Collins, King Announce $1.35 Million in Funding for Maine Math and Science Alliance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $1.35 million in grant funding to the Maine Math and Science Alliance (MMSA) to develop an online learning community that explores the impact of weather and climate along the coast.

“The Maine Math and Science Alliance continues to build on innovative science and technology opportunities around the state, and this project will empower students, teachers, and others to become scientific observers in their own right,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will support MMSA’s pioneering online initiative to foster information sharing between scientists and members of the community as they work to better understand the impact that weather and climate have on Maine’s coastal communities.”

This grant funding will support the development of the Next Generation WeatherBlur Project, an online community for students (K-8), teachers, fishermen and interested community members. Using the online forum, members of the public can study and comment on local weather that will provide important feedback and data for scientists.

The Maine Math and Science Alliance is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and policy. MMSA works to advance STEM education in Maine and across the nation and establish relationships among schools, organizations, individuals, and communities to further this mission.

The funding has been awarded through the NSF’s Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies program.