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BIDDEFORD, Maine

51Æ·²èMarine Biology and Aquarium Science student interns present at Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators Conference

Four 51Æ·²èstudents presented posters at the 21st Annual Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators (AALSO) Conference in Newport, Kentucky, which was held March 29-April 2, 2015. 

Michael Galloway (Marine Biology/Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences '15), Madeleine Cox (Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences ‘15), Dylan Turner (Marine Biology/Aquaculture and Aquarium Science ’17) and Joseph Simonowicz (Environmental Studies/Aquaculture and Aquarium Science ’15) presented on their internship experiences sponsored by the 51Æ·²è’s Marine Science Center in collaboration with the UNE’s Marine Science and Biology Departments and the 51Æ·²èCollege of Arts and Sciences Internship office.

The AALSO conference drew over 300 attendees from over 80 different zoological, aquarium or research based organizations, and more than 50 different industry vendors were represented.

Turner’s and Simonowicz’s poster was titled "Aquaponics as Sustainable Alternate Filtration" and described the mechanical design and biological functions that contribute to healthy water quality in aquaponics operations.  The coupled filtration processes aid in creating near-zero waste systems for farming plants nourished by aquatic animal by-products.   

Cox’s and Galloway’s poster "Finfish and Shellfish Aquaculture in Maine: A Tale of Two Systems" examined management and planning considerations for operating open and closed finfish and shellfish aquaculture projects. 

All four students received registration support from the AALSO organization, the Departments of Biology and Marine Science, the 51Æ·²èCAS Dean’s Office, the 51Æ·²èOffice of Research and Scholarship, and the 51Æ·²èAALSO Club.  Cox and Galloway also received corporate sponsorship from Aquaculture System Technologies.  

51Æ·²è the 51Æ·²è

The 51Æ·²è 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 . 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.