Science Collider event explores connections with the Saco River

Science Collider: The Story of the Saco is a one-of-a-kind community event hosted by Heart of Biddeford. It will be a space where data meets poetry, research meets songs, and every perspective helps to tell The Story of the Saco.

The event will be held Wednesday, Dec. 3, beginning with an art opening from 5 - 6 p.m. and continuing with presentations and performances from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Lucky Pigeon Brewing, 40 Main St, Suite 13-131, Biddeford.

Science Collider brings together voices from across the community, blending science, storytelling, and art to explore the connections between people and the Saco River. The evening will feature eight short presentations including music, poetry, personal stories, scientific insights, and Indigenous perspectives, alongside an art gallery showcasing seventeen local artists. Works will range from photography and paintings to prints, posters, and framed poetry, many available for purchase.

The vision of this event grew out of extensive community engagement conducted over the summer by Miranda Carrabba, a University of New England Summer Sustainability Fellow, working with the Heart of Biddeford. Through her project, Miranda gathered over 700 pieces of community feedback, revealing that the Saco River and the community itself are two of Biddeford’s most valued assets.

The input from community members was so compelling and impactful that both the Heart of Biddeford and Miranda felt like the work must continue. Together, this feedback directly shaped the design and content of the event, making Science Collider a celebration truly co-created with the community.

This fall, Carrabba returned to the Heart of Biddeford as a UNE Shaw Innovation Fellow to carry the project forward by developing Science Collider: The Story of the Saco. The event aims to honor community voices and demonstrate how art and science often illuminate the same truths about place, meaning, and our shared environment.

This free and public event invites everyone to experience the river through multiple perspectives. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet artists and presenters, enjoy free food, and purchase drinks from Lucky Pigeon Brewing, where $1 from every pint ordered will be donated to Heart of Biddeford to support ongoing community connection efforts.