MDI Biological Laboratory to Host Environmental Data Fellow
The old adage says that many hands make light work – and during the busy MDIBL summers, we’re thankful for all the hands we can get! The whole community is excited that MDIBL has been selected as a host site 2022 for an Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) Data Management Fellowship. The EDI’s mission focuses on…
Continue ReadingNot Just a Drop in the Bucket
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in many residential wells in Maine. At elevated levels, it poses a potentially significant health threat, causing cancer, heart disease, immune dysfunction, and developmental delays in children. MDI Biological Laboratory’s Jane Disney, Ph.D. has been engaging researchers, teachers, and students in Maine and New Hampshire in well water monitoring…
Continue ReadingFrom Debris to Art
Original artwork completed by eco-artist Mariah Reading during MDI Biological Laboratory’s From Debris to Art project, is now on display at the Maine Center for Biomedical Innovation. While the campus remains closed to the public for COVID-19 safety precautions, the exhibition can be viewed in a virtual gallery on our project website. As soon as…
Continue ReadingFrom Debris to Art – SC School for the Blind
“From Debris to Art” was a program created through MDIBL’s Art Meets Science initiative and made possible by the generous support of the Onion Foundation. The project encourages participants to collect marine debris, log their observations and actively engage their creativity to create a unique piece of personal artwork. You can read more about the…
Continue ReadingAnecdata Interns Bring Fresh Thinking
Elana Fortin is a senior Visual Communication Design major at Champlain College. In addition to her role at Anecdata, she is a digital communications intern at the Island Institute and a web designer in Champlain College’s marketing department. Turam Purty is working towards developing open-source tools and technologies to help empower people and communities across…
Continue ReadingMDI Biological Laboratory Gets Children Involved Through Citizen Science
So far, schools in the program have collected 1,200 samples and 15% of them have had higher than recommended levels of arsenic (the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety level is 10 parts per billion). “All About Arsenic” aims to build scientific literacy and interest, and to show school-aged children that as citizen scientists they can make…
Continue ReadingAnecdata.org: Citizen Science keeps us connected while we’re apart
MDI Biological Laboratory has moved quickly to continue providing opportunities for educational experiences and public engagement in scientific research. Anecdata.org, our online citizen science platform, is just one way we’re increasing our connectivity with like-minded people while we all need to stay apart to slow the spread of COVID-19. Based out of our Community Lab,…
Continue ReadingThis Is Why: Supporting What We Believe In
Supporting MDIBL’s infrastructure in a way that also helps the environment was an easy decision to make. As scientists, we are always looking for the next innovation. It is important to me that we think beyond ourselves and to the future; we need to be ahead of the curve. An electronic vehicle charging station may…
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