Thu, 07/13/2017 - 7:00am

The Darling Marine Center, aquaculture industry partners and the Damariscotta River Association invite community members to a program titled “Science for the People: Damariscotta Estuary Marine Science Public Forum,” 5-7 p.m., Monday, July 17 at Darrows Barn at Round Top Farm, 3 Round Top Lane, Damariscotta.

Presenters will provide synopses of research being conducted by the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET). The oceanographic research ranges from nitrogen cycle assessment to water quality monitoring planned for 2017 in the Damariscotta River Estuary.

Sarah Gladu, Damariscotta River Association director of education and environmental monitoring, will talk about observations based on water quality data collected by citizen volunteers over the past several years in the estuary.

And Kathleen Thornton from the University of Maine Darling Marine Center will present water quality findings based on data from Maine Coastal Observing Alliance (MCOA), a midcoast alliance of citizen monitoring groups that provide a regional perspective on changing estuarine conditions.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to learn about the research that is being conducted to better understand a wide variety of conditions and issues that are impacting this estuary and the region as a whole,” said Gladu. “It is an opportunity to make sure that data and research is put to real and meaningful use by this community.”

Working with nine partner institutions and more than a hundred researchers, the SEANET project is conducting oceanographic studies in the Damariscotta River and five other study areas along Maine's coast. This five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation is helping scientists explore how different types and scales of aquaculture fit into Maine's multi-use working waterfront and the river ecosystem.

Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with presenters, ask questions and participate in discussions. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, or to request a disability accommodation, contact Meggan Dwyer at 207.745.0834 or meggan.dwyer@maine.edu.

EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) is a federal program directed at states that have historically received smaller portions of federal research and development funding. The program provides states with financial support to develop partnerships between their higher education institutions, industry, government and others in order to affect lasting improvements in infrastructure, capacity and national competitiveness. Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine is responsible for administering and implementing the NSF EPSCoR program for the state. For more information, visit www.umaine.edu/epscor/]umaine.edu/epscor.