Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS)

MSGC announces the Summer 2008 Program is now open for High School Students!!

Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) is a program that strengthens research opportunities for Maine's teachers and students interested in science and technology by placing them in laboratory or field settings. Designed around the premise that research is among the best teaching tools, MERITS includes programs for K-12 teachers and preservice teachers, high school students, and college students. The MERITS Program not only forges new collaborations among industry, research, and education in the state, but also serves to strengthen an educational foundation that helps to produce a highly-skilled workforce to meet the needs of Maine businesses and research communities.

High School Program
The program is open to Maine high school Juniors and Seniors.. Eligible students should be considering a possible career in science, technology, mathematics or engineering. Application evaluation will be based upon: interest in pursuing a career in science/technology/math/engineering, teacher recommendation and academic record.  

The high school student program is now open for internship opportunities for the summer of 2008.

Teacher Program
Any classroom teacher (K-12) in a Maine school who has an interest in science, math, engineering or technology may apply. Application evaluation will be based upon interest in science/math/technology/engineering and a letter of endorsement from a principal or department head.

The teacher program is not open this year (summer 2008). MSGC intends to grow the program and offer teacher opportunities in the future.

The college program is not open this year as well, but we intend to offer opportunities to undergraduate students in the future.

2008 MERITS Program Guidelines

2008 MERITS Student Application Package

2008 MERITS FAQ for Students, Teachers and Host Institutions

2008 List of Participating Host Institutions (please keep checking for updates)

2008 MERITS Host Mentor and Institution Guidelines

2008 Host Institution Information Form

Important Dates:

Notice of Intent to apply to the program: November 15, 2007

Student Applications Due: January 17, 2008

Internship Dates: June 23, 2008 to August 8, 2008

Hands-on Experiences

Since its inception in 1992, MERITS has provided summer and school year opportunities to hundreds of teachers and students at more than 70 businesses and non-profit laboratories across Maine. Participants have worked in a wide variety of research areas including: information technology; semiconductor engineering; electrical engineering; environmental studies; molecular genetics; medical research; estuary and ocean science; marine biology; precision manufacturing; geology and soil science; and analytical chemistry.

MERITS interns have enjoyed work opportunities at a wide variety of host organizations. The following is a list of businesses, government offices, and organizations that have participated in the MERITS program in the past. Links to websites are provided where known.

• Affiliated Laboratory, Bangor
• Allied Whale, Bar Harbor
• Artel Corp., Westbrook
• Bates College, Lewiston
• Beals Island Regional Shellfish Hatchery, Beals Island
• Belgrade Lakes Conservation Alliance, Belgrade Lakes
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor
• Bowdoin College, Brunswick
• Binax Corp., Portland
• Brunswick Technologies, Inc., Brunswick
• Camp Kieve, Nobleboro
• Cape Technologies, South Portland
• Capricorn Products, Scarborough
• Casco Bay Estuary Program, Portland
• Champion Paper Company, Bucksport (International Paper)
• Children's Museum of Maine, Portland
• Cobbossee Watershed District
• Colby College, Waterville
• Corning School of Ocean Studies, Castine
• Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole
• Delorme Mapping Company, Yarmouth
• Department of Environmental Protection, Portland
• Department of Marine Resources Aquarium, Boothbay Harbor
• EXPLORE!, Wells
• Fairchild Semiconductor, Portland
• Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough
• Friends of Casco Bay, South Portland
• Gulf of Maine Aquarium, Scarborough
• Husson College Science Department, Bangor
• Immucell Corp., Portland
• Island Institute, Rockland
• The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Albion
• Kennebec Soil and Water Conservation District
• Kieve Science-Camp-for-Girls, Nobleboro
• Lakes Environmental Association, Bridgton
• Maine Atlantic Salmon Authority, Bangor
• Maine Audubon Society, Falmouth
• Maine Composites, Richmond
• Maine Department of Marine Resources, West Boothbay Harbor
• Maine Emergency Management Agency, Augusta
• Maine Geologic Survey, Augusta
• Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
• Maine Medical Center, Portland
• Maine Medical Center Research Institute, S. Portland
• Maine Nature and Science, Castine
• Maine Public Broadcasting, Lewiston
• Maine Science and Technology Foundation, Augusta
• Maine State Planning Office, Augusta
• Maine Yankee, Wiscasset
• Mead Paper Company
• Meduxnekeag River Monitoring Project, Hodgen
• Mook Sea Farms, Damariscotta
• Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
• Nature Conservancy, Brunswick
• North East Laboratories, Winslow
• National Semiconductor, S. Portland
• Phylogix Inc., Scarborough
• Pratt & Whitney, North Berwick
• Science Source, Waldoboro
• SCIENCEWORKS, Scarborough
• S.D. Warren Paper Co., Westbrook
• Shore Stewards, Augusta
• Soil Conservation Service, Houlton
• Spinney Creek Shellfish Hatchery
• Technology Systems, Inc., Brunswick
• Trefoil Corp., Orono
• Quantrix, Portland
• University of Maine, Orono
• University of Maine, Presque Isle
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service
• University of New England, Science Department, Biddeford
• University of Southern Maine, Portland
• Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells
• Wild Salmon Resource Center, Columbia Falls
• Woods End Laboratory, Mt. Vernon

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