. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Haller Lab at MDI Biological Laboratory, Cory is interested in the cell biology of kidney vascularization and uses...
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Seth Campbell (glaciology & climate change)
Seth grew up in Maine, and his interest in science was influenced by both his environmental scientist father and one of his grade school science teachers. Seth's research is deeply multidisciplinary, and his research is not only adding to one of the longest running research projects around (the...
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Kourtney Collum (social science)
Kourtney grew up in Southeast Michigan and received a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology & Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University. As an undergraduate she interned on the trail crew at Baxter State Park and fell in love with the state of Maine, so returned in 2010 to earn a…
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Jamie Fogg (marine science)
Today’s episode is a conversation with Jamie Fogg who is an undergraduate at the University of Maine studying marine science. Jamie has been doing research in different areas of marine science since high school, and has recently been awarded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
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Bob Lindyberg (civil engineering)
Bob is a civil engineer who discovered a love of research at the start of his engineering career, which led to researching composites in engineering. After 20+ years in research, Bob moved on to a more commercial role outside of Maine, and he was called back to Maine in 2019 to take on the role…
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Emily Holmes (fruit farmer)
Emily is the owner of Maine-ly Apples, and an incredibly enthusiastic fruit farmer - although that's our description, not hers. Her work is best described as a true application of what scientists have learned, and her approach to understanding her apples and other fruits is a great overview of…
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Allison Gardner (vector biology)
Allie is self-professed fan of insects, and the first vector biologist hired at the University of Maine. Her work focuses on medical entomology, vector-borne disease ecology, and epidemiology, and is a great example of how interdisciplinary teams of researchers can do comprehensive work that may...
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Curt Brown (marine biology)
Curt is a marine biologist for Ready Seafood, which supplies live and processed lobster products from the coast of Maine to retail, wholesale, and food service companies worldwide. Curt's research program at Ready Seafood focuses on improving the sustainability and quality of lobsters through...
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Ian Prior (forest management)
Ian is a forester with Seven Islands Land Company, but one who is not out in the forest every day. His work is deeply data heavy, and his forest management techniques rely on the data collected not just by the foresters in the woods and (significantly) on other, more technology-reliant…
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Stacey Harris (civil engineering / construction)
Stacey is a civil engineer and a General Superintendent with Consigli’s Portland office. In her role, Stacey manages the construction of large-scale commercial projects, with a focus on life science and pharmaceutical facilities. She earned a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering at UMaine...
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Aleta McKeage (ecology)
Aleta is a conservation biologist who has completed work for local soil and water conservation districts as well as state and national organizations. She specializes in ecological restoration and community science and conservation. Her conservation work has been a second career, following a 20+...
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Mehdi Tajvidi (renewable nanomaterials)
Mehdi Tajvidi is a Professor of Renewable Nanomaterials in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine. His areas of research interest are production, characterization and performance evaluation of renewable nanomaterials and their composites. Mehdi’s core research area at UMaine is...
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Jacqui White (genetics)
Jacqui White is the Director of the Center for Biometric Analysis at The Jackson Laboratory. Her background in the clinical characterization of genetically altered mice coupled with her experience in establishing and running large operations critical to genetics research has been deeply…
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RJ Perry (AR/VR)
RJ Perry, Laboratory Technical Manager at the VEMI Lab at the University of Maine. VEMI Lab, and the people who make it up, are one of far too many hidden gems in Maine, and hopefully this conversation will put at least a small spotlight on the work they do. If you are a student at UMaine and you...
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Max Tritt (fishery biology)
Max Tritt is a Fisheries Biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Max has lived all over the country and after serving the military for 20 years followed his passion for fish. Max is actively involved in outreach - he's been a presenter at the Maine Science...
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Daniel Moore (biological sciences)
Daniel Moore is the Department Chair of the Biological Sciences Department at Southern Maine Community College, and his love of teaching is evident throughout our conversation. Daniel's background is diverse, and his extensive experience in industry and research have provided an excellent...
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Angie Reed & Dan Kusnierz (water quality)
Angie Reed has served as the Water Resources Planner for Penobscot Nation since 2004. Her contributions include field work, reports, all aspects of digital data management, training tribal environmental professionals, developing outreach materials, activity development for Indian Island School...
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Aaron Weiskittel (forestry)
Aaron's Maine-focused research looks at the various factors that influence regional forest structure and composition in the hope of being able to forecast future changes. His research attempts to understand the biophysical factors influencing forest growth and to integrate those factors with…
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Eclipse Reactions
You’ll hear in-the-moment reactions about the April 8th total solar eclipse in Maine from folks in Stacyville, Houlton, and Jackman Maine, and then we’ll circle back to Stacyville for some short conversations right after the eclipse. We are indebted to Sarah Kirn, Nikita Saini, and Terrence...
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Eclipse Science (astronomy)
Shawn Laatch is the Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine and Nikita Saini is a graduate student in Astronomy in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Maine and is also a presenter at the Planetarium. Shawn and…
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Laura Wilson (micro-credential education/learning)
Laura Wilson manages skills-based micro-credential development for Cooperative Extension at the University of Maine. Laura's previous work includes being a Science Youth Development Professional at 4H and a Water Quality Professional. Laura has been a a long-time partner with Maine Discovery...
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Dan Burgess (energy policy)
Dan Burgess is the Director of the Governor’s Energy Office for the State of Maine, and he's had a robust career in energy policy, first in Massachusetts then coming back home to Maine. Dan was part of our online forum about offshore wind, Off Shore Wind from the UK to Maine, in February 2021.…
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Wendy LePage (research scientist)
Wendy LePage is a research scientist at IDEXX in Westbrook, ME. Wendy has been with IDEXX since their early start-up days, having joined them once she returned from a two-year stint with the Peace Corps, which she did right after graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in zoology....
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Rob Wheeler (microbiology)
Rob Wheeler studies fungus from both sides: how the immune system responds to fungal infection AND the how the fungus itself works. In particular, Rob studies Candida albicans, and all the ways it impacts us. Rob has degrees from Harvard and Stanford University in 2000, and did post-doctoral work...
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January 24, 2024 update
You may have noticed we haven’t kept to our regular episode release schedule, and we wanted to send out a quick note to assure you that we’ll be back! We’ve had to do some staff juggling behind the scenes, and will be back to releasing episodes as soon as we are able. Listen to this short update...
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The Write Time with Meghan Wilson Duff (author)
This past August, Maine Science Podcast host Kate Dickerson was a guest interviewer on the National Writing Project’s The Write Time podcast, and spoke with Meghan Wilson Duff about their children’s’ book, How Are You, Verity? (Illustrated by Taylor Barron). Meghan is on the faculty in the...
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Diane Rowland (natural science)
Diane Rowland is the Dean of the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences (formerly Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture) and Director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at the University of Maine. For most of her career, Diane has specialized in the physiological...
About this show
Conversations with some of the leading scientists, researchers, engineers, and innovators working in Maine. Presented by the Maine Discovery Museum.
Hosted by
Kate Dickerson, Maine Discovery Museum
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