Gulf of Maine Research Institute

The CLIMATEWORK MAINE summit last week was a major success! Three members of our Climate Center team (including ClimateWork Maine board member and GMRI Business Climate Action Program Manager Jared Wildwistle) attended to share insights and learn the latest about how organizations around Maine are making moves around climate action. Kudos to Wymans, ReVision Energy, and Tanbark Molded Fiber Products who were all awarded for their climate action leadership! We loved meeting so many new, motivated organizations, and look forward to being a resource for businesses looking to drive adaptation and emissions reduction strategies in a warmer world.

Aroostook County educators joined GMRI staff in Washburn, Maine for a day long experience full of data-rich activities from our new curriculum that explores how climate change is impacting Maine's $200m potato farming industry. Educators connected with industry leaders at Porter Farms and Penobscot McCrum, LLC's potato processing plant for a real hands-on learning experience that will equip them with another tool for teaching climate literacy to students using locally relevant subject matter.

GMRI is in DC today for a Rural Communities in Action event at the White House! CEO Glenn Prickett was invited to highlight our work on coastal resilience and the emerging blue economy taken on with bipartisan federal support. 💪 Learn more about how we're helping ensure coastal communities will continue thriving in a warming world: https://lnkd.in/e6WfxcSU

Join us May 9th at ClimateWork Maine’s 2nd Annual Summit on Climate Change and Maine's Economy! This is the state's largest gathering of people who are focusing on how Maine is changing and how climate change will reshape our economy. GMRI will be there in force and we hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/gqRFGRyp

📣 Reminder! 📣 The Gulf of Maine coast will see the highest tides of the month this week. In Portland, high tide times are 11:20 pm on Tuesday, May 7 and 12:08 am on Thursday, May 9. It’s rare for coastal storms in May to cause large storm surges, but rises in sea levels are leading to water levels that are persistently about 0.5-1ft above the predicted tide (remember, NOAA tide predictions are based on 1983-2001 mean sea level). This means tides alone may cause minor flooding overnight this week. Be sure to monitor the weather forecast for onshore winds or low-pressure systems that may cause an additional rise in water level. Learn more about coastal flooding and see our recommendations for how to prepare your home, business, or community. https://lnkd.in/gtPNCR7Q

Today is School Lunch Hero Day! We're celebrating the men and women who provide healthy and nutritious meals to students in school cafeterias! These superstar School Lunch Heroes help our Sea-to-School program flourish. This program increases local seafood served in public school cafeterias across New England. This work is vital to our students’ health and is integral to buoying our local seafood economy. If you see a School Lunch Hero today, make sure to thank them! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eDRUuFT3

It’s #WorldTunaDay! You can feel good about eating Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from the Gulf of Maine — it's one of the most carefully managed tuna fisheries in the world! Check out how we work with partners to address sustainability misconceptions about this delicious fish: https://lnkd.in/ehSFXW8d

Join Gulf of Maine Ventures and The Roux Institute at Northeastern University for our inaugural Blue w(AI)ve Venture Showcase! In 2024, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute's ventures arm partnered with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute to launch The Blue w(AI)ve Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind 16-week accelerator program focused on the intersection of two rapidly-emerging economic sectors: artificial intelligence (AI) and the blue economy. This Blue w(AI)ve Accelerator, in partnership with the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University, supports seven early-stage companies leveraging AI for ocean-based solutions around the world. On May 23, you can dive into the future of ocean innovation at the first ever Blue w(AI)ve Venture Showcase, where the seven participating companies will showcase their groundbreaking innovations in leveraging artificial intelligence for ocean-based solutions. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/du5C9e49 #BlueEconomy #BlueTech Maine Technology Institute #Accelerator #Startups #ArtificialIntelligence

📣 Upcoming Event 📣 Alewife will be flowing through Maine waterways on their annual spawning run soon! Join us and Presumpscot Regional Land Trust on a guided walk along their migration route and learn about the important role this fascinating fish plays in our ecosystem, as well as the challenges they face in a changing environment. 🗓️ June 4 🕙 10 AM 📍Mill Brook Preserve Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/e7ie8xHW

Still feeding off the excitement from last week! Congratulations to this year's winners of the Portland Museum of Art's #TidalShift youth climate art competition, which is made possible by King Philanthropies. Our Climate Center Director, Dr. Dave Reidmiller enjoyed serving as a juror once again this year, forging deeper connections between the climate and arts communities. Check out the winning artwork! https://lnkd.in/g2ZHGK_3