Who We Are

About the Institute

The Shaw Institute is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine. Established in 1990 by ecotoxicologist Dr. Susan Shaw, the institute is dedicated to connecting environmental health with human health through rigorous science, national collaboration, and deep community engagement.

We are at the forefront of studying microplastics and nanoplastics in human tissue — including brain tissue from people who battled diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s — working alongside researchers at Arizona State University, Harvard University, and NYU, with support from the NIH and the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium. We also lead a landmark NOAA-funded study of PFAS contamination in harbor seals, conduct ongoing research into plastic polymers in consumer products, and have maintained coastal water quality monitoring in the Blue Hill Bay area for over two decades. Our work has informed policy, driven regulatory change, and appeared in peer-reviewed journals and national media.

Science at Shaw Institute doesn’t stay in the lab. Our year-round Education Center and aquatic touch tank in downtown Blue Hill draws visitors from across the region, and our structured programs reach participants of all ages through school visits, workshops, and community events. Through our mobile STEM initiative, we bring hands-on science directly to rural Maine classrooms. And through our competitive internship program — drawing students from colleges and high schools across the country — we ensure that local young people have real access to real research.

We believe that rigorous science and accessible education are inseparable. Every research project we pursue is an opportunity to empower the communities around us — and every student who walks through our doors is a future scientist, policymaker, or informed citizen. That’s what we’re here for.