Nathan Robbins – 2022 Award for Contributions by an External Partner
Climate Change Specialist, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Outstanding contribution by an external partner to sustainability research
The complex challenges presented by climate change often require bringing together people of many different backgrounds to formulate sustainable, consensus-based solutions. The Mitchell Center is a beacon for cross-disciplinary collaborations of this kind. Over the past several years, their support has boosted our community resilience and climate change regulatory reform efforts at DEP to new levels by enabling us to participate in and form interdisciplinary teams of researchers, students, and community partners, and do so in a way that empowers those involved to continue working towards longer term goals after projects are completed. The department’s responses to climate change have become more effective as a result, which make us a better community partner. It is an honor to receive this award from this highly regarded institution in Maine, and it’s heartening to have found so many like-minded individuals to collaborate with and learn from along the way.