Maine marine scientist elected to America's oldest honorary society
Bob Steneck is one of nearly 250 members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences this year. His four decades of research at UMaine has impacted how lobster fisheries research is conducted — and, in working closely with fishermen, focused on research to support the industry and its harvesters.
He's the first University of Maine faculty researcher to be named to the society.
Steneck said in a statement that he was shocked he had been elected. And he's excited to collaborate with members of America's art and scientific fields.
"I didn't see this coming," he said. "We all live on the same planet; we see similar things but integrate our experiences in new ways that sometimes shines a new light where it belongs or opens someone's mind to something new."
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1780, in part by John Adams, John Hancock and James Bowdoin — the namesake of Bowdoin College. It's an honorary society and independent research center that "recognizes excellence" and gathers interdisciplinary researchers together "to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent and virtuous people."
Candidates are first nominated by two people who are already members. They then go through multiple rounds of review, which includes a vote by all society members. The academy does not disclose which member make nominations.
The 2025 cohort also includes CNN reporter Anderson Cooper, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and activist Gloria Steinem.
Steneck retired in 2023 and is a professor emeritus of oceanography, marine biology and marine policy. He's also continued his research at UMaine's Darling Marine Center in Walpole.
UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said Steneck's election was "well-earned," a sign of his "transformative impact."
"The honor is a testament to the lasting benefits of Bob's legacy, she said, "which include changing our understanding of Maine's most lucrative fishery, establishing a multidecadal relationship with our fishermen and coastal communities and helping preserve vital ecosystems across the Western hemisphere."
Many of Steneck's former students have grown into leaders within the marine research and fisheries communities. That includes Carl Wilson, the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Wilson has committed to collaborating with fishermen to best oversee the future of Maine's fisheries, a principle he said he learned from Steneck.
"Bob has been one of the most influential people in my career. He instilled in me the importance of being curious, of questioning, and being open to new ideas," Wilson said in an email. "That perspective is why I will continue to work to ensure that fishermen have a place at the table."
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