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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE neuroscience seminar covered by the 'Portland Press Herald' and local television stations

The University of New England's Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences hosted Jeremy Richman, Ph.D., on August 12 to present a seminar entitled “Brain Health and the Science of Violence.” Richman also met privately with UNE medical students and faculty on the Biddeford Campus. 

Shortly after losing his daughter Avielle in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, Richman, a neuroscientist, and his wife Jennifer Hensel, a multi-disciplinary scientist, founded The Avielle Foundation in their daughter's memory. The foundation’s mission is to advance brain research and education in the hopes of gaining the understanding to prevent such future tragedies.     

The Portland Press Herald devoted a front-page article to the seminar and the foundation's mission on August 13, while  WCSH-6 TV and WMTW-8 TV included stories about the seminar on their August 12 evening news broadcasts. The Channel 6 report also appeared on New England Cable Network News (NECN).

The Press Herald article focuses on the developing partnership between UNE and the Avielle Foundation, citing the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences’ K-12 outreach program as one avenue through which UNE and the foundation may collaborate.

Ian Meng, Ph.D., UNE professor of biomedical sciences and director of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, is quoted in the article, describing the practically endless possibilities that currently exist in the field of brain research. The article also quotes Ed Bilsky, Ph.D., UNE professor of pharmacology and vice president for research and scholarship, whose friendship with Richman dates back to their time together on the University of Arizona campus as graduate students.

To read the Press Herald article, click here.

To watch the Channel 6 report, click here.

To watch the Channel 8 report, click here.

About the University of New England

The University of New England 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 flexible, accredited online degrees. 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.