Year-End Fundraising Campaign Launches on Giving Tuesday
December 2, 2025 – Blue Hill, Maine – The Shaw Institute, a nonprofit science research organization, has released its 2025 Impact Report, using its release and Giving Tuesday to mark the official launch of its year-end fundraising campaign.
The Institute has experienced an unprecedented rate of growth over the past year, and has ambitious plans in 2026. These efforts include improving its facilities, expanding its research capabilities, and to continue providing its local communities with an invaluable learning resource through their Environmental Education Center and offsite outreach.
“This past year was one for the history books,” says Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist of the Shaw Institute. “From having 5,000 people visit our education center to our research efforts reaching new heights, I couldn’t be more excited to share this year’s Impact Report.”
Some of the highlights of what the Institute has accomplished this year include:
- Opened a brand new touch tank, along with other aquariums, in its facility in downtown Blue Hill, drawing over 5,000 visitors.
- Partnered with NYU, Harvard and ASU on critical research that will provide essential insights into how human diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s and more are impacted by microplastic contamination.
- Continued producing groundbreaking research that was covered by such media outlets as Time Magazine, Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, and more.
- Educated and inspired eight interns from seven institutions, including local high schools and universities.
There’s so much more that we are proud of, so be sure to download the Impact Report to fully understand what the Shaw Institute has accomplished and where it intends to go in 2026 and beyond.
“I’m so proud of the impact we’ve made this past year. It took a max effort from each one of us at the institute but the hard work really paid off,” said Rolsky. “This Impact Report shows what we’ve accomplished this year and what we have our eyes on next. Our education center is well on its way to being a year-round facility, and we’re so proud that it will soon be equipped with a mobile STEM service for rural communities and our research is being seen on a global stage. I’m so grateful for my team and our communities.”
Rolsky says other exciting things coming in 2026 include
The annual year-end fundraising campaign, which officially kicks off today, on Giving Tuesday, is always essential for the Institute to achieve its goals and mission. That’s never been more true, as 2026 will only see an increase in the team’s ambition and passion for taking our offerings to a higher level.
To download the 2025 Impact Report, please click HERE. To learn more about the Shaw Institute, please visit https://shawinstittue.org.
About Shaw Institute
Shaw Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine. Established over 35 years ago, the Institute’s mission is to work to discover and expose environmental threats to the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environments we share. Our research on plastics, ocean pollution, marine mammal health, toxic chemicals, and climate change has informed public opinion and influenced public policy, impacting millions of people in Maine, the U.S. and worldwide.