Shaw Institute

Home
United States
Blue Hill, ME
Shaw Institute

Improving human and ecological health through innovative science and global partnerships
(2)

09/03/2026

Have you noticed something new outside our doors? Shaw Institute has brand-new, updated exterior signage, making it easier than ever to find us!

A huge thank you to Banner City in Bucksport, Maine, for their fantastic work creating and installing these signs. This project was made possible through the generous support of Martha and Alan Blume.

Every donation to the Shaw Institute goes directly toward creating an engaging, vibrant environment for our local community and visitors. Generosity like this helps us continue expanding our educational spaces and research efforts.

Come check out the new look in person! While you’re here, explore our Environmental Education Center and discover the fascinating local marine life on display.

📍 Location: 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME
🕒 Hours: Wednesday – Saturday | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

We can't wait to see you! 🦞🐟

09/01/2026

Tonight! Join us for an eye-opening conversation on plastic pollution with our very own Dr. Charlie Rolsky, hosted by the Wilson Museum. 🌎🌊

Dr. Rolsky will cut through the confusion and greenwashing surrounding plastics, diving into critical facts about microplastics, environmental impacts, and what they mean for human health—offering real insights for a more sustainable future.

🗓 Tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 1
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 In-Person: Hutchins Education Center (112 Perkins St, Castine, ME) — Free admission, no registration needed! (Donations welcome)
💻 Virtual: Attend live via Zoom! Register to join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tYKTWN7WRtSl6qRkDRB3lQ

Come learn how evidence-based research can empower our communities and drive global change. We hope to see you there!

08/29/2026

Pop Up Alert! ✨

Hanna B. Designs is back by popular demand! Come shop and play with Hanna B. and special guest Griffin Tyler Art in her iconic pink trailer at the Shaw Institute today, Saturday, August 29, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM! 🛍️🎨

Make a full day of it while you're here—head inside the Environmental Education Center to explore the touch tank and meet the Shaw Institute's fascinating sea critters! 🦞🌊

Bring your friends, shop unique designs, and get hands-on with local marine life. We hope to see you here!

📍 Shaw Institute
🗓️ Saturday, August 29 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

08/26/2026

📬 The August Newsletter is officially out! 🌊✨

Catch up on all the exciting updates, research milestones, and upcoming community events happening at the Shaw Institute:

🦞 Help Name Our Blue Lobster! We narrowed down over 100 community submissions to 6 finalists. Cast your vote to give our rare 1-in-2-million blue lobster a name!

🚀 Meet a NASA Astronaut: Join us on Sept 18 for Oceans to Orbits, featuring special guests NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and astronaut wrangler Christina Korp!

📊 Community Updates: Catch up on Dr. Charlie Rolsky’s recent presentation reflecting on our year’s biggest milestones and how Blue Hill is making global waves in microplastics research.

Plus, read about our new NIH-funded brain microplastics research, upcoming tidepool explorations, coastal cleanups, and local news features!

👇 Read the full newsletter at the link below!
https://mailchi.mp/shawinstitute/newsletter_080326

Subscribe to stay in the loop!
https://shawinstitute.org/news/newsletter/

08/24/2026

Happening Today!

Stop by the Pentagoet Inn & Pub August 24 at 5pm! They will be hosting a cocktail hour and talk by our very own Executive Director & Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Charles Rolsky. It's an event that's sure to be entertaining! We hope to see you there!

📍26 Main St, Castine, Maine 04421
See post for more details!

08/22/2026

New stickers are here!

Stop by our Environmental Education Center to explore our hands-on touch tank, meet our marine life residents, and check out our brand-new sticker collection in the gift shop! Whether you're decorating your water bottle, laptop, or cooler, these new designs are the perfect way to show your love for coastal Maine.

The best part? Every purchase directly supports our vital marine research and local community programs.

Come say hi, dive into local science, and take home a piece of the Shaw Institute! 💙

🗓️ Hours: Wednesday – Saturday | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📍 Location: 55 Main Street, Blue Hill

08/17/2026

From incredible humpback whale sightings right off Cape Rosier to local marine life right here in Blue Hill, there’s so much happening in our coastal waters!

Join us this Tuesday for our free upcoming Community Update event where you can learn more about why these ocean giants are visiting our bays, what it means for our local ecosystem, and how we’re working to protect them and our local communities!

Executive Director Dr. Charles Rolsky will share insights on local marine research during the event, but be sure to stick around after the presentation to explore our touch tank and meet our newest aquarium residents!

🗓️ Tuesday, August 18
⏰ 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Shaw Institute (55 Main Street, Blue Hill)

Enjoy wine and cheese courtesy of the Blue Hill Wine Shop, plus non-alcoholic drinks and light refreshments. 🍷🧀

✨ Free and open to the public!
📌 While there is no cost to attend, pre-registration is kindly requested: ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://shawinstitute.org/event/shaw-institute-updates-on-research-education-and-public-outreach/

Read more about the recent humpback whale sightings in the Brookesville waters here: https://penobscotbaypress.com/articles/highlights-theweeklypacket/humpback-whale-visits-brooksville-waters/

08/15/2026

Celebrate Maine’s maritime roots this weekend at the Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival! 🌊⛵ ⁠
⁠
Head down to the Blue Hill Waterfront and Historic Village today, Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM for a free, family-friendly celebration of our coastal culture and history!⁠
⁠
There’s plenty of activities to participate in and see, from live boat-building demonstrations and hands-on water rides to live music and local seafood, BBQ, and ice pops. You can also explore nautically inspired "Art on the Lawn," drop by the photo booth, and bring the kids to the historic Holt House for face painting!⁠
⁠
Make sure to swing by Shaw Institute’s Environmental Education Center! Step inside to check out their 200-gallon touch tank, view their seahorse display, examine local marine life under a microscope, and learn about the important environmental work protecting our bay! 🔬🐙

08/12/2026

Big news for our local high schoolers! 🌊🔬

We’re teaming up with George Stevens Academy this fall to launch "Introduction to Scientific Research!" A brand-new course where students trade textbook simulations for actual field and lab work!

Taught directly by Shaw Institute Director Dr. Charles Rolsky, who is generously volunteering his time to develop and lead the course, GSA students will get to work alongside working scientists to tackle real environmental issues along our Downeast coastline.

They'll dive into:
🔬 Microplastics analysis
🧪 PFAS ("forever chemicals") in marine mammals
🌊 Local coastal water quality monitoring

Beyond the hands-on science, students will gain career mentorship, resume prep, and even the chance to publish their own findings in scientific journals. It’s proof that world-class scientific innovation happens right here in rural Maine! 🌲✨

Check out the full story in The Rising Tide to learn more about the program and how you can support the next generation of researchers:
https://www.risingtide.media/news1/shaw-institute-gsa-research-class-080426

08/11/2026

🧠🔬 Can microplastics make their way into the human brain?

We are proud to share that the Shaw Institute, alongside a multi-institutional team, has been awarded a $465,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)! This funding allows us to expand crucial research on how micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in human brain tissue and explore their potential links to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Led by Diego Mastroeni at the ASU Biodesign Institute, this groundbreaking collaborative study brings together top researchers from:
Shaw Institute
Arizona State University
Banner Sun Health Research Institue
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Banner Health Alzheimer's Institute
Rush University System for Health

Precision in the Lab: One of the biggest technical challenges in this study is accurately separating microplastics from natural fats in brain tissue. To ensure absolute precision, Shaw Institute Executive Director and project collaborator Dr. Charles Rolsky and our team are cross-checking results across multiple analytical methods—preventing false signals and making sure we detect true plastics.

Together, we’re working to uncover how everyday environmental plastic exposure impacts long-term brain health and advance our understanding of neurodegenerative disease. 🌊✨

Read the full story to learn more about this NIH-backed research: https://news.asu.edu/b/20260805-new-nih-grant-fund-asu-study-microplastics-alzheimers-disease

Address

Blue Hill, ME

Telephone

(207) 374-2135

Website

https://www.shawinstitute.org/donate

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Shaw Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Shaw Institute:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Blue Hill?