Meet the Team
Director/Principal Investigator
Dr. Ivan J. Fernandez is Professor Emeritus and Climate Research Scientist in the School of Forest Resources, Climate Change Institute, and School of Food and Agriculture at the University of Maine. Among other honors and awards, he was made a Distinguished Maine Professor in 2007, CASE/Carnegie in Washington DC named him Professor of the Year for Maine in 2008, he was named a fellow in the Soil Science Society of America in 2010 and was the 2018 President’s Public Service Achievement Award recipient at the University of Maine. He has served on various U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board committees in Washington DC since 2000, represented the University of Maine in the USDA Northeast Climate Hub, and has led the Maine’s Climate Future assessments in 2009, 2015, and 2020. In 2019 he was appointed to the Maine Climate Council, serves as co-Chair of its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and has been a member of its Natural Working Lands working group. He leads the Maine Climate Science Information Exchange. He is a soil scientist and biogeochemist, with a research program that has focused on the biogeochemistry of ecosystems in a changing physical and chemical climate. You can contact Ivan at ivanjf@maine.edu
Sector Specialists
Dr. Allison Bistline-East is an entomologist, ecologist, and environmental scientist, with research interests in invertebrate conservation and agricultural sustainability. She holds an MS in Entomology from the University of California Riverside and a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Galway. A recent transplant to Maine, Dr Bistline-East has conducted research on crop pests, natural enemies, and pollinators in California, Indiana, and Ireland, with a focus on specialty crops and small farms. Her experience in applied research, extension, and science communication will surely aid her as MCSIE’s Agriculture and Food Systems Specialist. Outside of work, Dr Bistline-East is an avid baker and enjoys hiking with her dog. She is excited to join the MCSIE team and help Maine lead the way in climate sustainability! You can contact Allison at allison.bistline@maine.edu
Dr. Parker Gassett holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine. As MCSIE’s Marine and Coastal Communities Specialist, his work connects climate change science and technical support with coastal community leaders in Maine. In this role, he meets with researchers and community leaders throughout Maine, and helps to develop collaborations that connect practitioners, resource managers, and communities. Parker is the co-coordinator of the Maine Climate Adaptation Providers Network, the Climate and Community Resilience Extension Associate for Maine Sea Grant, and a Fellow of the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. Contact Parker at parker.gassett@maine.edu
Valerie (Val) Watson completed her M.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at UMaine in 2023, focusing her research on river restoration in Washington and Hancock Counties. As MCSIE’s Forests and Forest Products Specialist, she focuses on research related to forest ecosystems, forest products, and other human and natural forest interactions relevant to Maine’s Climate Action Plan. A childhood of volunteer watershed stewardship and flipping over logs in the woods inspired her to connect people with natural and working lands for years to come. She earned her B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine in 2018 and began her career working in ecological research and environmental education around the country. In her spare time, Val enjoys glassblowing, pottery, yoga, and turning her front yard into a wildlife garden. You can contact Val at valerie.k.watson@maine.edu
Maine State Climatologist
Dr. Sean Birkel is a research Assistant Professor and the Maine State Climatologist. His research utilizes climate modeling and data visualization to better understand climate variability and future impacts from human activity. As the Maine State Climatologist, I provide climate and weather expertise to stakeholders and the general public to facilitate climate decision-making, policy, and planning. Since 2012, I have been developing the data visualization website ClimateReanalyzer.org. In support of my role as state climatologist, I am developing the Maine Climate Office and working with colleagues in Cooperative Extension to provide climate and weather data to Maine farmers. I am also serving on the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council.
Staff
Dr. Nicole Spaulding holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Climate Science from the University of Maine. In her role as MCSIE’s Special Projects Coordinator she researches best practices in information exchange between policy makers and researchers as it relates to the implementation of climate action plans. She is also responsible for the development and coordination of MCSIE’s internship program. Outside of work, she enjoys family hikes, flower farming, and bringing people together. You can contact Nicole at nicole.spaulding@maine.edu
Summer 2023 Interns
Santiago Tijerina is affiliated with the Maine Climate Science Information Exchange (MCSIE) as a science communications intern. He is a recent honors graduate of the University of Maine and a current student at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at the Maine College of Art & Design. For his honors thesis, Santiago directed a documentary short film titled, Climate Action at the University of Maine. As a science communications intern, he will continue to use visual storytelling as a catalyst for change, while also amplifying the mission of organizations and individuals dedicated to positive social and environmental change. This summer Santiago will be collaborating with interns as well as some student employees (graduate or undergraduate) across the State of Maine to create a documentary short film series on how their work relates to the strategies and implementation of the Maine Climate Action Plan Maine Won’t Wait. Watch those videos here! You can contact Santi at santiago.tijerina@maine.edu
Hayden Eckblom is a junior at Bates College majoring in Earth and Climate Science. He is working with Dr. Bev Johnson doing research in salt marshes on the Maine coast. The research aims to determine the carbon sequestration and storage capacities of these salt marshes. In collaboration with Salt Marsh Adaptation and Resiliency Teams (SMARTeams) this work will also identify impacts of 15th-19th century farming practices on salt marshes. This work will increase our understanding of Maine’s blue carbon stocks and methods to increase their productivity as a natural climate solution inline with Strategy E of Maine’s climate action plan. You can contact Hayden at heckblom@bates.edu
Graduate Students
Abigail Stevens is an Ecology and Environmental Sciences M.S. student with a focus in Soil Science. Her research is utilizing the primary U.S. soil databases from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the USDA Forest Service to estimate Maine’s soil carbon stock for all land uses, and a measure of carbon flux primarily for Maine’s forestlands. These data are critical inputs to the development of improved carbon budgets for the state of Maine that are critical for Maine’s greenhouse gas reporting. Abby has a B.S. in Earth and Climate Science from the University of Maine with work experiences in the geological and natural sciences. She is also a skilled woodsman and coaches the University of Maine Woodsmen Team among other other pursuits. You can contact Abby at abigail.a.stevens@maine.edu
Ana Trueba is an M.S. student in Climate and Quaternary studies as well as a trainee in the Systems Approach to Understanding and Navigating the New Arctic. Their research focuses on the climatology of extreme meteorological and climatological events in Maine and the Arctic. They are using reanalysis to examine extreme events and how teleconnections such as the Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillations affected the development of these events. Ana is also helping to build a climate dashboard for MCSIE and the Maine Climate Office. You can contact Ana at ana.trueba@maine.edu
Advisory Committee
Dr. Gayle Zydlewski: Director of Maine Sea Grant at the University of Maine
Dr. Hannah Carter: Dean, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Dr. Aaron Weiskittel: Director of the Center for Research on Sustainable Forests and Director of the Center for Advanced Forestry Systems at the University of Maine
Dr. Sean Birkel: Maine State Climatologist and Assistant Extension Professor of Climate Services at the University of Maine
Sarah Curran: Deputy Director, Climate Planning and Community Partnerships in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine
Vice President Jake Ward: Office of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources and Engagement