Maine Science Podcast

By Kate Dickerson, Maine Discovery MuseumSociety & Culture Science Technology

Maine Science Podcast episodes

October 08 Megan Hess (public works)
Megan's science background focused on aquatic entomology and she entered town government work as an environmental specialist handling stormwater management and invasive species removal. Megan become the Director of Public Works for the Town of Orono in July 2026, and she leans into both her educational and work experience in science in this role.
This conversation was recorded in August 2026.
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The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
27 min
September 17 Logan Johnson (forestry nonprofit)
Logan is the Executive Director of the Maine Tree Foundation, a role he has been in since 2022. Logan grew up in Calais and discovered a passion for plants, and then forests, while studying biology and then forestry at the University of Maine. Logan and his team at the Maine Tree Foundation provide education about sustainable forestry and enhancing public awareness about the importance of Maine's forest resources.
This conversation was recorded in July 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
30 min
August 27 Karyn Sporer (criminology)
Karyn is an Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Maine. She earned her Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is an expert in qualitative and life history research methods, with a focus on hidden and marginalized populations. Her recent work examines violent extremism and terrorism prevention, emphasizing the experiences of family members of individuals involved in ideological extremism and targeted violence. Karyn's research is grounded in in-depth life history interviews with family members, allowing her to examine early warning signs, non-ideological risk factors, and how families and communities respond when they see someone mobilizing toward violence. Her work has informed policy and practice at the federal, state, and local levels, and she is a core member of Maine’s Threat Assessment Group, where she contributes research-based insights to prevention and early intervention efforts.
Karyn was one of this year’s 5 Minute Genius speakers at the 2026 Maine Science Festival.
This conversation was recorded in June 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
37 min
August 06 Jason Bubier (genetics & microbiome)
Jason is a Senior Research Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory who's work sits at the intersection of genetics, behavior, and public health, His career has been shaped by curiosity about why individuals respond so differently to addictive substances. Jason's research investigates the biological bases of drug addiction and risk for opioid overdose.
Jason was one of this year’s 5 Minute Genius speakers at the 2026 Maine Science Festival.
This conversation was recorded in May 2026.

~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
39 min
July 16 Julia Brown (ocean viruses)
Julia is a Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, where she has been working on ocean science research since 2016. Her current research aims to characterize the diversity and roles of marine viruses and microbes in order to better understand their activity within climate relevant ecosystems, such as the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and large marine oxygen minimum zones.
Julia was one of this year’s 5 Minute Genius speakers at the 2026 Maine Science Festival.
The New York Times featured Julia's work in 2020: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/science/virus-eaters-protists.html.
This conversation was recorded in May 2026.

~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
35 min
June 25LeAnn Whitney (phytoplankton molecular ecologist)
LeAnn is a phytoplankton molecular ecologist, or, according to her daughter, a phytoplankton nerd. LeAnn grew up in Machias, and thanks to her participation in the Keller BLOOM Program at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences as a junior in high school, she found her love for plankton and studying the ocean for a living. After receiving her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Rhode Island in 2012, LeAnn returned to Maine - first as a postdoctoral researcher at Bigelow and in 2018, joining the faculty at Maine Maritime Academy.
LeAnn was one of this year’s 5 Minute Genius speakers at the 2026 Maine Science Festival.
Some definitions of the terms used during our conversation:
eukaryotic - organisms whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.

prokaryotic cells - organisms that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus

phytoplankton - mostly microscopic, single-celled photosynthetic organisms that live suspended in water. They form the base of the food chain and like all plants, take up carbon dioxide, make carbohydrates using light energy, and release oxygen. Additional information can be found at https://www.whoi.edu/ocean-learning-hub/ocean-topics/ocean-life/ocean-plants/phytoplankton/ and https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/what-are-phytoplankton/.

diatoms & dinoflagellates - types of phytoplankton
This conversation was recorded in May 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
36 min
June 04 Jessica Pawlak (biochemistry)
Jessica has had a cool path in biochemistry, with work in both academia and industry, as well as an internship at the National Institutes of Health. She is the Director of New Product Development at LCG Clinical Diagnostics, where she oversees the R&D department.
In addition to her work at LCG Clinical Diagnostics, Jessica has been an enthusiastic volunteer for both the Maine Science Festival and the Bioscience Association of Maine's Bioscience Day.
This conversation was recorded in May 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
40 min
May 14 Jane Disney (environmental health & education)
Jane found her way to science via her high school biology class and earned her PhD studying trout and salmon evolution. After research positions at Washington State University and The Jackson Laboratory, Jane transitioning to teaching high school biology, which she did for for 10 years. She then launched the MDI Water Quality Coalition and later joined MDI Biolab to focus on environmental health research, particularly investigating arsenic and PFAS contamination in drinking water.
This conversation was recorded in March 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
45 min
April 23 Matt Mahoney (computational scientist)
Matt is a Principal Computational Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory. Trained as a mathematician, Matt then moved into the area of systems biology - driven by a lifelong curiosity and the opportune timing of the 2009 financial crisis. He is currently working on two main projects: studying aging biology and understanding mechanisms of cardiotoxicity for drugs.
This conversation was recorded in March 2026
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
46 min
April 03 Kelley Strout (nursing)
Kelley is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Maine, and her research focuses on addressing burnout for nursing students, faculty, and staff. Under her leadership, UMaine Nursing was ranked by U.S. News and Reports in the top 11% of baccalaureate of science in nursing programs nationwide, and in 2022, she received the Presidential Award for Public Engagement at UMaine.
This conversation was recorded in January 2026.
~~~~~
The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.

The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.

To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate.

Find us online:
Maine Discovery Museum
Maine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky YouTube
Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
© 2026 Maine Discovery Museum
44 min