Core Values
COLLABORATION, TEAMWORK, COOPERATION
Our NRT prioritizes collaboration, teamwork, and cooperation to ensure that, through our work, we meaningfully engage with local partners to bring together diverse knowledge types, address priorities, and support decision-making. We also emphasize collaboration and teamwork as desired learning outcomes of our program, and opportunities are provided for our members to work together to define research, analyze diverse data types, and produce and share knowledge.
COMMUNITY, BELONGING, INCLUSION, CONNECTION
Our NRT places a strong emphasis on developing a sense of community where we all feel supported, connected to others, and a sense of shared purpose. We strive to support belonging and inclusion through approaches that include listening actively, seeking cultural responsiveness, and reflecting explicitly on how lived experiences, identities, and biases can impact our interactions and collaborative working relationships. Our NRT emphasizes connection in a number of ways. Our activities create opportunities for connection within our NRT and broader campus community. We also actively connect with tribal communities, municipalities, government, and other community partners through our work. Finally, our NRT recognizes that people are closely connected to ecosystems through diverse, reciprocal interactions within social and environmental domains. These multifaceted and dynamic connections guide our approach to research and knowledge production.
WELLBEING, HEALTH, BALANCE
Our work is not the only important thing in our lives. We recognize that other commitments and activities are important for keeping us mentally and physically healthy. We strive to prioritize our personal well-being and health, and find balance so that we can bring our whole selves to our efforts.
DIGNITY, RESPECT, KINDNESS
We prioritize treating others with dignity, respect, and kindness by communicating thoughtfully in ways that are meaningful to the individual, fostering an environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable, being considerate, treating others as equals, valuing the uniqueness of all people, and listening to and understanding the perspectives and preferences of others.
KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, LEARNING
Our NRT prioritizes the inclusion of diverse types of knowledge that are created, woven together and applied to inform responses to rapid ocean change in the Gulf of Maine. This means being inclusive with respect to what knowledge is acquired (i.e. ontology), and how it is created (i.e. epistemology). By bringing together diverse types of knowledge and data, we aim to improve our understanding and stewardship of marine systems. We strive to deepen our contextual awareness and understanding of the social and environmental dimensions of coastal fisheries – in Maine and beyond. Finally, we prioritize learning that is problem-based, experiential, collaborative, focusing on active learning and engaged scholarship.
ETHICS, INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY
Our NRT prioritizes ethics by carefully considering and acknowledging why, how, for whom, and by whom research and knowledge production is carried out. We strive to practice integrity by communicating honestly, taking responsibility, and being transparent. Finally, we prioritize accountability by learning from our mistakes, actively seeking feedback, and following through on our commitments.
CURIOSITY, HUMILITY, VULNERABILITY, COMPASSION
We strive to practice curiosity by actively prioritizing the desire to learn, explore, and ask questions, fostering a culture where seeking new information and perspectives is encouraged. We aim to practice humility by engaging in active listening, recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, recognizing the contributions of others, and looking for ways to uplift others. We strive to cultivate and maintain a culture that enables us to feel comfortable practicing vulnerability by acknowledging what we don’t know. We strive to practice compassion by empathising with the perspectives and situations of others, demonstrating understanding and support, and cultivating an environment where individuals feel valued and cared for.