Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

Heather Leslie, professor in UMaine’s School of Marine Sciences and Mitchell Center faculty fellow, was recently quoted in a Maine Public article about the rise in wild oyster populations and decline of softshell clams in the midcoast region. There’s no single reason for the softshell clam population’s decline, Leslie said. “We know that the ocean […]

By studying the Damariscotta and Medomak River estuaries, University of Maine researchers have formally documented shifts in shellfish populations, from soft shell clams to oysters. Because Maine’s intertidal mudflats, such as those found in these estuaries, are difficult to study, this work filled an important gap in information about shellfish harvesting. Research documented how tidal […]

Four school districts across Maine were able to reduce their food waste by 20% by participating in a 2023 study conducted by University of Maine researchers. To build on the learning and momentum around reducing wasted food in Maine school cafeterias, UMaine has launched a second Maine School Cafeteria Wasted Food Study with four school […]

Cindy Isenhour, associate professor of anthropology and climate change and Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow, spoke with The Seattle Times for an article titled “Do Seattle-area thrift stores still offer treasures at bargain prices?” Isenhour said that thrift stores traditionally see higher demand during periods of high cost of living. “When we see the price of […]

The Bethel Citizen highlighted an effort spearheaded by the Bethel Conservation Commission and two University of Maine graduate students to develop a five-year energy plan and present it to town officials in the spring. A member of the commission networked with Sharon Klein, associate professor of economics at UMaine and Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow, who […]