School of Biology and Ecology

Support our local Charities! Participate in the 2013 SBE Silent Benefit Auction! Bring in your donated items to Becky Holberton, Rm 221 Murray Hall by November 8th. All items will be on display in the Murray Hall Foyer.  The bidding will begin in Murray Hall at noon Monday, November 11 and ends at noon on […]

Dr. Michelle Smith, SBE Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, is the lead investigator on four projects and co-principal investigator on another.  She aims to improve nationwide science instruction and assessments, and was granted $6.8 million in total funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The projects, three of which are in collaboration with other universities, […]

The Maine Physical Sciences Partnership has an employment opportunity for undergraduates students in STEM (sceince, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines.  They are recruiting for the Maine Learning Assistant Program and need to fill 22 paid positions in STEM courses for next spring.  These courses include: Bio 350: Concepts of Genetics, ERS 201: Global Enviromental change, […]

MPBN television will be broadcasting a documentary entitled “Preserving Paradise” featuring SSI researchers focussing on the alternative futures of modelling research, as well as new mapping tools in order to allow for “smarter” development across the state. The Alternative Futures Team, based at the University of Maine and University of Maine School of Law, uses […]

Adrienne Leppold’s migratory bird research featured in the October issue of Downeast Magazine! Check it out here.

SBE welcomed our first Seminar speaker of the year, Dr. Susan Rundell Singer, director of the Division of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation, to speak on learning engineers and STEM education reform.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Singer is also a Professor of Natural Sciences at Carleton College. “Dr. Singer […]

Dr. Frank Drummond’s research on honey bee foraging patterns and colony dynamics was cited in the recent special issue on U.S. Food Production in the magazine, Scientific American. The article, entitled “The mind-boggling math of migratory beekeeping” addresses the vulnerability of many large-scale bee pollinated crop production systems to disruption of the supply of honey […]

Dr. Alison Dibble, Research Faculty in the School of Biology and Ecology, is a contributing author to the new field guide, “SEDGES OF MAINE: A FIELD GUIDE TO CYPERACEAE”.  This book by Matt Arsenault, Glen H. Mittelhauser, Don Cameron, Alison C. Dibble, Arthur Haines, Sally C. Rooney and Jill E. Weber, was published (August 2013) […]

The school of Biology & Ecology is pleased to welcome two new faculty members to the team! Dr. Hamish Greig, Assistant Professor of Stream Ecology, will be teaching Bio 430- Ecology and Systematics of Aquatic Animals this fall, which is offered to undergraduates as well as graduate students.  Professor Greig’s research focuses on community ecology, […]

The long-awaited revision of the Blackpoll Warbler species account for the Birds of North America is now out!  This website serves as the leading source of life history information for North American breeding birds. Check it out here! DeLuca, W., Holberton, R., Hunt, P.D. and Eliason, B.C. 2013. Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata).  The Birds of […]

Congratulations to the three SBE Faculty members who received Faculty Awards in 2013! Dr. Francis Drummond, professor of Insect Ecology and Insect Pest Management, received the 2013 Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award.  Drummond’s professional achievements were recently featured in the Bangor Daily news highlighting his research on the genetics of blueberry production and pollination […]

  Frank Drummond, professor of insect ecology, explains how bees play a major role in the Maine blueberry industry.  According to Drummond, Colony Collapse Disorder plays a large role in the decreasing number of bees in Maine.  Because of this, thousands of hives are trucked to the state each year to increase bee population and […]

Helen Call, a School of Biology and Ecology student and attendant on UMaine’s University Volunteer Ambulance Corps (UVAC), recently rescued a dining hall coworker from choking. Helen completed her first year at UMaine as a recipient of the SBE Academic Award and the Dr. Joseph W. Warren Scholarship, both awarded for high academic standing. Read […]

Adria Elskus works for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) whose purpose is to provide scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. In its surveys, the USGS found fungicides in US surface waters that could affect valuable native fungi as well as other aquatic organisms. However, there is little information on the effects […]

Congratulations to Minna Mathiasson and Sara Bushmann who were recently presented the Outstanding Women in Science awards! The awards ceremony took place at Fogler Library on April 21,2013.  For the undergraduate category, Minna gave a presentation entitled “Impact of Invasive Plant Species on Maine Native Plant-Pollinator Interactions.” For the PhD category, Sara gave a presentation […]

The 2013 Undergraduate Research & Academic Showcase took place on April 16 at the Wells Conference Center.  Many students and faculty presented their research and gave oral presentations, including five students affiliated with the School of Biology & Ecology.  These four students were awarded the CUGR Fellowship Awards in the fall, and received a stipend, […]

On April 17th, The School of Biology & Ecology held their sixth annual recognition Ceremony in 102 Murray Hall, which recognized undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty for their hard work and commitment to their academic studies.  During the ceremony, Ellie Groden, director of the School of Biology & Ecology, and Christa Schwintzer, […]

On April 5, 2013 the University of Maine Career Center hosted the 4th annual Health Professions Career Day, which highlighted a variety of different professionals in the medical field.  This event gave students the opportunity to learn about their prospective career and how the pre-med concentration at Umaine can prepare students for their future.  “Most […]