Maine-SMART

Strengthening Maine’s Research Ecosystem & Pathways Through Strategic Capacity Building

Maine-SMART(opens in a new tab) is a collaborative project that aims to strengthen Maine’s research and development (R&D) enterprise by investing in and bringing together its stakeholders around a shared commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability.

The project comprises four Cores:

Core 1: Administrative

Core 2: Academic facilities/research infrastructure

Core 3: K-16/workforce readiness

Core 4: Economic development/use-inspired

MMSA is supporting Core 3, by focusing on two areas:

• Facilitating a networking research-to-practice partnership (RPP) to identify, share, and scale best practices that advance access to STEM learning across Maine.
• Leading the Maine-BRIDGE(opens in a new tab) program.

Maine-BRIDGE

This project focuses on broadening participation in STEM fields and careers by increasing access to real-world, research-based STEM education opportunities for teachers and students.

Specifically, Maine-BRIDGE is designed to provide middle and high school educators with hands-on experience working directly alongside scientists, helping teachers develop research skills and gain valuable insights into data collection and analysis that they can apply in their classrooms.

MMSA Project Staff

Emma Carey

STEM Education Specialist

Shelby Dillman

STEM Education Specialist

Kate Mahan

Researcher

Ruth Kermish-Allen, Ph.D.

MMSA Executive Director

Project Partners