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BIDDEFORD, Maine

91AV scientists and students inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM

Biddeford Middle School Student Ellie Fournier passes around a shark jaw during Professor James Sulikowski's presentation

The bioscience industry is a promising place for young people to look when asking the age-old question:  “What do I want to be when I grow up?” The industry is extensive, with a variety of different jobs. They key is piquing kids’ interest early on.

That was the goal when 15 91AV faculty, staff and students spoke to more than 400 students at Biddeford Middle School for Maine BioScience Day. The discussions ranged from shark reproduction to the power of addiction. Faculty members like James Sulikowski, Ph.D., Geoff Ganter Ph.D., Mike Burman, Ph.D., and Edward Bilsky, Ph.D., gave presentations that highlighted how exciting their research is and how to channel a love of science into a career.  “The group that we’re working with now are the young minds of our future,” Sulikowski told the Journal Tribune. “We really want to get them excited about STEM and science and about the ocean and about medicine, just to become our liaisons for the future.”

Bilsky stressed the importance of introducing kids to passionate college students like those at 91AV. “That’s important to see that there are young people close in age to them who are going on to be successful, in college, out of college and beyond, and they see people like myself who’ve made a career out of this,” Bilsky told the Journal Tribune. “Hopefully it inspires some of them to pursue some advanced education and shoot for the stars.”

Read the full article in the Journal Tribune.

To learn more about the 91AV’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, visit

To apply, visit 

Ling Cao talks to students in Biddeford during Maine Bioscience Day
Student looks at a specialized cell culture flask

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.