



Our Focus Areas
for building a globally competent workforce
Businesses today are looking for employees who have a broad understanding of the diverse, interconnected world beyond their immediate environment and who are able to communicate effectively with people of varying nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The Maine North Atlantic Institute fosters workforce development initiatives that build the global competence of our future workforce through Environmental & Community Health, Cultural Connections, and Economy & Law.

Environmental &
Community Health
We work closely with our partners in Maine and the North Atlantic to strengthen students' understanding of climate change and its broad global effects, its impacts on the community and human health, and its influence on our global, national, and state economy.
Projects
Sustainable Adaptations to Climate & Landscape Change
Firooza Pavri
Courses

Cultural Connections
Employers are looking for creative thinkers who can communicate effectively with people of varying nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The MNAI sponsors initiatives that infuse the liberal arts into business innovation and development, encourage cross-cultural exchange in the visual/performing arts and humanities, open students to our diverse interconnected world, and connect artists with North Atlantic Maritime Provinces and countries.
Projects
Courses
Honors Program Intensive Short-Term Study & Internships Abroad
Rebecca Nisetich
USM Visiting Artist Program
Olof Nordal
Culture, Commerce, Civilization: Iceland & The North Atlantic in a Global World
John Muthyala
Jan Piribeck
Elizabeth Bischof

Economy & Law
The MNAI supports collaborations that connect businesses with educational services, public policy, and oceans and coastal law. Because businesses today are seeking employees who can approach business problems with ingenuity, innovation, and an entrepreneurial mindset, we sponsor workforce development initiatives that build the 21st-century skills of our future workforce.
Projects
Maine Regulatory & Ethics Training Center
Ross Hickey
Landscapes & Livelihoods in the North Atlantic
Matthew Hoffman
Suds to Shrimp: Recirculating Aquaculture & Aquaponics Systems
Theodore Willis
Seaweed Farming Renaissance in Maine & Iceland: Bio-economy Workforce Development
Ike Levine
Courses
MeRTEC Experiential Ethics Study Abroad in Iceland
Carol Nemeroff
Robert Bruce Thompson
Innovation & Creativity Summer Session
Richard Bilodeau
Collaborators
Reykjavik, Iceland
Akureyri, Norway
Reykjavik, Iceland
Portland, Maine
National Land Survey of Iceland
Akranes, Iceland
Tromso, Norway
Aberdeen, Scotland
RURALIS Institute for Rural and Regional Research Trondheim, Norway
Nofence AS (grazing technology company) Batnfjordsøra, Norway
The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen, Scotland
School of Business
Bio-Innovation
Dept. of Psychology
Hallur Sigurdsarson
Pall Rickardsson
Hrefna Briem
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Portland, Maine
Maine
Maine Brewers
Allagash Brewing Company
Rising Tide Brewing
Bissell Brothers
Portland Maine waterfront businesses
Portland, Maine