Faculty, researchers, artists, and students from across the University of Maine System gathered in Portland on April 10, 2026, for the second annual Blue Humanities Forum. The event explored connections among the arts, humanities, marine science, ecology, and geology, while featuring new approaches to ocean-centered research and teaching.
The event featured keynote speaker Professor Steve Mentz, English Department, St. John’s University, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and curriculum conversations focused on the blue humanities, an area that connects environmental humanities with marine and coastal studies.
Sessions addressed topics ranging from climate resilience and soundscapes to interdisciplinary pedagogy and public-facing scholarship.
The Blue Humanities Forum facilitates a reorientation of scholarly practice toward collaborative, publicly engaged, and ecologically attuned modes of research and teaching.
A recap of the event is available at UMaine MARINE.