Aquatic Systems is one of USM’s research thrusts in the biosciences. The Aquatic Systems Group is administratively centered in the School of Applied Science and Engineering, but the group includes collaborating faculty, staff and students from several schools and departments throughout the university, including the School of Applied Science and Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Muskie School for Public Service, and Lewiston-Auburn College. The group has its headquarters in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute building at 350 Commercial Street on the Portland waterfront. At this site, USM is co-located with scientists from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System, and the University of Maine’s School of Marine Science. The building totals approximately 45,000 square feet of offices, laboratories, educational facilities, meeting rooms and other support space.
The Aquatic Systems Group hosts graduate students and undergraduate students from several USM departments (Biology, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Geography & Anthropology), and also visiting scientists and summer interns from outside the university.