Grant will enable transformative STEM experiences for middle school students

Gulf of Maine Research Institute students’ artwork and thank you notes. Courtesy of Avangrid Foundation

The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced that it has awarded the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) a $50,000 grant in support of their educational initiative, LabVenture: Building STEM skills for Maine. The grant will help the GMRI deliver immersive, hands-on science learning for approximately 8,300 middle school students across Maine.

“The future of the energy industry depends on a new generation of leaders who are not only passionate about innovation but equipped with the scientific literacy and problem-solving skills to drive meaningful change,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “At Avangrid, we recognize that investing in STEM education today is essential to building a smarter, more reliable energy future tomorrow.”

“At the Avangrid Foundation, we believe that access to STEM education is essential for building resilient and growing communities and preparing young people to lead in an increasingly complex world,” said Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation. “The Gulf of Maine Research Institute offers transformative educational opportunities, and we are proud to support their mission encouraging and inspiring the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders across Maine.”

The grant will enable GMRI to reach 70% of Maine’s 5th–6th grade cohort, with a strong focus on underserved communities—including low-income, New Mainer, rural, and Wabanaki students. In addition to student engagement, GMRI will provide educators with wrap-around curriculum support and professional development to extend the impact of LabVenture beyond the lab and into classrooms statewide.

“Over the past 20 years, we’ve reached more than 170,000 Maine students with LabVenture, making it the most shared out-of-school learning experience in our state. We believe that no matter where a student wakes up in the morning, they deserve access to engaging and transformative STEM learning. We’re so appreciative to the funders like Avangrid Foundation who join us in this belief,” said Leigh Peake, GMRI Chief Education Officer. "LabVenture, now celebrating its 20th year, is designed to ignite curiosity and build scientific confidence among Maine’s 5th and 6th graders. Through interactive experiences at GMRI’s Cohen Centre for Interactive Learning, students become scientists for a day—examining plankton under microscopes, analysing NASA satellite data, and exploring marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Maine. The program blends technology, inquiry-based learning, and diverse scientific role models to foster climate and STEM literacy in a rapidly changing world.”

About the Gulf of Maine Research Institute: The Gulf of Maine Research Institute develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. Located in Portland, ME, the institute is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.gmri.org.

About Avangrid Foundation: The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where Avangrid, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Avangrid Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $42.4 million in partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving people’s lives. The Avangrid Foundation is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the United States.