Julia Hiltonsmith
Originally from Memphis, TN, Julia is a doctoral student in Anthropology & Environmental Policy at UMaine. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis in Anthropology and English literature in May of 2019. Julia is passionate about equitable energy transitions, and has found herself working on projects related to offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine. In partnership with the Department of Marine Resources and Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Julia is working to document the socio-ecological history of the area being sited for Maine’s Offshore Wind Research Array. In addition to this project, her doctoral research considers how identity is being leveraged in specific political spaces where offshore wind is often contested. Ultimately, her work seeks to advance understanding of stakeholder concerns about offshore wind development and encourage productive conversations, collaborations, and stakeholder-driven policymaking on large-scale infrastructure projects in ocean and coastal spaces.