MAINE SCIENCE AWARDS | MaineDiscoveryMuseum

Science is everywhere in Maine. It is in our forests and our fisheries, our hospitals and our classrooms, our startups and our shorelines. And the people advancing it deserve to be celebrated.

Join us on October 15th in Bangor for the inaugural Maine Science Awards, a formal evening of cocktails, dinner, and heartfelt recognition honoring the scientists, innovators, researchers, and advocates who are making Maine a better, smarter, and more curious place. Presented by Hollywood Casino, this is an evening designed to inspire, connect, and remind us all of the remarkable work happening right here in our own state.

We will be recognizing outstanding honorees across five award categories: Lifetime Achievement, Innovation, Impact, Surprising Science, and Advancing Trust in Science. Each award reflects a different way that science shapes our world and the remarkable people behind that work.

This is the first of what we know will become an annual tradition. A night that brings together Maine's scientific community and the people who champion it, to shine a spotlight on excellence and send everyone home a little more inspired.

Recognizing excellence in science, innovation, and discovery across the state of Maine.

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Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor

Lifetime Achievement - Dr. Ivan Fernandez, PhD

Honors an individual whose long‑term contributions have fundamentally advanced science in Maine and inspired the next generation. This award honors not just the discoveries themselves, but the sustained curiosity, perseverance, and leadership that defined an entire career.

Dr. Ivan Fernandez, PhD — Professor Emeritus of Soil Science and Climate Research Scientist at the University of Maine, Dr. Fernandez has spent more than four decades studying the biogeochemistry of Maine's forests and advising the state on climate policy, including as co-chair of the Maine Climate Council's Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.

Innovation - MEDRhythms

Celebrates and honors an individual or organization who has used science as the foundation for a new business or approach to solving a problem that has heretofore been unsolved. This award goes to those who dared to think differently and, in doing so, opened doors that didn't exist before.

MEDRhythms — A Portland-based digital therapeutics company that combines sensors, software, and music to help people recovering from stroke, Parkinson's disease, and other neurologic conditions improve their walking and mobility through a patented, FDA-recognized technology platform.

Innovation Award Sponsor

Impact - FMI

Recognizes an individual or organization whose work has used science, engineering, or technology and made a positive impact on improving life in Maine and beyond. This award recognizes science that didn't just advance knowledge but made the world tangibly better.

FMI — A Biddeford manufacturer with over 50 years of experience producing advanced composite materials, Fiber Materials Inc. supplies thermal protection systems and components used on NASA missions and national defense platforms, employing hundreds of Mainers in high-tech manufacturing.

Surprising Science - Dove Tail Bats

Celebrates a person or organization whose work relies heavily on science concepts and applying them, and whose work is focused outside of the “normal” places people usually associated with science.

Dove Tail Bats — Based in Shirley, Maine, Dove Tail Bats applies precision science and engineering to the craft of baseball, using Maine hardwood and cutting-edge scanning technology to produce bats used by professional players across Major League Baseball.

Advancing Trust in Science - Dr. Elisabeth Marnik, PhD

Awarded to an organization or individual who advances public understanding and trust in science. This award recognizes those who help people understand not just what science finds, but how it works and why it matters that we trust the process.

Dr. Elisabeth Marnik, PhD — Founder of Science Whiz Liz, Executive Director of The Evidence Collective and Chief Scientific Officer of Those Nerdy Girls, Dr. Marnik is a nationally recognized science communicator, dedicated to making science and public health accessible to everyday audiences.