Ariana Edwards – Understanding the impacts of offshore wind technology
2023 Mitchell Center Intern
Academic Program: Anthropology
Project: Understanding the Impacts of Off-Shore Wind Technology
Team Leader: Christine Beitl
Why are you interested in the problem you are working on?
For my capstone research, I focused on North Atlantic Right Whale conservation and the Maine Lobster Industry. When I heard about the Sustainable Seas and Fisheries Internship, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to continue working with Maine’s fishermen and the issues they currently face. Offshore wind is a controversial topic but I am excited to learn more about the history of the working waterfront and how it may evolve in the future.
How could your work contribute to a sustainable future in Maine and beyond?
Our goal for this project is to determine the historical uses, ecological significance, and cultural importance of the project area for the offshore research array in Casco Bay. This research array is expected to inform the construction methods and sites for future offshore wind throughout the Gulf of Maine. This project is also going to set the precedent for developer-fishermen communication and collaboration in future proposals.
What do you feel are the most important skills that you bring to your internship?
Being from the midcoast region of Maine, this project is one I have been living through. I believe that my connections to fishermen, lobstermen, and the working waterfront at large will help our group foster valuable connections conducive to our research.
What have you learned through your participation in this internship?
Through this internship, I have learned how to conduct interviews and how to apply qualitative data to scientific research. I have experienced firsthand the power behind ethnographic research and the value it can contribute to academia.
What are your personal goals for this internship? What do you hope to accomplish?
My hopes for this internship are to further practice ethnographic research and gain experience in conducting interviews. I am passionate about this project and always enjoy the opportunity to grow as an academic and professional.
How do you like to spend your free time/downtime?
I have always cherished time outdoors, whether hiking new trails, visiting Maine’s beautiful coast, or gardening with my dog, I always find a way to be outside. I study both biology and anthropology so I also enjoy museums and galleries whenever I have the spare time.
What’s your ultimate Maine experience?
I have lived in Maine my whole life and I believe this question can be different for everyone. All Mainers have stories of days spent skiing, weekends at camp, or afternoons out on the water, for me the first thing that comes to mind when hearing “ultimate Maine experience” is my job from the summer of 2022. I worked at Holbrook Island Sanctuary, a small state park in Harborside, as a ranger. The other rangers and I lived on an off-grid island in Penobscot Bay and spent our time clearing trails, hosting community events, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Maine’s bold coast daily. That experience has only deepened my passion to help protect this stunning place I call home.