LANDER, Wyoming — Katherine Derrey, 20, of Camden, completed a wilderness expedition traveling in Patagonia with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Derrey’s semester in Patagonia took place more than 79 days alongside 16 students and 10 instructors.

Before heading into the mountains, the course participants spent time with a local family sharing stories and learning about their culture.

Over the next 30 days, Derrey and her coursemates traveled 36 miles and gained 11,482 feet of elevation during the mountain section. Students developed a broad range of leadership skills that consisted of communication which helped them cross rivers and snow covered glaciers. Building a cohesive environment in the mountain section was a key foundation in dealing with bad weather, for example, when wind speeds forced them into snow caves.

The students developed competence in their technical and leadership skills which led them into a three-day independent travel section without instructors.

After a successful first section, the semester students traveled to southern Patagonia for their sea kayaking expedition. Derrey covered 149 miles in dynamic water conditions testing their new sea kayaking skills. Each student became the leader of the day and was in charge of the decision making throughout that day.

The students stayed motivated during this section and were inspired when arriving at Glaciar San Rafael.

Ending the days with environmental discussions, the course became interested in all aspects of the NOLS curriculum and finished the course as one team.

The students succeeded on all aspects of the trip and took this opportunity to develop strong leadership skills that will guide them through future life pursuits.

Maine Maritime Academy receives grant for fuel-efficient lobster boat hull design design

CASTINE — Maine Maritime Academy has received a grant of $75,312 from the Maine Economic Improvement Fund Small Campus Initiative to complete research and development of a lobster boat hull that increases fuel efficiency. Now in its fourth year of design and scale-model trials, the multi-year collaboration between MMA and the Penobscot East Resource Center will be focused on completing the R and D phase of a trimaran design that significantly reduces fuel use and pollution, while maintaining the large deck capacity needed for commercial lobster fishing.

Douglas Read, associate professor of engineering at Maine Maritime Academy said in a news release: "Our research began with interviewing lobster fishermen to understand their requirements." We then designed and tested various scale-model solutions, and our students collected and evaluated that data. Now, we are proving hydrodynamic benefits of our ultimate concept, a trimaran design. We're optimizing the design, and testing it under varying conditions in larger-scale versions."

The MEIF-SCI grant will position MMA and PERC to complete the design and engineering work necessary to be able to engage with multiple builders, according to the news release. The project goals for the research grant include: the use of free running models to complete seakeeping and maneuvering analysis; refining stability analysis of the design; confirming final hydrodynamic performance; and conducting detailed strength analysis.

Ultimately, a full-scale prototype of an optimized trimaran design will be built and tested.

"The result of this project will be an innovative hull design that reduces emissions, which could have significant long-term impacts on the sustainability of the Maine lobster fishing fleet," said Robin Alden, executive director of the Penobscot East Resource Center in the news release.

A sustainable future for fisheries and fishing communities in Eastern Maine and beyond is part of the PERC mission. 

UMaine receives $800,000 for Maine Sea Grant Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Maine Sea Grant Program at the University of Maine will receive $798,312 in grant funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support its research, education, and outreach efforts done on behalf of Maine's coastal communities.

"Maine's coastal communities are a vital part of our economy," said U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint statement. "We are pleased NOAA has invested these funds in Maine Sea Grant, which will enable to them continue their important work as a resource and advocate for communities up and down the Maine coast."

Designated as a Sea Grant College, the University of Maine is one of 33 NOAA Sea Grant Programs throughout the coastal and Great Lakes states.

This award is part of Sea Grant's regular funding in a four year cycle that extends to 2018.