Current Opportunities
Opportunities For Youth
Scientist To Go Meetups
Our Scientist To Go program allows for students to virtually meet with a wide range of scientists and to learn a little bit more about what they do. These 45 minute sessions include presentations from the scientists and Q&A opportunity for students. Current meet ups can be found here
Email Drew at [email protected] for more details or to join the email list for future events.
Community Science Challenges
Students participating in community science can connect with professional scientists and other classrooms across the Northeast, get outside to make careful observations of local ecosystems, and contribute important data on impacts of climate change. Join us for the Vernal Pool Community Science Challenge this Spring!
Email Meggie at [email protected] to get your class involved right away or get information on future events.
In-Person LabVenture Programs
Request a visit to our LabVenture Program for your 5th or 6th grade classrooms at LabVenture.gmri.org
Professional Learning Opportunities
GMRI Educator Workshop: Potato Farming in Maine's Changing Climate
May 2nd from 12:30pm to 8pm at Washburn Elementary School and local potato businesses
Join educators, farmers and GMRI staff in Aroostook county for an interactive workshop exploring agriculture, climate change, and community resilience. Participants will take a deep dive into GMRI's Potato Farming in Maine's Changing Climate module, a series of lessons designed for Maine students in grades 5 thorugh 9.
Engage in insightful conversations and tours with local potato farmers and processors and gain firsthand knowledge of their strategies for resilience. Later, convene at Washburn District Elementary School for an in-depth exploration of the curriculum. Through interactive lessons, a game, data stations, and reflection, discover how to integrate these activities into the learning experiences you provide for youth.
Enjoy a delicious, potoato-themed dinner along with mileage reimbursement, contact hours, and a $75 stipend (for educators). Participants who cannot attend the full day can choose to join from 3:30-8:00 only, please indicate this preference on your registration form.
Register HERE. For more information and/or questions email Molly at [email protected].
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GMRI Educator Workshop: Models, Food Webs and a Warming Gulf of Maine
May 16th from 4-6:30 at Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH
How do scientists use models to understand what is happening in an ecosystem? How is the marine food web changing as a result of warming ocean waters in the Gulf of Maine? This curriculum from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute asks students to explore some of the potential impacts and consequences that climate change, and specifically warming oceans, will have on marine ecosystems. As the answers to these questions are not fully understood, this curriculum has students using scientific modeling and data analysis to explore ideas, connections, and potential outcomes of a changing climate.
This hands-on workshop hosted at the Seacoast Science Center in New Hampshire will help prepare educators to use tools and activities from the Models, Food Webs and a Warming Gulf of Maine curriculum modulein their settings. Come look at data, engage in a modeling game and explore emerging research about changes in the Gulf of Maine.
A light dinner and mileage reimbursement will be provided along with a certificate for 2.5 contact hours. A $50 stipend is available for classroom teachers participating in the workshop.
Register HERE. For more information and/or questions email Molly at [email protected].
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Connected Learning Ecosystems
Are you a librarian, after school educator, museum or nature center educator, 4-H staff or volunteer, or classroom teacher looking to deepen your STEM programming and offerings?
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), 4-H, Maine State Libraries, Wabanaki Youth in Science, and Gateway Community Services, with funding from NASA, are looking to grow and support Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLE) across Maine. CLEs will be a space for communities of educators and learning facilitators to work together to build a climate and data literate generation, with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges that face us!
CLE members will work together to enhance their own understanding of climate, data, and a range of STEM skills and knowledge that kids need. This community will work together to engage kids all over Maine in place-based, locally relevant investigations of ecosystems and climate change, connecting formal and informal learning spaces. Educators across all these spaces have so much to share with one another in support of their own professional learning and the learning of the youth they work with. All the project partners are excited to help forge new connections.
The project team will offer a range of events and opportunities for educator networking and professional learning. In addition, CLE members will be supported to devise events and regular meeting structures based on community member needs and interest. Early conversations will focus on meet-up and professional learning needs and interests of the group.
Membership Includes:
- A small participation stipend
- Reimbursement for mileage to in-person events
- Connections with regional and statewide communities of peers working together to enhance STEM learning for Maine Youth
- Connections with supportive and engaged project team that includes staff from institutions from Maine to California
Express interest in being part of a CLE HERE.
If you have any questions, email Molly at [email protected].
Self-Paced Professional Learning Opportunities:
LabVenture Professional Learning Module:
Educators build knowledge of climate and ecosystem change and the components of data and science inquiry that help us investigate those changes through a four part module (each part will take 60-90 minutes). This work features local datasets that add to the story of climate driven ecosystem change in the Gulf of Maine and connects these local stories to global patterns. Check out the module here.