EDUCATION
Maine Principals’ Association 2002 Science and Technology Fair
The Maine Science and Technology Foundation supports the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) annual science and technology fair. The 2002 Maine Science and Technology Fair will be held on May 11, 2002, at the University of Maine. It is open to all high school students in MPA member schools. Projects can feature either (1) a talk or demonstration on original research or application or (2) an exhibit of scientific experimentation or an application of technological principals. The fair will offer a 9th and 10th grade level of competition as well as an 11th and 12th grade level. Applications for the 2002 fair are due March 25, 2002. A starter kit is available.
Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS)
MERITS is a paid, six-week summer internship program for K-12 science and mathematics teachers and high school and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science and engineering. Interns are exposed to practical research and development opportunities in private companies and nonprofit laboratories and institutions. Funding for MERITS is provided by MSTF as well as two private foundation grants awarded in 1999. Since its inception in 1992, a total of 163 students and teachers throughout Maine have participated in the MERITS program. Partners include the Foundation for Blood Research and numerous host companies and research laboratories.
Learning Results in Action
MSTF and the Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance initiated this design challenge competition for middle school students to practice and celebrate their innovation skills in alignment with Maine’s Learning Results.
Odyssey of the Mind
MSTF is the lead sponsor for this innovation challenge that attracts 8000 students each year.
RESEARCH
Marine Research Connectivity
MSTF administers $1 million of the 1998 Research & Development Bond to increase Maine’s marine research capacity.
Nonprofit Laboratory Strategy
This strategy is a collaborative effort to address the needs and to utilize the assets of Maine’s five nonprofit research laboratories. Partners include Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the Foundation for Blood Research, the Jackson Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, and the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.
COMMERCIALIZATION
Research & Development Challenge Grant and Marine Technology Fund Programs
The R&D Challenge Grant and Marine Technology Fund Programs are one-time, bond-financed research capacity-building initiatives designed to strengthen the equipment, telecommunications and facilities needs of Maine’s private, nonprofit and educational R&D community. MSTF, through the Research Capacity Committee, has granted $2.5 million to 20 applicants, leveraging an additional $4.6 million. In 2000, MSTF will issue another solicitation for an additional $1 million in Marine Technology Fund grants.
INFORMATION & ADVOCACY
Maine Innovation Index 2002
The Maine Innovation Index 2002 updates and expands the original 1998 Maine Science & Technology Report Card. It offers 71 primary and secondary indicators that measure aspects of Maine’s innovation economy. By tracking this data over time, the Index presents a historical view of Maine’s evolving capacity to compete in the new economy.
Maine’s Research & Development Evaluation Project
In 1999 the legislature authorized MSTF to undertake a comprehensive five-year evaluation that focuses on three questions:
- How competitive is Maine’s publicly funded R&D and has the state’s competitiveness improved over time?
- What is the impact of Maine’s R&D investment on the development of Maine’s R&D industry?
- What is the impact of Maine’s R&D investment on the level of innovation and innovation-based economic development?
-
MSTF’s Initial Evaluation of Maine’s Public Investments in Research and Development represents the first stage in that five-year study.
1998 Maine Science & Technology Report Card
The Maine Science & Technology Report Card is an assessment tool to inform the public and policymakers on Maine’s progress towards achieving its science and technology benchmarks. MSTF produced and distributed the inaugural edition of the Report Card in February 1999 which features 19 economic indicators to measure innovation and economic growth in science and technology. MSTF will update the Report Card annually.
Maine’s Science & Technology Action Plan
Maine’s Science & Technology Action Plan is the State’s action plan for the application of science and technology in education, research and commerce to improve Maine’s economy. It is supportive of the State’s overall economic development strategic outline. First published in 1997, the Plan will be updated every two years to reflect Maine’s changing science and technology-based economic development programs.
will be Maine’s comprehensive, interactive, web-based science and technology information resource for education, research and development, business development, workforce needs and demands and commercialization opportunities.
Technology Park at the Great State of Maine Airshow
In 1999, MSTF produced the first Technology Park at the Great State of Maine Airshow, a new initiative which provided a showcase of Maine’s innovative technologies to over 100,000 citizens and visitors to the state. Funded entirely with private sponsorships, the Technology Park received generous support from Bath Iron Works, Wright Express, Maine Space Grant Consortium, Fairchild Semiconductor, Morpheus Technologies, Interface Monthly Magazine and Cianbro Corporation. Partners include Brunswick Naval Air Station.
The Road to Innovation
MSTF President Joel Russ’ statewide tour of science- and technology-based businesses during the summer and fall of 1998 highlighted the quality research and innovation taking place throughout Maine.
Maine Academy of Science and Engineering
The Maine Academy of Science and Engineering, modeled after the National Academy of Sciences, will be, if approved for one-time funding, a membership-driven organization that will provide scientific and technical advice to the Executive and Legislative branches of State government.
Airborne Remote Sensing Project
The Airborne Remote Sensing Project is the result of a Memorandum of agreement among the U.S. Navy, the State of Maine, the University of Maine, and MSTF. The project utilizes the Navy’s remote sensing technology to increase the productivity of Maine’s natural resource-based industries and to strengthen the environmental management of Maine’s natural resources.
Other State Science & Technology Initiatives
Maine EPSCoR
The Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Maine EPSCoR) is a federal-state partnership designed to enhance Maine’s science and engineering infrastructure. MSTF facilitated the creation of an EPSCoR management and administrative partnership between the University of Maine System and the Research Capacity Committee (RCC). MSTF serves as host to the RCC, a statewide steering committee of 17 individuals from Maine’s education, research, and business communities and State Government. During the past 5 years, the RCC has invested $7 million of state funds in building Maine’s research and development capacity which has leveraged an additional $22 million in federal and institutional funding.
Maine Space Grant Consortium
The Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is one of 52 affiliates of NASA’s national space grant program designed to strengthen the nation’s aerospace-related research and education infrastructure. After 9 years as serving as host and fiscal agent for MSGC, MSTF spun it off as a separate 501 (c) (3) in the summer of 2000. Since 1991, the MSGC has received a total of $800,000 from the State and has leveraged an additional $1.5 million from NASA. These funds have been invested in 21 nonprofit and educational organizations throughout Maine.