Eddie Nachamie: 2025 Recipient of the Udall Scholarship in the Environmental Category

Eddie Nachamie of North Andover, Massachusetts, a University of Maine rising senior majoring in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, is one of the 55 recipients nationwide of the Udall Scholarship in the Environmental category.

The Udall Foundation describes its purpose as “… awarding scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and to the Native Nations Institute to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues, and training; and provides assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR).” 

As an Ecology and Environmental Sciences major and Honor’s student, Eddie has worked tirelessly to be an excellent student and mentor in the program. His award of the Udall Scholarship in the Environmental category is the first in over 15 years. UMaine’s last recipients in the Environmental category were Laura Wood and Michael Parker in 2009. UMaine students had received Honorable Mention for the Udall Scholarship in 2011 in the Environmental Category and in 2020 in the Native American category.

“ I am incredibly grateful to have been awarded the Udall Scholarship. It’s been really amazing to join a community of other students and alumni who are involved in work regarding tribal policy and environmental justice. We’re at a pivotal moment in history where our actions on environmental issues matter more than ever.”  says Eddie, who received support for his application from the Office of Major Scholarships in Estabrooke Hall.

What is the environmental policy project you focused on in your Udall application? 

I focused on my passion for strengthening environmental policy regarding toxic compounds. Last year, I wrote a policy review of Maine’s legislation of PFAS forever chemical compounds. As part of this paper, I created a framework for the regulation of PFAS compounds that outlines discrete ways local and state governments can reduce exposure to better protect people and the environment. 

Tell us about the research, internships or scholarly pursuits you are involved in as a student. 

While at UMaine, I have been involved in research centered around food waste reduction and PFAS policy. During my freshman year, I worked as part of a student research team, Food Rescue MAINE, to develop food waste reduction interventions in elementary schools. I worked with the Department of Education to design a study which was implemented in four different public-school cafeterias across the state in which we tracked and measured the amount of food waste produced in cafeterias over a 9-week period. This also included implementing educational interventions to curb the food waste produced by the students. The results of this data collection showed that every school engaged in the program experienced a reduction in food waste. Combined, the schools diverted a total of 630 pounds of food waste over the study period which equates to roughly 1.62 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided. 

During my junior year, I worked with a professor from a course I had previously taken to write a policy review of current PFAS legislation in Maine and throughout the United States. The review serves as a framework for other states to implement more stringent regulation of PFAS compounds as well as offering recommendations for changes to federal environmental policy to protect public health and promote environmental justice. I have presented my research at two conferences in Maine and am in the process of publishing the policy review. 

This past summer, I worked as part of the Agroecology Lab at UMaine as a research technician collecting data on wild blueberry fruit production under different temperature conditions to simulate the impacts of climate change before leaving to take a field course on the natural history, ecology, and geology of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. 

I have also worked as a forest technician with both the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit and the University Forest. As part of these roles, I have learned about forest measurements and low impact forestry practices. These roles strengthened my plant identification skills and taught me about forest ecology in an applied way. I also worked as a student assistant to plan the Downeast ROOTS (Rural Opportunities for Ocean, Timber, and Soil) conference last spring where forest resources, agriculture, and aquaculture professionals met to discuss the future of natural resource management in Maine. 

Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities occupy your time? 

I am the President of the Permaculture & Gardening Club at UMaine and a resident steward at the Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center. In this role, I help to host workshops and events focused on gardening, food preservation, community resilience, and dialogues about the impacts of climate change. As a resident steward, I take care of the permaculture garden at Terrell House. 

I am also an officer for the Student Environmental Action Division (SEAD) and have helped to host and facilitate testimony writing workshops where students can provide input on issues happening in the Maine State Legislature.

How would you describe UMaine’s academic atmosphere? 

UMaine has an extremely supportive and cooperative academic atmosphere. Students are excited to help each other out, form study groups, and work together to succeed in their classes. The academic atmosphere is rigorous but not competitive, and I’ve found that professors are always willing to help accommodate student situations and concerns.

Have there been other students, professors, mentors or role models who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new? 

I have been lucky to have the mentorship of Rachel Schattman from the School of Food and Agriculture to support me in my research about PFAS compounds in Maine and throughout the United States. Dr. Schattman’s feedback on my policy review showed me what I was capable of from a research perspective. 

I am lucky to lead the Permaculture & Gardening Club with three other amazing resident stewards who share the responsibility of taking care of the garden, hosting sustainability related events, and living together in a way that is lighter on the earth. 

What’s on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?  

After I graduate, I hope to work in environmental education and advocacy with nonprofits in Maine and Alaska for a few years before going back to school to obtain my Juris Doctor and Masters of Law in Environmental Law.