Class of 2017 Summer 2023 Class Note

Skylar Bayer Ph.D., is co-editor of the new book Uncharted: How Scientists Navigate Their Own Health, Research, and Experiences of Bias. Readers can find it online or order it from their local booksellers. 

Uncharted is a “collection of powerful first-person stories by current and former scientists with disabilities or chronic conditions who have faced changes in their careers, including both successes and challenges, because of their health.” One review applauded the “courageous and moving stories that will challenge and shift the way readers think about disability. . . Uncharted is a must-read call to action for scientists and their institutions to ensure a more inclusive and just future for all.”

Skylar is a marine ecologist and science communicator. Currently a marine habitat resource specialist in the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office, she received her Ph.D. from UMaine’s School of Marine Sciences for research on the sex lives of scallops and is a producer for The Story Collider.

Amber Boutiette ’19G and Patrick Breeding ’19G are delighted that Marin Skincare, the startup that they founded using lobster glycoproteins, is available at L.L. Bean’s flagship store in Freeport. Their business is based in Portland, and the couple works with Luke’s Lobster to access the glycoproteins, which otherwise would be wasted during lobster processing. Marin Skincare is a soothing product that helps people who struggle with eczema.

Pitcher Justin Courtney ’19G threw a shutout inning for the Syracuse Mets in early April. Joining the game during the seventh inning, he walked one batter, but didn’t allow a hit. Way to go!

The Class of 2017 needs a correspondent to write this column for the magazine twice a year. To learn what’s entailed, please contact abigail.zelz@maine.edu. You needn’t be an English major or have any special writing skills — just a willingness to help and the ability to meet deadlines. 

Have a great summer, everyone!