DURHAM, N.H. — A new report from the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (IOD) highlights significant gaps in workplace lactation support across New Hampshire, just before a landmark law goes into effect. The IOD’s NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program (NH OHSP) 2024 statewide business survey found that while many employers are physically equipped to support employees who may be nursing, they are falling short in policy and communication. “Supporting nursing mothers isn’t just the law, it’s smart business,” said Liu Yang, project director and principal investigator of the NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program. “Clear policies and effective communication make a measurable difference in employee well-being and retention. New Hampshire employers have a great...

DURHAM, N.H. — The Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems at the University of New Hampshire has donated close to 60 pounds of smoked steelhead trout to Gather, a non-profit that helps feed those experiencing hunger in New Hampshire’s Seacoast and southern Maine. The responsibly grown fish is a product of UNH's AquaFort, a floating aquaculture platform located off the coast of New Hampshire. “We’re really excited to see our locally grown fish make a difference in solving the problem of hunger through the good work being done at Gather,” said David Fredriksson, professor of ocean engineering and director of the Center for Sustainable Seafood System at UNH. “We feel it is an important part of our operation to donate high quality, locally sourced food that is conscientiously cultivated while...

DURHAM, N.H. — Not a fan of mowing the lawn? Good news, cutting the grass less may actually be better for the environment. Research shows that trimming the number of times you run the mower around the yard can help create more biodiverse ecosystems, reduce carbon emissions, build soil organic matter and encourage lawn flowers to bloom providing important food for bees after a long hibernation.  “The concept of mowing less started a movement known as No Mow May, encouraging people to stop mowing for the entire month, but the idea is to inspire people to change mowing habits and yard care for the whole year and viewing our lawns differently,” said Alexandra Contosta, research associate professor in the department of natural resources and the environment, and assistant director at UNH’s...

DURHAM, N.H. — This Mother’s Day tell mom you love her with flowers found in an island garden by booking her an adventure to the historic garden of beloved writer Celia Thaxter. Tickets are now available to experience the sights and sounds of the enchanting and colorful cottage garden on Appledore Island in the Isle of Shoals. The annual summer pilgrimage attracts gardeners, poets, literary lovers and anyone looking for a unique outdoor experience. Visitors can tour the iconic garden by the sea which has been restored and maintained by the Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML), which is jointly run by the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University. “The historic garden is a destination trip for many of our visitors to soak in the beauty and the color of the flowers as they grow against...

DURHAM, N.H. — University of New Hampshire researchers are partnering with local communities, farmers and residents to make the Earth a better place, often using participatory science which directly involves the public in the process. Home to the country’s first endowed Sustainability Institute, UNH fosters a healthy planet spirit that permeates the civic, professional and personal lives of our neighbors, near and far. As Earth Day approaches on April 22, here are 10 ways UNH is helping local communities, and those around the world, preserve the planet. PFAS Community Testing Working with residents from local communities, UNH researchers have been testing foam that forms on top of rivers, streams and beaches for substances known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) — byproducts of plastics...

DURHAM, N.H.—Research out of the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability found that people who didn’t have in-person access to a nearby U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) field office—specifically older adults and those with disabilities—and a knowledgeable staff member to help and talk through any issues had a significant decrease in access to social security disability, retirement and survivor benefits and services. “Many of these rural residents were overwhelmed by what they called red tape and paperwork and when they had questions, concerns or issues about a benefit or even how to fill out an application, they often found it challenging to try to get information or help by email, phone or even through the postal service,” said Debra Brucker, research associate...

DURHAM, N.H.—Retired Lt. Col. Scott “Kidd” Poteet ’96, who recently rocketed into space as the pilot for the Polaris Dawn mission, will deliver the University of New Hampshire commencement address across all three ceremonies on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Whittemore Center Arena at the Key Auto Group Complex. The Durham native, who was part of a team that traveled closer to the moon than anyone else since NASA’s 1970’s Apollo missions, will inspire the class of 2025 to chart their own course and reach for the stars. “UNH has been a resounding presence in my life and has helped shape the person I am today,” said Poteet. “The university not only offered me a quality higher education but valuable skills and a strong community to help blaze my own path, not necessarily a standard one, but...

DURHAM, N.H. — The NH Food Alliance, a statewide network coordinated by the University of New Hampshire, and the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food announce the publication of the 2025 New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan, a first for the state. The strategic plan unites the state’s large and often fragmented food community with common language, goals and priorities and stands as a call to action for all Granite Staters to be active participants in ensuring local food remains a core value for the state.  “The New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan brings together a series of complex and overlapping issues and lays them out in a way that is usable to anyone who wants to support the future of our food system,” said Nicole Cardwell, director of the NH Food...