Aquatic Invaders in Maine (AIM) was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as a one-year curriculum development program for middle and high school students and teachers. The program began with a 5-day teachers’ professional development institute in June 2007, and ran through the 2007-2008 school year in participating teachers’ classrooms. The goal of the program was to augment science education in Maine’s middle and high schools by integrating aquatic invasive species and biodiversity science concepts and field experiences with existing curricula, and empowering students to help aquatic scientists by learning how to collect meaningful environmental data.

Maine Sea Grant and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension coordinated the program, working closely with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute as a program partner. Guest lecturers from the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, MIT Sea Grant, the Maine Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants (MCIAP), and the Maine Natural Areas Program contributed additional expertise and field experiences.

To read more about the June 2007 professional development institute, please visit the program Blog at: http://aimmaine.blogspot.com/ 

During the 2007-2008 participating teachers worked with AIM program staff to develop and test a collection of new classroom- and field-based lessons that address middle and high school science content standards related to biodiversity, adaptation, competition, ecosystems, science methods, and science communication. 

For more information, please contact Beth Bisson or Esperanza Stancioff.