The University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center (DMC) is host of the Science on Tap seminar series at the Newcastle Publick House Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m.

On July 22, the Science on Tap seminar, “Shellfish aquaculture: Job creation, tasty bivalves and some cool science too,” will be presented by Dr. Carter Newell.

A resident of Damariscotta, Newell will talk about the biology, ecology, economics and history of shellfish aquaculture in Maine. A shellfish farmer and coastal oceanographer for over 30 years, he will highlight the potential bivalve cultivation has for ecologically and socially sustainable job creation along the coast, which places grow the best of these tasty bivalves, and why.

Newell has been farming mussels and oysters since getting his master’s degree in oceanography at UMaine’s Darling Marine Center in 1982. He founded the popular Pemaquid Oyster Company in 1986 with Chris Davis and Smokey McKeen, and in 2007 he founded Pemaquid Mussel Farms. Newell received a doctorate in marine biology from the University of New Brunswick in St. John in 2005.

The Science On Tap Seminar series wraps up on July 29. The DMC is also offering Wednesday Walking Tours of our waterfront facility through Aug. 19. Tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and last about 90 minutes. On Aug. 8, the DMC will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Additional information on all these events, as well as Darling Marine Center history, can be found on dmc.umaine.edu.