Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 6 , 2 0 2 5 28 4 0 U N D E R 4 0 AWA R D Making science accessible to all Elisabeth Marnik, 37 Director of science education and outreach, MDI Biological Laboratory Greatest achievement: I grew up in a household where science was viewed with suspicion and something to resist. I transformed that into a career where science is not only my passion, but also the way I serve my community. Today, I focus on making science information accurate, understandable, accessible, empathetic and meaningful to diverse audiences. Whether it's through teach- ing, hands-on outreach, social media or public storytelling, I work to ensure science is seen as something for everyone, not just those in labs or classrooms. Passion project: My online sci- ence communication outside of my day job and the book I'm slowly planning and writing. Both let me share science in ways that feel creative. Lightbulb moment: I was juggling new motherhood while facing the possibil- ity of a complex medical diagno- sis for our first child. I found myself on the opposite side of all the sci- ence I knew — frustrated, navi- gating uncertainty, try- ing to understand the data. Then it clicked: if I had trouble navigat- ing this as a scien- tist, how much worse is it for others with- out a science background? That helped me see how much science impacts every part of life and led to chang- ing my career to emphasize making sci- ence accessible to everyone. Influential books: "The Night Circus," by Erin Morgenstern, and "When Breath Becomes Air," by Paul Kalanithi Favorite TV show: "Bones" Personal hero: My grandma Lois. Favorite quote: "You're in the right place at the right time, and you care enough to do what needs to be done. Sometimes that's enough." — Erin Morgenstern, "The Night Circus" Maine's biggest challenge: Our aging population. As more people retire, we're facing workforce shortages in critical areas like health care, science and education. We must find ways to retain and recruit young people and show them they can build meaningful futures here. But this won't happen without addressing barriers families face. For example, maternal care shortages and lack of afford- able daycare make it hard for young families to stay and thrive in Maine. Tackling these issues is as important as creating new jobs. Science, education and health care are also key. We need to support new ways of training our workforce and create economic opportunities in fast-growing fields like life sci- ences. These efforts can help keep Maine vibrant for future generations. Dinner party guests: Michelle Obama, Mayim Bialik, Jane Austen A mom on a mission to fight plastic pollution with kelp Alexa Coulombe McGovern, 31 Founder, Dirigo Sea Farm Greatest achievement: My daughter Passion project: Beekeeping; it's my first year and I have two hives. Lightbulb moment: I first read about microplastic statis- tics when I was preg- nant with my daughter. Reading things like micro- plastic was being found in placenta and breast milk shook me deeply. It hit me that if plastic was meet- ing her before I was, and contaminating the most natural process, what else was it capable of? When she was eight months old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This led me down another path of researching environmental toxins and how they can lead to chronic disease. Becoming a mom and a cancer patient made me wake up to every- day toxins and realize I needed to do something to limit exposure. Influential book: "When Breath Becomes Air," by Paul Kalanithi Favorite movie: I watch what my daugh- ter watches right now and love "Moana" just as much as she does. Personal heroes: The generations of women in my family Favorite quote: "Change is the only constant" Best way to recharge: Gardening and reading Maine's biggest challenge: Making it an easy "yes" for com- panies to build and stay here Dinner par ty guests: Jane Austen (she's the only author I re-read. Talk about ahead of her time); Frances Perkins (I hope she'd host the dinner at her place in Newcastle, and I'd want to hear her talk about reimagin- ing systems and cre- ating influence); and Sylvia Plath (similar to Jane, I love her work, but I want to meet someone who trailblazed with no support and in sys- tems that weren't meant for them). Helping immigrants and refugees build a better life in Maine Charles Mugabe, 28 Director of migration, Catholic Charities Maine Greatest achievement: Col- laboration with the Associ- ated General Contractors of Maine and the Maine Depart- ment of Labor to bring the construction pre-appren- ticeship academy to the Asylum Seekers Transi- tional Housing Program, where two cohorts of 35 total individu- als completed the class and joined the construction workforce. Passion project: Advancing integration goals of refugees and immigrants. Lightbulb moment: In October 2016, when I realized that I could do more to give back to the community, and decided to volunteer full-time with Catholic Charities Maine. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Being a mom and a cancer patient made me wake up to everyday toxins and realize I needed to do something to limit exposure. — Alexa Coulombe McGovern Dirigo Sea Farm

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