The Maine Mobile BIOLAB is making a stop at the University of Maine at Presque Isle in July, giving local middle school students the chance to take part in fun STEM-themed lessons and the local community a sneak peek into what happens inside one of the most unique mobile education units in the state. As part of the visit, UMPI will host a Community Night on Tuesday, July 8, 5-7 p.m. in the Gentile Hall parking lot, featuring tours of the BIOLAB and an ice-cream making activity. To add to the festivities, the UMPI Community Night will also include lawn games, food trucks, live music, face painting, a pet-a-pony opportunity, a theater-pop up, and free ice cream.
The Maine Mobile BIOLAB brings hands-on, no-cost STEM learning to students across Maine—sparking curiosity and creativity through real-world bioscience challenges that not only foster teamwork and problem-solving but also allow kids to explore bioscience and engineering. Consistent with its commitment to support student success and build a STEM workforce, this visit to Presque Isle is in partnership with the University of Maine System.
During the week of July 7-11, two educators with the Maine Mobile BIOLAB will deliver lessons to groups of middle school students from throughout central Aroostook County. During their lesson, titled The “Fizz”-ics of Motion, students will design and launch bottle rocket trucks powered by science (or, a baking soda and vinegar reaction). During their high-energy, hands-on adventure, students will race, redesign, and experiment while uncovering the secrets of Newton’s Laws of motion and chemical propulsion.
During the July 8 UMPI Community Night, the whole region will be able to get in on the fun. The BIOLAB will be open for tours and visitors can participate in a Science of Ice Cream STEM activity, exploring the chemistry of freezing points, states of matter, and emulsions and learning how tiny particles, trapped air, and freezing temperatures come together to form a favorite summer treat.
Also on site will be lawn games, face painting by local pageant royalty, a pet-a-pony opportunity with Freya the mini-horse from East of Eden Stables, and live music by Larry Feinstein and the Aroostook Catz. In addition, the County Community Players will host a theater pop-up event just a short walk away at UMPI’s Gauvin Family Center for Cultural Arts in Wieden Hall. The group will be featuring acts from its summer show Backstage Pass: A Musical Journey, with shows in Gauvin Auditorium on Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m. For those looking for food options, there will be popcorn, free ice cream from Big Red’s Sweet Treats food truck, and food trucks including Cheri’s Wiener Wagon, Northern Maine Soda Wagon, Mami’s Spanish Kitchen, and Smoky D’s BBQ.
This event is free and open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Melissa Lizotte, (207) 768-9452, melissa.m.lizotte@maine.edu.