Caroline Noblet – 2023 Award for Student Mentorship
The state of Maine is facing a lot of questions about the emerging contaminant PFAS, and how it will affect many aspects of people’s lives, including their safety and their livelihoods. My work is focused on understanding the perceptions, experiences and information that people are using to make choices about PFAS in their own lives – from Maine citizens to consumers of Maine food. Importantly, all the folks working on this important issue have a real sense of duty and care for our state, and beyond. I feel fortunate that my students have been able to see this level of commitment and unity from state agencies, nonprofits and researchers across the country, because it is a particularly important piece of doing interdisciplinary, people–centric research.
I don’t think anyone could listen to the stories of folks impacted by PFAS without feeling deeply changed. Hearing, and seeing, Maine people (and others) who strove to work-hard, take care of their families and our environment who suddenly experienced life-altering information on a contaminant they had no control over – it pushes you to ensure the research you are doing is an important part of the solution.
PFAS is such a complicated, multi-faceted issue that is can be intimidating to think about. I would encourage researchers to think about how their expertise could help in our understanding of the issue with the goal of developing solutions. I would encourage everyone to learn about PFAS, and the steps that can be taken to limit new PFAS in our world.