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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Local fifth-graders dive into science and mathematics at the University of New England

More than 200 local fifth-grade students from RSU 21 will converge on the University of New England’s (UNE) Biddeford Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., for the third-annual Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival.

Students will engage in a series of mathematic-focused activities during the morning session in the UNE cafeteria, led by mentors and instructors from the RSU 21 school-system. After lunch, students will explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with faculty and staff members from the University of New England. These hands-on activities will examine disciplines such as neuroscience, genetics, marine science and histology.

The purpose of this event, sponsored by the American Institute of Mathematics, is to “inspire students to explore the richness and beauty of mathematics through activities that encourage collaborative, creative problem-solving.” By participating, UNE faculty and staff-members hope to help children foster early interests in math and science-related fields.

“UNE is proud to support the future generation of experts in science and mathematics,” says Ed Bilsky, Ph.D., vice president for research and scholarship, founding director of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences at UNE. “We strive to support the communities that surround us and have been fortunate to strengthen our relationship with RSU 21 over the years. This festival is an exceptional opportunity for students, demonstrating the significant benefit of collaboration between public schools and UNE.”

The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival was founded in 2007 as a way for students to apply mathematical knowledge in an enriching, non-competitive environment. It was named for the late Julia Robinson, a math professor at the University of California. 

For more information about this event, please contact Annie Leslie at aleslie1@une.edu, or call (207) 602-2080.

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.