PORT CLYDE — Herring Gut Learning Center has promoted Georgie Burruss to the position of Coordinator of Educational Programs. Burruss joined the Herring Gut Learning Center staff in 2018 as an Aquaculture and Marine Science Educator. In her new position she will coordinate all educational programs provided to youth, educators and community members.

Georgie Burruss grew up in Massachusetts where she spent summers sailing on Farm Pond and exploring the rocky coast of Cape Ann. While she attended Tufts University, earning her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies, she traveled to The Bahamas and Costa Rica to conduct research in both terrestrial and marine systems. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Burruss moved to The Bahamas to work at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, working in marine research, education, and outreach.

During this time, Burruss studied spawning migrations of bonefish, a popular catch-and-release fishing target. In 2018, she earned her Master’s of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University; her research centered on using acoustic telemetry to track bonefish migrations around the island of Eleuthera to locate reproductive habitat. During her time at MSU, Georgie gained more teaching experience in biology and led a study abroad program to the Cape Eleuthera Institute.

According to Herring Gut, in a news release, Burruss is able to draw on her experience of teaching research classes to high school students at the Island School and teaching introductory and marine biology to MSU undergraduate students. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

In her free time, she enjoys trail running, canoeing tending to her collection of more than 100 houseplants, and exploring Midcoast Maine with her dog, Cooper.

Since 1999, Herring Gut Learning Center has provided hands-on experiences in aquaculture and marine science. Programs have historically been provided on the unique 3 acre campus located in Port Clyde, within schools and at community sites. When partner school districts started remote schooling in the spring of 2020, the organization quickly adapted to the provision of virtual instruction and provision of resources for use by educators and families, staying true to Herring Gut Learning Center’s touchstones of “Learn, Discover, Grow”.   

“Please visit Herring Gut’s website https://herringgutlearningcenter.org/ to learn more and support us!” said the Learning Center.