Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono.

• Virtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information

Speakers:

• Sharon Klein, School of Economics, UMaine
• Caroline Noblet, School of Economics, UMaine

The way people respond to a changing climate and the way they use energy in electricity, heating, and transportation are often dictated by historical patterns, events, and situations beyond their control. People who have been historically marginalized or disadvantaged often do not have access to the same energy-saving technologies or approaches to climate resilience as others. In this talk, Sharon, Caroline, and their team will describe ongoing partnerships with Wabanaki government staff and citizen committees; citizens and local government officials from rural Maine communities; and many other communities, people, and entities across Maine and beyond. These multiple partnerships have a common theme: supporting community- and Wabanaki-driven climate and energy resilience efforts through research-based opportunities to address energy and environmental equity and justice. Sharon Klein and Caroline Noblet are both Associate Professors in the School of Economics at the University of Maine and Mitchell Center Faculty Fellows. Sharon is an interdisciplinary energy researcher and educator who uses methods based in engineering, environmental science, economics and other social sciences to engage students, citizens, governmental and non-governmental entities in understanding energy issues and making more sustainable choices. She is currently leading projects that use community-based participatory research to understand barriers, opportunities, and decision drivers to sustainable energy (renewable energy & energy efficiency/conservation) adoption for individuals, communities, and local and tribal governments. Caroline is a behavioral and experimental environmental economist with a particular focus on how people process and use information. She is currently working on projects that examine the role of risk perceptions, choice architecture, valuation of the environment and environmental motivation in natural resource decision making.  Sharon and Caroline both enjoy the Maine outdoors, and spending time with their children and dogs.