Introducing the University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions
The University of Maine System Board of Trustees has accepted a task force’s recommendation to remove references to George Mitchell from institutional naming and honors at the University of Maine. Consistent with its charge and existing System policies, the task force of faculty, staff, and student members considered only whether continuing to use the former Senator’s name could harm the university, and it did not evaluate specific allegations about him.
The University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions will be the temporary name of the research and engagement center at the flagship that focuses on building a better world beginning in Maine. While the change is effective immediately, updating institutional websites, materials, and signage — including on Norman Smith Hall on the Orono campus where the Center is located — will take several months.
More information about the task force, which acknowledged Mitchell’s lengthy and distinguished record of public service and impact, is available at https://www.maine.edu/blog/2026/09/28/trustees-approve-recommendation-to-end-university-of-maine-use-of-mitchell-name/.
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Erin Victor article on packaging waste published in The Conversation
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are gaining momentum across the U.S., forcing companies to pay for the cleanup and disposal of their packaging waste. As author Erin Victor highlights, while eco-modulated fees can incentivize businesses to design greener, more recyclable packaging, fragmented regulations across states risk creating confusion. For EPR to drive real environmental impact, […]
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Local Catch Network Partners with USDA to Support the U.S. Seafood Industry
The University of Maine (UMaine) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help expand federal financial and technical support for American commercial fishing and seafood businesses. Through this collaboration, the Local Catch Network—a UMaine-based network led by Josh Stoll representing over 2,500 community-based seafood harvesters and producers across North America—will work directly […]
