The Shaw Institute of Public and Planetary Health

For Maine. For the Nation. For the Planet.

The Shaw Institute of Public and Planetary Health at the University of New England is inspired by David Shaw’s legacy. From the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic to the accelerating impacts of climate change leading to the degradation of vital ecosystems, recent events have underscored how human health and planetary health are inextricably woven together. They are, in effect, one and the same, with the health of one contingent on the health of the other. We are also living at a time when universities are being asked to do more than confer degrees. We are being challenged to serve, to lead, and to respond to the needs of our communities and of our shared future. The Shaw Institute is our answer to that call. It is rooted in science. It is inspired by our mission, and it is driven by the belief that the health of people and the planet depends on our ability to innovate and to work across boundaries.

Mission

What we will achieve:

• For UNE Students: Clear interdisciplinary pathways to advanced degrees, experiential learning opportunities, planetary health competencies, and the chance to be part of something larger
• For UNE Faculty: A community for collaboration and innovation across disciplines
• For Maine: A strengthened workforce prepared to address urgent state needs
• For the World: Contributions to national and global solutions redefining what health means in the 21st century

More About the Shaw Institute

By design, the Shaw Institute unites expertise in health sciences, public health, environmental and marine science, and sustainable business to solve planetary health challenges, such as coastal resilience, sustainable farming and ocean food systems, mental health, and healthy aging. For our students, the Shaw Institute provides a sense of identity, purpose, and community within a multidisciplinary learning environment. For our faculty and professional staff, the Shaw Institute serves as a launching pad for collaboration and innovation. And for our external partners, the Shaw Institute will become a hub for productive collaboration across Maine, the region, and the globe. It will strengthen our service to the community, educating a workforce for Maine that understands how to simultaneously care for people, the communities in which they are embedded, and our shared planet.

Through deep and intentional collaboration, we will engage diverse external partners and prepare students as systems-level thinkers, leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers. The Shaw Institute is committed to educating future leaders who understand and act collaboratively on grand challenges; create value for people, society, and the planet; and blend professional achievement with a passion for stewardship and impact. By bearing his name, the Shaw Institute will highlight David Shaw’s extraordinary legacy of boldly transcending boundaries to address the biggest challenges of our time.

Research Centers

Center for Cell Signaling Research (COBRE)

The Center for Cell Signaling Research (CCSR) is funded by a five-year, $10.8 million Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institutes of Health's Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program. The COBRE program supports the development of innovative biomedical research centers through awards for three sequential five-year phases.

Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences

The mission of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences is to foster creativity and collaboration among people who have a passion for understanding the complexities of the nervous system and applying this knowledge to improve human health, productivity, and quality of life.

Center for Healthy Aging

The Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) aims to advance interprofessional research to inform education, health care practice, and service. Its mission is to improve the quality of life and health of an aging population through research with complementary education, advocacy, and service.

The Center for Pain Research (COBRE)

The Center for Pain Research (COBRE) mission is to significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of chronic pain, facilitating the discovery and development of novel therapies.

Center for Public Health Practice

The Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) expands interprofessional education opportunities in clinical settings and implements research projects related to interprofessional practice.

Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice

Our Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice (CAIEP) transforms health care education by fostering community-centered, collaborative learning and interprofessional practice.

Marine Science Research Programs

The UNE School of Marine and Environmental Programs serves as an incubator for forward-looking marine science research. The school provides faculty, students, and partner researchers with the information and resources they need to contribute to global conversations regarding marine science, policy, and management.

UNE North

The Center for North Atlantic Studies of the University of New England is an education and research leader for Maine connected to the North Atlantic/Arctic region grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and built to support local to global collaborative approaches to shared challenges and opportunities.

Honors College

Advanced Education for Inspired Learners

The UNE Honors College is designed for a carefully chosen group of undergraduate students seeking to take their education to the next level. As an intellectual community within the University, the Honors cohort enjoys unique living and learning opportunities. From simple benefits like early class registration, to valuable stipends for scholarly projects, the prestigious UNE Honors College offers the recognition and opportunity that exceptional students have earned.

The Honors College Experience

Imagine co-housing with motivated students from diverse areas of study, within an inspiring environment just steps from the ocean. You and your fellow Honors students spur each other forward, share ideas, and attend special seminars together. Professors mentor you in developing and carrying out passion projects. On our beautiful Maine campuses or traveling globally, the Honors College experience will take your education as far as you can imagine, enhancing your skills and resume. And because Honors students can come from any background and major, each experience is different but equally rewarding.

Benefits for Selected Students

In addition to the enhanced career opportunities that Honors recognition provides, the UNE Honors College offers numerous privileges:

• Honors College residential area
• An annual $1,000 Honors College Student Scholarship
• A one-time stipend of up to $2,000 to support costs associated with scholarly endeavors
• Early class registration
• Early move-in