MIST wants to emphasize projects led by university faculty and students, research, and course support within the academic environment. Our goal is to strengthen innovation and engagement within the USM community. If you have a concept you’d like to develop, reach out. Let us help make your vision a reality!
USM Campus Safety’s Body Camera Upgrade
Campus Police officers at the ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ partnered with the MIST Lab to integrate new body camera technology into their gear, addressing challenges posed by their additional MOLLE vests. The lab designed innovative 3D-printed mounts using durable NylonX filament, enabling the department to implement this valuable tech upgrade in the field. MIST was proud to play a role in enhancing campus safety, even in such a seemingly small yet impactful way.
Casting Campus Safety Excellence in Acrylic
The Chief of Police, Gráinne Perkins, approached MIST with the idea of an ACE card suspended in resin. This was her vision of an award celebrating the Action, Commitment, and Excellence (A.C.E.) of the Campus Safety Officers. Using silicone molding and acrylic resin, we learned a new skill in the lab, and the results were fantastic! It included an engraved name and award title plate as seen in the prototype. Pictured is Deputy Chief Farwell (left), Officer Tim Roy, and Sgt. Moreland with the final award.
Alphabet Book Art by Annie Lee Zimmer
The artist, Annie Lee-Zimerle, originally hand-cut a custom alphabet design into an accordion-style book using an X-Acto knife and glue. To create more copies for a book art workshop where she showcased various book art styles, she utilized MIST’s Glowforge Laser Etcher. The laser’s precision was able to preserve Annie’s original details with easier reproducibility. As a passionate book artist and educator from the Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts, she specializes in exploring creative techniques to elevate the art of bookmaking.
Supporting Research: eDNA Collection Tool
As a 2022 graduate student, Samantha Bengs sought the expertise of the MIST Lab to create a specialized tool for her research. They developed innovative 3D-printed meta-probes designed to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) over extended periods. This enhanced Bengs’ ability to detect river herring and assisted her studies on their migration patterns. This collaboration worked to aid researchers across Maine monitor and support the recovery of river herring and their ecosystems. The MIST Lab takes pride in supporting students’ research at any stage to achieve their career goals.