In the Leslie Lab at the University of Maine, we focus on the connections among people and coastal marine ecosystems. As marine conservation scientists, we use a combination of field experiments, modeling, and other approaches grounded in the ecological and social sciences and humanities. We investigate how diverse environmental and socioeconomic factors influence ecosystem and social interactions and outcomes. Our ultimate aim is to create scientific knowledge and tools that supports marine conservation and management that benefits both nature and people.
We hope that fellow researchers as well as our partners in education, policy making and community-based management will find something of interest on this site. If you are interested in learning more or exploring a way to work together, please contact us!
Graduate students Sarah Risley (above) and Melissa Britsch (now at the Maine Coastal Program) led local knowledge research in the Damariscotta and Medomak River estuaries. This open-access study was just…
We are launching a new project focused on bringing arts-based methods into coastal community resilience science and practice, thanks to support from UMaine’s Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions.
Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Smith-Mayo! Earlier this semester, Jen successfully defended her PhD dissertation entitled An Engaged Approach to Tracing How Practices of Articulation Shape Embodiment and Materiality in a Science-based…
Last week, I participated in a symposium at the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. This is an impressive scientific society, including more…
Thanks to the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) for including our work in this story on science communication: https://www.neefusa.org/story/environmental-education/why-science-communication-important
We had a long field season this year, starting with focus groups in the spring and then shellfish ecological studies that spanned the summer and fall. The last couple of…
