Since 2011:

• Over 16,000 students and teacher visits have been recorded as part of DEI’s educational programming.
• Over 7,000 students have taken part in DEI’s education activities. This 
includes:
  • Ongoing Marine Science Days programs for schools.
  • Since 2010, DEI has coordinated and overseen season-long field 
research projects at fifteen coastal schools stretching from Portland to Cutler. This includes the 250 students and 17 teachers that participated in a 2010 National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research project examining the growth and survival of juvenile soft-shell clams in four coves.
    
  • Four elementary schools and five high schools participated in DEI’s Lobsters in the Classroom program during the 2016-2017 school year.
  • DEI’s work with students have resulted in student presentations at marine trade shows and local shellfish committees. 
For example, a large-scale field research project to measure the shellfish productivity and green crab recruitment in three coves of Searsport and Stockton Springs with Searsport High School. The results were presented at the 2018 Maine Fishermen’s Forum.
  • Improved test scores:
    • In one school DEI serves, 92% of students scored at or above the state average/expectations in science.
    • At the same school, the percentage of students scoring below state expectations fell by 79% after a year of participating in DEI’s education programming.
    • Our education program increases student engagement and encourages STEM-based career aspirations.

• Provided training and assistance to 1,200 educators.
• Since 2001, 400 UMM college students majoring in Marine Biology have utilized UMM’s Marine Science Field Station.
• Provides workforce development for future marine science professionals.
• Since 1995 DEI has hosted 77 internships and Americorps volunteers. Interns and AmeriCorps have gone on to become educators, natural resource managers, or are employed by private aquaculture or environmental consulting companies.
• 75% of the 16 research and hatchery technicians employed at DEI since 2003 were former UMM students.
• DEI’s Director of Research has supervised three graduate students and has served on 18 graduate student committees at the University of Maine (Orono) and one at Florida Atlantic University. At UMM, he has supervised seven undergraduate theses, and 19 undergraduates for research credits or as co-op students.

Last updated 12/24/19