Lydia grew up in Bangor and has been immersed in mechanical engineering since entering college at the University of Maine. A four-year varsity athlete, Lydia was was UMaine's co-valedictorian in 2024, and in her graduate work has focused on textile properties, blending her love of running with interest in engineering.

This conversation was recorded in April 2025.

~~~~~

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

Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram

© 2025 Maine Discovery Museum

Damian grew up in Brooklyn, NY and found his way into marine science and then to Maine. His research is broad, covering aquaculture, seaweeds, and kelp, and using oceanographic tools to help make decisions about aquaculture projects.

Damian was one of the 5 Minute Genius™ speakers at this past year’s Maine Science Festival; you can see his talk on our YouTube channel.The link to the paper about kelp that recently made the cover of Science: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt6788

This conversation was recorded in May 2025.

~~~~~

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

Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram

© 2025 Maine Discovery Museum

Susan Hunter is a farmer who lives in Unity, Maine. She and her husband were longtime dairy farmers, and after her husband passed away Sue turned to hay farming. A few years ago, testing of her soil - which she talks about in this conversation - revealed that her land was heavily contaminated with PFAS - human made organofluorine chemical compounds that are known as forever-chemicals. Sue decided to partner with researchers from UMaine and then other organizations, to find out ways that PFAS contamination can be addressed. That research is ongoing today.

Sue was part of the 2025 Maine Science Festival, on a session we held about PFAS research.

This conversation was recorded in June 2025.

~~~~~

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

Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Maine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram

© 2025 Maine Discovery Museum