The discussion brought to the table many different perspectives and interests and was respectful and thoughtful. This is a significant piece of the mission of UMA, to engage and educate the community about important issues that people will have to address at some point in their lives. And it is likely that everyone will have […]

In life, everything is interconnected. One might use knowledge one learned in math class and English class in order to solve a problem in the grocery store. Not everything is divided up into neat sections in the world outside classrooms. Because of that simple truth, the University of Maine at Augusta’s academic theme for this […]

America is facing a shortage of college graduates. That notion probably doesn’t seem all that plausible to college grads who are underemployed or unemployed, yet the shortage is real. The U.S. can expect a shortfall of 11 million skilled workers over the next 10 years, according to a recent study by Georgetown University’s Center on […]

At the start of each school year I find myself asking, “What is the one thing I want my students to walk away with from my classes if they learn nothing else?” Certainly, there are learning outcomes each class needs to achieve, but I often wonder what larger context my teaching might offer. This year […]

When we learn how cruelly people can treat one another, it’s tempting for us to think we are exempt from the trend. Every year, students in my Introduction to Sociology class at the University of Maine at Augusta review data from Stanley Milgram’s chilling classic shock experiment, in which 65 percent of subjects followed orders to deliver […]

In junior high, I truly discovered a love for science and I took every advanced science and math class I could throughout high school. Two years of high school chemistry class lead me to declaring myself a chemistry major before I even arrived at the small liberal arts college where I studied. Over the years […]

Two of the many bills debated in the Maine State Legislature this past year have far-reaching ethical and political implications. I want to address the recently passed bill allowing concealed weapons to be carried in Maine without a permit. In a later post, I’ll discuss Sen. Roger Katz’s right-to-die bill. The benefit of being on a […]

I’ve always enjoyed being part of a team, and this past weekend was no exception. As a member of the Student Government Association at the University of Maine at Augusta, I’m allowed to be a part of a group of people working to serve our fellow students. The SGA is an organization that works as […]

“When am I going to use math in real life?” It is tempting to answer, “Never!” However, in truth leaders in all sorts of fields use mathematics to understand and thereby control the world. Their knowledge builds their power. For an example of the practical power of math, let’s turn to the recently adjourned 127th […]