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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions
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SUMMARY:Talk - Housing as a sustainability challenge: Perceptions of risk and the quest for affordable housing in Maine
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nSpeaker: Sarah Sturtevant\, Independent Research Analyst\nMaine’s affordable housing crisis mirrors that of the nation. And yet some of the root causes of the housing crisis are unique to Maine. Join Sarah as she explores the ecosystem surrounding housing construction\, the role of specialization\, and the impact of perceptions of risk. Through gaining a better understanding of what brought Maine to this point\, she will explore some paths forward in the quest for affordable housing in Maine. \nSarah Sturtevant is an independent research analyst focused on affordable housing in Maine. Growing up on a chicken farm in Maine and graduating from Bowdoin College\, preceded a multi-decade career in investment management; the last seven years as a portfolio advisor and global\, small-cap\, equity analyst for Wellington Management’s Global Macro Research Group. Sarah returned to Maine in 2020 graduating from  the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School’s Public Policy Analysis graduate program in 2023. She has completed housing research as a Shaw Innovation Fellow  and as a consultant with the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC). She has also participated in several state working groups focused on Maine’s housing challenges.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-housing-as-a-sustainability-challenge-perceptions-of-risk-and-the-quest-for-affordable-housing-in-maine/
LOCATION:mitchell center
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251117T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251117T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250811T143753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T142044Z
UID:10000790-1763391600-1763395200@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Bridging the Worlds of Fishing and Research: Roles for Connectors
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-sponsors:\n\nSchool of Marine Sciences\nDepartment of Communication & Journalism\nAquaculture Research Institute\n3-D Ecosystem Science National Research Traineeship\nMaine Sea Grant\n\nSpeaker: Carla Guenther\, Chief Scientist\, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries \nDr. Carla Guenther is the chief scientist at Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries in Stonington\, Maine. Formally educated in engineering\, marine science and human geography from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of California\, Santa Barbara\, Carla has worked in fisheries in Mexico\, California\, and Maine. Alongside fishermen\, scientists\, and managers she has been navigating resource\, management\, and social change in Maine’s coastal fishing dependent communities for 15 years.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/bridging-the-worlds-of-fishing-and-research/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250808T140654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T143936Z
UID:10000789-1762786800-1762790400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - A Career in Service to Maine: Lessons learned from municipal to state to business
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-sponsors\n\nSPIRE (Office of Strategic Partnerships\, Innovation\, Resources\, and Engagement)\nMargaret Chase Smith Policy Center\nDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering\nCohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service\nHonors College\nMaine Business School\n\nSpeaker: Dana Connors\, former President and CEO\, Maine State Chamber of Commerce\nDana Connors is the former leader of the Maine’s largest and most diverse business association\, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. In this position\, he oversaw a broad range of activities including advocacy efforts\, economic development initiatives\, workforce development opportunities\, and a wide variety of member services on behalf of the state’s business community. \nConnors began his career as the city manager of Presque Isle for 16 years\, and then spent 11 years as commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. He was president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce from 1994 until his recent retirement. \nA Maine native\, Connors received a bachelor’s degree in public management from the University of Maine in 1965. He was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and the State of Maine Governor’s Business Roundtable for Early Childhood Development. Other boards on which he served include the Maine Economic Research Institute; Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership; and Maine & Company. Additionally\, he has been a member of ReadyNation since 2009. \nConnors has received numerous awards for his service and leadership to the state of Maine throughout his career. Most recently\, he was inducted into Junior Achievement’s Maine Business Hall of Fame (2014) and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine (2015).
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-a-career-in-service-to-maine-lessons-learned-from-municipal-to-state-to-business/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250807T143952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T132020Z
UID:10000786-1762182000-1762185600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Student Sustainability Lightning Talks
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this event is available. \nLightning talks will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nTalks in this session will focus on sustainability research by graduate and undergraduate students in Maine. Each presenter will have 5-minutes for their talk. PowerPoint presentations are allowed but will be limited to 10 slides. \nAgenda\n3:00PM-3:03PM\nWelcome – David Hart \n3:03pm-3:08pm\nMelisa Uyar and Rafiul Ahmed\nTapping into unmet demand for U.S. seafood: Can Maine lead the way? \n3:09pm-3:14pm (virtual)\nErfan Najaf\nBuilding a Greener Maine: Reducing Concrete’s Carbon Footprint and Cracking \n3:15pm-3:20pm\nEddie Nachamie (undergraduate)\nInvestigating PFAS Contamination from Cleaning and Waxing Products in Maine Schools through a Participatory Action Research Project \n3:21pm-3:26pm\nHarry Nutifafa Arden and Amber Schultz\nPeople\, Coast and Offshore Wind Energy Development: Reflections from a mixed-methods study in Maine \n3:27pm-3:32pm\nMelissa Godin\nSandbagging the future in the fog of uncertainty \n3:33pm-3:38pm\nKatherine Simmons and Muhammad Hamza Imran\nIncreasing access to equitable sustainable energy transitions through co-designed community microgrids \n3:39pm-3:44pm\nClara Thompson (undergraduate)\nCoating Cellulose Nanofibrils and Poly-vinyl Alcohol on Paper as an Alternative to Perfluoroalkane Substances \n3:45pm-3-50pm\nSonia Leone\nImpacts of Climate Language on Rural Maine Community Resilience Initiatives \n3:50pm-4:00pm\nFacilitated Q&A \nAbstracts\nTapping into unmet demand for U.S. seafood: Can Maine lead the way?\nMelisa Uyar and Rafiul Ahmed\n \nU.S. households frequently report a desire to increase seafood consumption but face persistent barriers that hinder actual behavior. This study examines the nature and distribution of these consumption barriers across different U.S. regions. We also focus on the potential for Maine’s aquaculture industry to convert unmet intent into realized demand. Data for this study comes from a 2023 representative survey (n = 7\,438) administered by the University of Maine School of Economics. The sample includes respondents from U.S. Major Cities (n = 2\,361) and the Northeastern U.S. (n = 5\,077)\, encompassing variables such as seafood purchasing and consumption patterns\, choice experiment\, key barriers to at-home seafood consumption\, seafood and marine environment quality perceptions\, visitation history\, and demographics. \nPreliminary results suggest that around 87% of our sample report wanting to prepare or eat more seafood at home. Barriers to increased consumption include knowledge (how to prepare/store/safe preparation) and price\, both of which are emerging more frequently than dislike of seafood\, suggesting that factors other than taste restrict at-home consumption. We find meaningful differences consistent with variation in fresh seafood access across locations. We also examine the relationship between perceptions of the location’s marine environment\, seafood quality\, and water quality concerns and barriers experienced. \nThese findings offer valuable insights for aquaculture producers: by addressing knowledge and cost barriers\, industry stakeholders can better align product offerings with consumer intent and tap into unmet demand. \nBuilding a Greener Maine: Reducing Concrete’s Carbon Footprint and Cracking\nErfan Najaf\n \nConcrete infrastructure in Maine faces a critical challenge: premature\, early-age cracking caused by shrinkage and temperature changes\, which leads to costly repairs and a shortened service life. At the same time\, conventional concrete carries a heavy environmental burden due to the high CO₂ emissions from its primary ingredient\, cement. My research tackles both of these problems by developing a more durable and sustainable concrete tailored for our state. \nThe approach is two-fold. First\, by optimizing the ratio of sand and stone\, we have developed new mix designs that significantly reduce the required cement content. A full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirms that these mixes dramatically lower the material’s environmental footprint across all indicators\, including climate change impact. \nSecond\, to enhance durability\, we are investigating the addition of Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF)\, a bio-based nanomaterial derived from wood. Results show that adding a small amount of CNF increases both compressive and flexural (bending) strength\, creating a tougher concrete that better resists crack formation. This project presents a Maine-based solution for building greener\, longer-lasting infrastructure. \nInvestigating PFAS Contamination from Cleaning and Waxing Products in Maine Schools through a Participatory Action Research Project\nEddie Nachamie (undergraduate) \nThe aim of this research project is to investigate the source of PFAS contamination in Maine’s public schools and communicate the results to school administrators. This work is important because PFAS have become a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and present a looming public health threat. These compounds have been linked to liver and kidney diseases\, increased cholesterol\, certain cancers\, endocrine disruption\, and developmental toxicity. The pace of work on this problem has accelerated in the state of Maine after a series of farm closures in the late 2010s as a result of contamination. School systems have yet to be fully investigated as sources of contamination through floor waxing\, stripping\, and cleaning products\, but early evidence from the New Hampshire DES shows this is an area of emerging concern2. In 2024\, researchers from MDI Biological Laboratory detected PFAS contamination in homes surrounding MDI High School which had been found to have high PFAS concentrations in its drinking and wastewater sources following a sampling round by the Maine Drinking Water Program in 2023. The research highlighted the potential for floor wax\, floor stripping\, and other cleaning products utilized in the school to be the source of PFAS contamination4 My research will investigate if floor stripping and waxing wastewater is the primary cause of PFAS contamination in school drinking and wastewater systems. Understanding the cause of contamination in schools will help administrators and school boards make better decisions about floor maintenance practices and product choices in order to protect public health and the environment. \nIncreasing access to equitable sustainable energy transitions through co-designed community microgrids\nKatherine Simmons and Muhammad Hamza Imran \nAccess to reliable\, affordable\, and sustainable energy remains a persistent challenge for many rural and Indigenous communities across the United States. High energy costs\, frequent outages\, and limited local control continue to affect social and economic well-being. Microgrids\, which are localized and semi-independent energy networks\, offer a promising approach to enhancing community resilience and advancing energy justice. Their success\, however\, depends on meaningful participation from the communities they are designed to serve. \nThis study presents a systematic literature review examining the current landscape of community-led microgrids\, focusing on how communities engage in co-design processes with researchers\, developers\, and utilities. The review explores four main themes: the mechanisms of community participation and their influence on project outcomes; how engagement affects whether systems operate as intended; ownership models that promote energy sovereignty; and the barriers and opportunities that shape community-led microgrid development. \nFindings indicate that projects built on strong community engagement\, including collaborative workshops\, accessible communication\, and technical training\, are most likely to achieve long-term success and reflect local needs and values. Community and Tribal ownership models\, in particular\, promote sustained operation and economic self-determination. However\, persistent technical\, financial\, and regulatory challenges continue to limit widespread adoption. To advance an equitable and sustainable energy transition\, microgrid development must be grounded in community partnership\, transparent communication\, and shared decision-making supported by clear ownership and maintenance structures. \nSandbagging the future in the fog of uncertainty\nMelissa Godin \nPlanning ahead under financial\, political\, and climate uncertainty is stressful. Some people may psychologically protect themselves from the distress of a perceived bleak future by simply choosing not to think about it. Economists would call this a behavioral trap\, a self-reinforcing cycle in which factors such as stress\, financial constraints\, and uncertain institutions push people toward short-sighted choices that don’t accurately account for their long-term interests\, both for themselves and for their communities. In sustainability practice\, this might lead people to avoid investing in climate resilience\, especially for median homeowners\, who are disproportionately impacted by rising insurance premiums and mitigation costs. Across all income levels\, more abstract concerns like climate anxiety and political instability may also narrow the planning horizon. In these scenarios\, people are “sandbagging” their future–that is\, choosing short-run fixes that feel fine today but don’t build durable stability and resilience tomorrow. An emerging study aims to collect empirical evidence to model these behavioral traps\, and to examine whether financial\, political\, and climate anxieties shorten the horizon for the choices people make for both themselves and their communities. \nPeople\, Coast and Offshore Wind Energy Development: Reflections from a mixed-methods study in Maine\nHarry Nutifafa Arden and Amber Schultz\n \nCoastal communities face increasing pressure to provide resources amid several other issues related to spatial competition and climate change\, which makes understanding residents’ preferences for coastal development vital. Focusing on Maine\, where an offshore wind energy project was designated for the Gulf of Maine in 2022\, this research employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the mixed perceptions of residents in Searsport and Yarmouth about the potential impacts and community benefits. The research design integrates both qualitative and quantitative data from over 20 key informant interviews with stakeholders\, using semi-structured questions and over 400 household surveys made of open-ended questions\, Likert-scale questions and choice experiments deployed by a drop-off/pick-up technique. After the first phase of our data collection\, we reflect on the rationale\, challenges and lessons learned from applying diverse methodologies in researching people and their perceptions about coastal space use. The overall experience demonstrates that while a mixed-methods approach can be cumbersome\, it is indispensable in coastal-marine social science research for capturing the nuanced perspectives required for effective and equitable policy. \nCoating Cellulose Nanofibrils and Poly-vinyl Alcohol on Paper as an Alternative to Perfluoroalkane Substances\nClara Thompson (undergraduate) \nWhen packaging food\, a good grease and oxygen barrier is needed. Paper alone is not a good barrier\, so when used it has been coated with perfluoroalkanes (PFAS). However\, these\n“forever chemicals” have detrimental environmental and health effects\, leading to a ban on their use in food packaging. In this research\, the formation of composite cellulose nanofibril and poly(vinyl alcohol) coatings is being developed as a replacement. CNFs (cellulose nanofibrils) are cellulose typically obtained from wood and\, in this research\, refined to nanofibrils mechanically. CNF layers formed from highly refined CNFs make for good grease and oxygen barriers\, however at lower refinement large pores exist between the fibers\, allowing oxygen through. To combat this without the expense and energy output needed for high levels of refinement\, this research aims to fill these pores with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH). PVOH acts as a good grease and oxygen barrier\, can be produced from biobased materials\, and is biodegradable. This research utilizes CNF at 70% fines. Fines is a measurement that can be used as a metric of refinement\, and higher percentages indicate higher refinement. To form CNF coatings\, a solution of 0.6% weight CNF was coated onto water-resistant paper\, and vacuum filtration was used to pull the water from the solution through the paper\, leaving behind a layer of CNF. Multiple trials have been completed with differing target basis weights of CNF. \nImpacts of Climate Language on Rural Maine Community Resilience Initiatives\nSonia Leone \nLanguage about climate change may create barriers for communities seeking to engage in resilience initiatives\, and these barriers can be especially pronounced for rural and Indigenous communities. My undergraduate Honors Thesis\, titled Impacts of Climate Language on Rural Maine Community Resilience Initiatives\, analyzes the barriers and opportunities of climate language in rural Maine communities and Wabanaki Tribes. It also examines how iterative co-production of research and equitable relationships can support successful resilience initiatives. This study uses three methods: (1) A literature review of peer-reviewed publications about place-centered climate knowledge and equitable research methodology\, which is compared to (2) interview data from from Maine community leaders who engage with resilience projects and issues at the local level\, and (3) data from a survey co-developed with representatives from Maine communities and Wabanaki tribes to understand citizen perceptions and preferences regarding of energy and climate resilience. Community participation in this study finds that trusting relationships with institutions can help rural and Indigenous communities talk about climate change and center local needs in resilience projects. Literature review results support this finding and establish community-based participatory research (CBPR) as a methodology that iteratively engages with community members as equal partners in resilience projects. However\, rural populations of Maine and Wabanaki Tribes continue to be underrepresented in current research\, which does not sufficiently address nuanced local contexts.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/student-sustainability-lightning-talks-2/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250807T144839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T180419Z
UID:10000787-1761577200-1761580800@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - The Economics of Nature in Today’s Political Landscape
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-Sponsors\n\nEcology & Environmental Sciences Program\, UMaine\nSchool of Biology & Ecology\, UMaine\nDept. of Wildlife\, Fisheries & Conservation Biology\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: William Ginn\, globally recognized expert on investing and valuing ecosystem services\nIn a few swift months\, the current federal administration has abandoned any action on climate change\, shifted energy incentives back to oil and gas from solar and wind\, and repositioned the nation’s environment agency towards facilitating development rather than protecting nature. \nThese rapid moves deeply challenge the proposition that shifting investing toward “green” infrastructure is the only long term sustainable path for the world. This talk will explore these changes and consider how progress can still be made toward conserving the lands and waters upon which all life depends. \nWilliam Ginn is a globally recognized expert on investing and valuing ecosystem services. The author of two books on the subject\, Ginn founded NatureVest\, The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) partnership with private investment capital that now has over $3 billion dollars under management. He also served as the chief conservation officer of TNC\, running their worldwide activities in more that 65 countries with over 3\,000 employees. \nGinn has a long relationship with Maine having graduated from the first class of students at the College of the Atlantic. He was the executive director of Maine Audubon and has been a founder of many companies in Maine including MEMIC\, TimberHP and Katahdin Salmon. He is the recipient of the Governors Award for Business Leadership\, and received an honorary doctorate from Unity College for his work to pass Maine’s Returnable Container Law and as chair of the Maine Pesticide Control Board. \nHe now splits his time between a farm in Pownal\, Maine and on Eagle Island in Eastern Penobscot Bay.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-the-economics-of-nature-in-todays-political-landscape/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250820T193716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T122636Z
UID:10000792-1760972400-1760976000@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion - Why return land to Indigenous Nations without restriction? Discussions on Wáhsehtəkʷ and Wabanaki-Land Trust Partnerships
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this event is available \nThis panel discussion will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors:\n\nWabanaki Center\nNative American Programs\nUMaine Dept. of Communication & Journalism\nUMaine Dept. of Anthropology\n\nPanelists:\n\nChuck Loring\, Penobscot Nation\nBetsy Cook\, Maine State Director\, Trust for Public Land\nDarren Ranco\, Chair\, Native American Programs\, University of Maine\n\nLand return\, rematriation (rebuilding traditional Indigenous stewardship and caretaking practices to ancestral places)\, and conservation work led by Indigenous peoples intersect with several of the key issues impacting the well-being and cultures of our Indigenous nations. This includes\, but is not limited to\, issues of environmental and climate justice\, food sovereignty\, health\, and economic justice. As a practice\, land returns are being done by land trusts without easements or restrictions\, while at the same time scholars have recognized that Indigenous leadership\, knowledge\, and decision-making in conservation work also represent conservation best practices — resulting in the most effective ways to conserve lands productively for climate resilience and biodiversity. \nChuck Loring is a citizen of the Penobscot Nation. In his work duties\, he provides oversight to the Nation’s natural resources department. His background is in Forestry\, and he is a UMaine alum who graduated in 2012.  He has worked for the Nation’s natural resources department in various capacities since then.  Though his path has been through forestry\, Chuck feels a deep connection to not only the forest\, but the animals within it.  When he isn’t in the office you can find him on any one of the various Penobscot territories with his daughter doing anything from collecting shed antlers to hunting moose. \nBetsy Cook is the Maine State Director for the Trust for Public Land’s (TPL). She is committed to ensuring all Mainers have equitable access to the outdoors. Betsy joined TPL in 2017 and during her time has worked with communities across the state to create over 25\,000 acres of new public lands\, parks\, and community forests. Previously\, Betsy worked with the New England Forestry Foundation\, and Triangle Land Conservancy and Duke Forest\, both in Durham\, North Carolina. Betsy discovered the power of public lands during her summers working in the White Mountain National Forest’s backcountry hut system. Betsy holds a BA from Cornell University and Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry from Duke University\, where she completed her thesis on community forests. Betsy lives in Portland and enjoys exploring all corners of Maine by cross-country skiing\, hiking\, and paddling with her spouse\, Jesse\, their two kids\, Nora and Malcolm\, and their energetic dog\, Banjo. \nDarren J. Ranco\, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation\, is a professor of anthropology\, Chair of Native American Programs\, and faculty fellow at the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine.  He has a master of studies in environmental law from Vermont Law School and a doctorate in social anthropology from Harvard University. His research focuses on the ways in which Indigenous Nations resist environmental destruction by using Indigenous science and diplomacies to protect their natural and cultural resources. He has published extensively and teaches classes on Indigenous intellectual property rights\, research ethics and methodology\, environmental and climate justice\, and tribal governance.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/panel-discussion-why-return-land-to-indigenous-nations-without-restriction-discussions-on-wahseht%c9%99k%ca%b7-and-wabanaki-land-trust-partnerships/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250805T170754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T175501Z
UID:10000783-1759762800-1759766400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - One Climate Future: From Plan to Progress
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-Sponsors:\n\nUMaine Office of Sustainability\nMaine Climate Science Information Exchange\nSustainability & Environmental Action Division\nMAINECAN\nUMaine Honors College\n\nSpeaker: Katie Tims\, Sustainability Associate\, City of Portland’s Sustainability Office \nOne Climate Future is the City of Portland’s climate action and adaptation plan; it is more than just a document\, it’s the City’s roadmap to a more sustainable and resilient future. Portland’s ongoing efforts include everything from reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy to equipping the community with the resources to adapt to a changing climate. Hear about the tangible steps the City of Portland is taking\, the challenges they’re addressing\, and the collaborative efforts underway to achieve Portland’s ambitious climate goals. \nKatie Tims is a sustainability associate at the City of Portland’s Sustainability Office. She implements programs to decarbonize and improve energy efficiency in municipal\, commercial\, and residential buildings\, helping the city achieve its One Climate Future goals. A Maine native and UMaine alumna\, where she contributed to a sustainability research team at the UMaine Mitchell Center focused on engaging stakeholders across the state in the effort to reduce food waste. Before joining the city\, she worked for UMaine Cooperative Extension\, conducting agricultural research\, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection\, assisting municipalities and businesses with waste management.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-one-climate-future-from-plan-to-progress/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250723T180817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T133240Z
UID:10000782-1759158000-1759161600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Whose Knowledge Counts? Trust\, Expertise\, and the Politics of Sustainability in Rural America
DESCRIPTION:Photo credit: Ken Woisard\nA recording of this talk is available \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-sponsors:\n\nMitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions\nCohen Institute for Leadership & Public Service\nUMaine Political Science Department\n\nSpeaker: Nicholas Jacobs\, Goldfarb Family Distinguished Chair in American Government\, Colby College \nWhat happens when facts aren’t enough? In many rural communities\, sustainability efforts face not just logistical or economic hurdles\, but a deeper crisis of legitimacy—one rooted in longstanding mistrust of outside experts and institutions. This talk explores how knowledge itself becomes contested terrain\, where technical expertise is often viewed as disconnected from lived experience and political power. Understanding rural resistance requires grappling with how people make sense of the past\, locate blame\, and defend the integrity of their communities. \n\n\nNicholas F. Jacobs is the Goldfarb Family Distinguished Chair in American Government at Colby College and the founding director of the Colby Public Policy Lab. His research focuses on rural politics\, federalism\, and public trust in government\, with a particular interest in how people interpret policy through place-based narratives and lived experience. He is co-author of “The Rural Voter” and has advised policymakers at the local and national level. His work has been featured in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, The Wall Street Journal\, and other major outlets.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-whose-knowledge-counts-trust-expertise-and-the-politics-of-sustainability-in-rural-america/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250807T134105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T154056Z
UID:10000784-1758553200-1758556800@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Hunting for Truth: PFAS Impacts in Maine’s Natural Food Sources
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-sponsors:\n\nMitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions\nUMaine Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering\nUMaine School of Economics\nUMaine School of Food & Agriculture\nUMaine\, Dept. of Wildlife\, Fisheries & Conservation Biology\n\nSpeakers: Caroline Noblet and Dianne Kopec\, University of Maine\nIn this talk\, Noblet and Kopec will explore how rural Maine people\, who possess a long heritage of fishing and hunting\, are navigating impacts from environmental contamination and climate change. Two surveys conducted in collaboration with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: one with Maine fishing license holders (August 2024\, n = 3\,549) and another with Maine hunting license holders (March 2025\, n = 13\,330) allowed our interdisciplinary team to conduct an in-depth exploration of how folks who hunt and fish in Maine are processing information about consumption advisories\, and potentially changing their behaviors. \nDr. Caroline L. Noblet is an associate professor in the School of Economics at the University of Maine. She holds a doctorate in economic psychology. Her research lies at the intersection of behavioral and experimental economics\, environmental economics\, and decision‑making theory.  Her current PFAS work focuses on how Maine residents perceive PFAS (“forever chemicals”) contamination—particularly in fish and game—and how messaging can influence environmental and consumption decisions. \nDr. Dianne Kopec is a research fellow at the Mitchell Center. Her research examines how ecology and behavior influence an organism’s exposure to toxic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-hunting-for-truth-pfas-impacts-in-maines-natural-food-sources/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250811T165311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T195216Z
UID:10000791-1757948400-1757952000@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Who Do You Choose to Be? Service\, Collaboration\, and Resilience
DESCRIPTION:A recording of this talk is available. \nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nEvent Co-sponsors:\n\nMitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions\nMaine Climate Science Information Exchange\nMAINECAN\nUMaine Dept. of Communication & Journalism\n\nSpeaker: Gabe McPhail\, Founder\, Resilient Communities\nBuilding community resilience isn’t only about projects or plans — it’s about how we work together. Grounded in experiences from Maine’s rural islands and small towns—places rich in social capital but often limited in capacity—this talk explores how shared principles\, authentic collaboration\, and a spirit of service can deepen relationships with one another and with the ecosystems we are part of. Drawing from the Community Resilience Partnership\, the Maine Islands Project\, MAINECAN\, and other collaborations\, we’ll imagine the systems we can create\, the service we can offer\, and ask: Who do we choose to be? \nGabe McPhail is a facilitator and planner with over two decades of experience advancing resilience\, equity\, and sustainability in Maine. As founder of Resilient Communities\, they help towns plan for a more resilient future\, secure funding\, and design practical strategies that address climate challenges and community needs. Their work is grounded in empathy\, inclusion\, and respect for local knowledge.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-who-do-you-choose-to-be-service-collaboration-and-resilience/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250421T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250421T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250121T165847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250205T150949Z
UID:10000772-1745247600-1745251200@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Reconciling with resilience: How Maine can bounce back from floods
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors:  \n\nMaine Climate Science Information Exchange\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nDept. of Communication & Journalism\, UMaine\nCivil & Environmental Engineering\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: Emmett Gartner\, Environmental Reporter\, The Maine Monitor \nLast winter’s devastating storms revealed just how vulnerable Maine communities are to flooding\, whether they’re behind seawalls along the coast or nestled on rivers in the state’s mountainous interior. \nIn the aftermath of that flooding\, Maine Monitor reporter Emmett Gartner traveled across the state to report on how effectively communities weathered the storms\, speaking with local officials about their plans to fortify their towns against the rising seas and more frequent\, intensifying storms brought on by climate change. \nJoin Emmett at the University of Maine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions on April 21 at 3PM as he discusses his reporting on the challenges Maine faces in building resilience to flooding and what solutions exist at the state and local levels to prepare Maine for what’s to come. \nEmmett Gartner is an environmental reporter for The Maine Monitor and contributor to The Monitor’s weekly environmental newsletter\, Climate Monitor. Having grown up on the Chesapeake Bay\, Emmett has long been interested in stories of adaptation and accountability. He joined the newsroom in 2023 as a Roy W. Howard fellow and now explores how environmental policy aligns with Mainers’ lived experiences and where climate change complicates the status quo. Previously\, he reported for a daily newspaper in western Maryland and spent separate summer stints working as a trail maintenance worker in Nevada\, a wildland firefighter in Oregon and an environmental educator on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-reconciling-with-resilience-how-maine-can-bounce-back-from-floods/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250418T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250418T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250224T181951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250319T142733Z
UID:10000779-1744970400-1744977600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Maine Wasted Food Solutions Summit
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Wasted Food Solutions Summit is Maine’s statewide event focused on ending wasted food and food loss in our state through solutions that benefit everyone. The Summit brings together our state’s key food system participants: farms\, businesses\, feeding partners\, community leaders\, and nonprofit organizations – to discuss best and highest uses for our valuable Maine food resources at every stage… “Maine Food: Too Good To Waste.” \nThis year\, we will specifically highlight the bottom-line economic benefits that Maine municipalities\, schools\, businesses\, and households are achieving by simply remembering that food is always a valuable resource packed with energy and nutrients. It is never waste! \nAttendees are encouraged to bring questions and ideas\, as each session will feature Q&A time – and our always lively online group chat will be moderated by our Mitchell Center team to encourage sharing between speakers and participants. \nPlease go to the summit web page for additional information and to register.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/maine-food-waste-solutions-summit-2/
LOCATION:Virtual\, ME\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250116T203229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T134036Z
UID:10000771-1744642800-1744646400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Managing for sustainability and climate resilience: The future of agroecological wild blueberry management in Maine and maritime Canada
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsor: \n\nSchool of Food and Agriculture\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\n\nSpeakers:  \n\nBrogan Tooley\, Senior Manager\, Agroecology Department\, Wyman’s\nRachel Schattman\, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Agriculture\, UMaine\n\nWild blueberry production in Maine and maritime Canada is an ecologically\, economically\, and culturally important industry and land use. Agroecology is a scientific discipline that examines agriculture within both ecological and social contexts\, and can be used to better understand the past\, present\, and potential future of wild blueberry agriculture in our region. In this talk\, we present two recent agroecological investigations of wild blueberries: First\, Brogan Tooley\, senior manager of agroecology at Wyman’s\, will share on-farm challenges and ongoing research efforts to identify management techniques that bolster crop resilience and mitigate crop stress in today’s climate. Next\, Dr. Rachel Schattman of the University of Maine Agroecology Lab will present on an ongoing study to investigate the effects of climate change\, specifically changing temperature and precipitation regimes\, on wild blueberries. We invite audience participation in the second half of the presentation as we probe the most pressing questions related to Northeast wild blueberry production in a changing climate. \nBrogan Tooley is the senior manager of the agroecology department at Wyman’s\, serving Maine and the Canadian maritimes. With a background in plant\, soil and environmental science\, she leads cutting-edge research focused on innovation\, risk mitigation and sustainable resource management in wild blueberries. Supporting one of the larger stakeholders in the industry\, Brogan aims to operationalize research findings and adaptive management strategies in a rapidly changing climate. \nDr. Rachel E. Schattman is an assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine. She is trained as both a field-based and social science agroecologist. In her research\, Dr. Schattman addresses some of the most pressing problems faced by the agricultural community today\, among them climate change\, food insecurity\, and chemical contamination. You can read more about her work at https://agroecolab.com/
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-managing-for-sustainability-and-climate-resilience-the-future-of-agroecological-wild-blueberry-management-in-maine-and-maritime-canada/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250407T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250407T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250122T202724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T150626Z
UID:10000775-1744038000-1744041600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Closing the Loop: Opportunities for Industrial Circular Economy Exchanges in Maine
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors: \n\nAdvanced Manufacturing Center\, UMaine\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\n\nSpeakers:  \n\nReed Miller\, Assistant Professor\, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Advanced Structures and Composites Center\, UMaine\nJohn Belding\, Director\, Advanced Manufacturing Center\, UMaine\nJean MacRae\, Associate Professor\, Civil and Environmental Engineering\, UMaine\nCindy Isenhour\, Professor of Anthropology and Climate Change\, UMaine\n\nIn this talk\, we’ll explore the potential of industrial symbiosis and materials exchanges as solutions for reducing waste in Maine— a key policy priority for climate action and sustainable resource use. By facilitating the exchange of waste\, Industrial Symbiosis and Materials Exchanges can cut disposal costs\, minimize pollution\, and unlock new economic opportunities. This presentation will examine how Maine can create a collaborative network to foster these circular economy solutions and support the state’s climate goals. \nReed Miller is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering with a joint affiliation at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine. Dr. Miller’s research applies the key methods from the field of Industrial Ecology\, including life cycle assessment\, to tackle sustainability challenges in modern production and consumption systems. \nJohn Belding is a professional engineer and has been the Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center for over 15 years— fostering deep and broad connections with companies of all sizes in and beyond Maine. He is also affiliated with professional organizations\, including the Manufacturers Association of Maine and Manufacturing Extension Partnerships across ME\, NH\, and VT. \nJean MacRae is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is part of two Mitchell Center research teams (Materials Management and PFAS research). Current research interests are focused on PFAS in the food system\, developing more efficient aquaculture waste management\, and the creation of more circular material systems. \nCindy Isenhour is a Professor of Anthropology and Climate Change. Her research is focused on environmental governance and policies designed to ensure economic\, social\, and ecological well-being. Recent research projects have focused on reuse as a strategy for building local and regional resilience.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-closing-the-loop-opportunities-for-industrial-circular-economy-exchanges-in-maine/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250331T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250331T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250225T193908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T195332Z
UID:10000780-1743433200-1743436800@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Scallop Aquaculture in the Gulf of Maine: Challenges\, Opportunities\, and Lessons Learned
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nSpeaker: Damian C. Brady\, Professor of Oceanography\, Darling Marine Center\, UMaine \nGlobal scallop production has rapidly transitioned from a wild-capture fishery to an aquaculture industry over the past several decades. However\, aquaculture of the Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in the Gulf of Maine has remained limited by the high labor burden and costs within the United States and Canada\, particularly when using traditional lantern net culture. Although we have a robust wild fishery for sea scallops\, we still import at least 50% of our scallops. To increase domestic production and secure seed supply in the future\, our team has been focused on technology transfer from Asia and Europe as well as developing scallop hatchery protocols. Sea scallops aquaculture has increased 6-fold in the last three years. In this talk\, I will discuss the development\, challenges\, and opportunities of this emerging aquaculture industry in Maine. \n\nDr. Damian C. Brady is a Professor of Oceanography based at the Darling Marine Center. His research interests\, while broad\, focus on how models can inform better decision-making in marine ecosystems to reflect the values of the coastal communities that rely on them. The decision-making contexts have included aquaculture\, offshore wind\, marine carbon dioxide removal\, the American lobster fishery\, sea-run fish\, and coastal water quality. The Gulf of Maine is an important economic driver for the region with important fisheries and aquaculture operations; however\, dynamic new ocean industries are emerging\, such as recirculating aquaculture systems\, floating offshore wind\, and marine carbon dioxide removal. Many of these new and emerging technologies purport to address our pressing climate change induced challenges. To determine whether these emerging technologies can address these challenges\, our team develops\, calibrates\, and validates tools\, such as techno-economic analyses\, marine ecosystem models\, remote sensing\, and oceanographic buoys\, to collect objective\, science-based information and importantly\, communicate these results to coastal communities.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-scallop-aquaculture-in-the-gulf-of-maine-challenges-opportunities-and-lessons-learned-2/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250327
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250328
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20240618T134829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241204T190537Z
UID:10000756-1743033600-1743119999@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:2025 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference
DESCRIPTION:The 2025 conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday\, March 27 at the Augusta Civic Center. Conference updates are available through our  e-newsletter or from the conference web pages.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/2025-maine-sustainability-water-conference/
LOCATION:Augusta Civic Center\, Augusta\, ME\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250324T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250324T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250121T184322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T145633Z
UID:10000773-1742828400-1742832000@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Zoom Panel Discussion - The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods & Waters
DESCRIPTION:Tekαkαpimək under construction. Credit: Wright-Ryan Construction\nThe talk will be held virtually via Zoom only. \nComplete the registration form for Zoom connection information \nCo-sponsors:  \n\nNative American Programs/Wabanaki Center\, UMaine\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\n\nModerator: Darren Ranco\, Chair of Native American Programs; Professor\, Anthropology and Mitchell Center\, UMaine \nPanelists: \n\nJennifer Neptune\, Penobscot Nation\nJames Francis\, Director of Cultural and Historic Preservation\, Penobscot Nation\nGabe Frey\, Passamaquoddy\nErin Hutton\, Erin Hutton Projects\n\nTekαkαpimək Contact Station is a stunning 7\,900 square-foot building and 23-acre site atop Lookout Mountain created to welcome the global public to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The monument is located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation. The land and waters hold special significance to the Penobscot Nation and is inextricably linked with Penobscot culture\, ceremonies\, oral traditions\, language\, history\, and Indigenous stewardship which continues the respectful relationship with the land and waterways that has gone back more than 11\,000 years. Katahdin is a culturally significant place to the Wabanaki people where connecting watersheds provide important travel routes for Wabanaki people of Maine\, comprised of Maliseet\, Mi’kmaq\, Passamaquoddy\, and Penobscot Nations. \nTekαkαpimək is a Penobscot language word for “as far as one can see”\, pronounced deh gah-gah bee mook. Architectural\, landscape and exhibition designs for Tekαkαpimək resulted from a process between Elliotsville Foundation\, representatives of the Wabanaki Nations\, Saunders Architecture\, Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture\, WeShouldDoItAll\, Tuhura Communications\, Erin Hutton Projects\, and the National Park Service. The design process began in 2019 and construction was completed in 2024\, with regular public hours to be announced after National Park Service assumes ownership and operations for the 2025 visitation season. \nTekαkαpimək’s waysides and exhibits orient visitors to the monument\, inspiring them to experience Katahdin Woods and Waters from its peaks\, trails\, and rivers to its ever-changing foliage\, brilliant night sky\, and abundant wildlife. Interpretation is through a Wabanaki lens in a contemporary context\, honoring the past and showing vibrant communities moving sustainably into the future. All Wabanaki Cultural Knowledge and Intellectual Property shared within this project is owned by the Wabanaki Nations – the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians\, Mi’kmaq Nation\, Passamaquoddy Tribe\, and Penobscot Nation. \nInformation on the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station provided by Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters \nAll Wabanaki Cultural Knowledge and Intellectual Property shared within this project is owned by the Wabanaki Nations.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/panel-discussion-the-tek%ce%b1k%ce%b1pim%c9%99k-contact-station-at-katahdin-woods-waters/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250123T144744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250304T150056Z
UID:10000776-1741618800-1741622400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Wicked Storms and Rising Oceans: Leading an Island Community in Peril
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors:  \n\nMaine Climate Science Information Exchange\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nSchool of Economics\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: Kathleen Billings\, Town Manager\, Stonington\, Maine \nA native of Deer Isle\, Maine\, Kathleen Billings has been the Town Manager for Stonington for more than 20 years. As such\, she oversees the employees and the day-to-day operations of the town. Her role includes maintaining a highly-functioning municipal sewer and water system\, an extensive network of paved roads\, one of the largest working waterfronts in the state\, an airport\, a successful economic development program\, and much more. Kathleen has an open-door policy and is deeply involved with anything and everything concerning Stonington. As Town Manager\, she started the ‘Sidewalk Project\,’ and the town rebuilt Hagen Dock\, the public landing\, and established several parks to make the town more attractive. \n 
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-wicked-storms-and-rising-oceans-leading-an-island-community-in-peril/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250122T140842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250211T132337Z
UID:10000774-1741014000-1741017600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - At Last\, Restoration of Maine’s Longest River: The Unprecedented Cleanup of the Mighty Penobscot
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors: \n\nWildlife\, Fisheries\, and Conservation Biology\, UMaine\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nCivil & Environmental Engineering\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: Lauri Gorton\, Program Manager\, Greenfield Penobscot Estuary Remediation Trust LLC \nThis talk will provide an overview of one of the largest environmental cleanups underway in Maine\, designed to reduce exposure to mercury in the Penobscot River estuary – the state’s longest river. In 2022\, the U.S. District Court in Maine approved a Consent Decree that created and funded two environmental response trusts to settle the 20-year lawsuit by Maine People’s Alliance and the Natural Resources Defense Council against Mallinckrodt US LLC for discharging mercury into the Penobscot River Estuary. The Penobscot Estuary Mercury Remediation Trust is charged with implementing measures to remediate mercury contamination in Estuary sediments using funds of at least $167 million and possibly up to $247 million provided by Mallinckrodt. The second trust\, the Penobscot Estuary Beneficial Environmental Projects Trust\, was created to fund environmental projects intended to mitigate or offset potential adverse impacts caused by mercury contamination in the Penobscot Estuary. \nAs Greenfield’s Program Manager for the Penobscot Estuary Mercury Remediation Trust\, Lauri is responsible for leading the trust’s technical\, regulatory\, and communications programs designed to address mercury contamination in the Estuary. Before working on the Penobscot\, Lauri spent ten years as Environmental Program Manager and Senior Strategist for other Greenfield environmental response trusts\, where she led the cleanup and community engagement efforts at Superfund and RCRA sites in Mississippi\, Montana\, Florida\, and Missouri. Before joining Greenfield in 2013\, Lauri worked at CH2M HILL (now Jacobs)\, managing RCRA and CERCLA (Superfund) environmental programs across the country.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-at-last-restoration-of-maines-longest-river-the-unprecedented-cleanup-of-the-mighty-penobscot/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250303
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250304
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250106T192354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T192354Z
UID:10000768-1740960000-1741046399@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Poster Abstract Submission Deadline – 2025 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference
DESCRIPTION:The 2025 Maine Sustainability and Water Conference will be held on Thursday\, March 27 at the Augusta Civic Center\, Augusta\, Maine. \nThe Call for Poster Abstracts is open. Abstracts can be submitted online or as an email attachment to umgmc@maine.edu.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/poster-abstract-submission-deadline-2025-maine-sustainability-water-conference/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250224T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250224T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250123T160727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250214T143443Z
UID:10000777-1740409200-1740412800@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Casting a Wide Net: Diversity of Perspectives Improves Management of Gulf of Maine Ecosystems
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors:  \n\nNational Research Traineeship Program – Ecosystem Science in the Face of Rapid Ocean Change: A Convergence Approach\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nSchool of Marine Sciences\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: Jocelyn Runnebaum\, Marine Program Manager\, The Nature Conservancy in Maine \nEnvironmental governance scholarship emphasizes the need for public participation in natural resource policymaking\, and it is often assumed that creating space for a public process is enough to facilitate meaningful participation for complex issues. What role can conservation non-governmental organization’s play in supporting meaningful participation as part of a participating public invested in improving environmental outcomes? This talk will examine the work of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Maine in support of implementing climate informed fisheries management and the responsible siting of offshore wind. TNC Maine strives to develop and sustain meaningful relationships across industries and political contexts to ‘cast a wide net\,’ and encourage more diverse voices meaningfully participate in public policy. \nJocelyn is the Marine Program Manager at The Nature Conservancy in Maine\, focused on the sustainability of Gulf of Maine ecosystems\, connecting science to management\, and supporting key-parties to be active and valued partners in the policy and management of marine resources. Jocelyn is the Chair of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee to NOAA Fisheries\, Department of Marine Resources Advisory Council Member\, Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium member\, and New England Fisheries Management Council’s Climate and Ecosystem Steering Committee member. Jocelyn has a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine in Orono.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-casting-a-wide-net-diversity-of-perspectives-improves-management-of-gulf-of-maine-ecosystems/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250210T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250210T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250113T175156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T145542Z
UID:10000769-1739199600-1739203200@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Retooling State Government in an Era of Loose Networks: An Invitation to Collaborate
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors: \n\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nDept. of Communication & Journalism\, UMaine\nSchool of Economics\, UMaine\n\nSpeaker: Samantha Horn\, Director\, Maine Office of Community Affairs\n \nIn fifty years\, Maine has transitioned from a command and control model of regulation to a vast network of nimble organizations and individuals acting to address community needs\, including the need for resilience in the face of the climate and housing crises. A key endeavor for state government and\, in particular\, the new Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)\, is to develop systems to provide technical assistance and incentives in a way that creates a supportive framework rather than duplicating or suppressing the work of other organizations. An early step for the office is to understand and make visible the networks within which it is operating. Mapping those networks in a way that is useful on a practical level for managing the daily work of the office is an intriguing challenge. The Director of MOCA is seeking advice\, and welcomes thoughts and models from communities involved in this work. \nGovernor Mills appointed Samantha Horn as Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs in October 2024. Horn has three decades of experience in policy\, planning and science\, including consulting on public stakeholder engagement\, policy work\, and planning and siting for development projects. Prior to starting her consulting business\, she was the director of science for The Nature Conservancy in Maine and worked in state natural resource agencies for nearly 20 years\, including more than a decade in leadership roles at the Maine Land Use Planning Commission. \nHorn has a Master’s Degree in the Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts\, Amherst\, with a focus on conflict resolution in natural resources\, and a Bachelor’s degree in biology and English literature from Washington University in St. Louis.  Her interests include rural community capacity\, renewable energy siting practice\, and integrated policy development. Horn was formerly on the boards of directors of the Maine Association of Planners\, GrowSmart Maine\, and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-retooling-state-government-in-an-era-of-loose-networks-an-invitation-to-collaborate/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250203T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250203T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250114T134337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T145457Z
UID:10000770-1738594800-1738598400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Energizing Equal Access: Partnering on Research for Resilience in Maine Communities and Wabanaki Tribes
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\n\n\n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nCo-sponsors:  \n\nMaine Climate Science Information Exchange\nNative American Programs/Wabanaki Center\, UMaine\nEcology & Environmental Sciences\, UMaine\nSchool of Economics\, UMaine\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers:  \n\n\n\n\nSharon Klein\, School of Economics\, UMaine\n\n\n\nCaroline Noblet\, School of Economics\, UMaine\n\n\n\n\nThe 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. \nSharon Klein and Caroline Noblet are both Associate Professors in the School of Economics at the University of Maine and Mitchell Center Faculty Fellows. \nSharon 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. \nCaroline 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.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-energizing-equal-access-partnering-on-research-for-resilience-in-maine-communities-and-wabanaki-tribes/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250110
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250111
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20241113T171854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T171854Z
UID:10000765-1736467200-1736553599@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Pre-proposal deadline - Maine Water Resources Research Institute
DESCRIPTION:With funding from the U.S. Geological Survey’s 104b program\, the Maine Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) in the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions supports research and outreach to enhance the capacity for the sustainable management of water resources across the state. We request proposals for solutions-driven projects in which interdisciplinary research teams collaborate closely with stakeholders and provide support for student training. \nFor complete guidelines: https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/wrri-104b-request-for-proposals-fy25/
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/pre-proposal-deadline-maine-water-resources-research-institute/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250109
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20250106T150817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T192504Z
UID:10000767-1736294400-1736380799@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Oral Abstract Submission Deadline - 2025 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference
DESCRIPTION:The 2025 Maine Sustainability and Water Conference will be held on Thursday\, March 27\, 2025 at the Augusta Civic Center\, Augusta\, Maine. \nThe Call for Oral Abstracts is open. Abstracts must fit within the guidelines of one of the session topics outlined on the proposed sessions page. Abstracts can be submitted online or as an email attachment to umgmc@maine.edu.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/oral-abstract-submission-deadline-2025-maine-sustainability-water-conference/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241209
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241210
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20241120T194754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241120T195021Z
UID:10000766-1733702400-1733788799@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Application deadline - WRRI Communicating Water Resources Science Internship Program
DESCRIPTION:Please go to the internship guideline page for more information.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/application-deadline-communicating-water-resources-science-internship-program/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241202T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241202T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20240805T181057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241125T184739Z
UID:10000758-1733151600-1733155200@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Maine Won’t Wait\, and Neither Should You: Maine’s Climate Action Plan and How Students Can Get Involved
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nSpeaker: Abigail Hayne\, Youth Climate Engagement Fellow\, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future \nMaine is a national leader in climate action – but how can young people\, who so often feel sidelined in the fight against the climate crisis\, play a larger role? As the youth climate engagement coordinator for the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future\, Abigail will share current and future opportunities for Maine students to find their place in climate action\, as well as discuss exciting new opportunities in the update to Maine Won’t Wait\, the state’s climate action plan. \nAbigail Hayne is a marine scientist and youth climate engagement coordinator at the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. She works to create opportunities for young Mainers to engage with climate action at state\, regional and local scales\, particularly with the Maine Climate Council and Maine Won’t Wait. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in marine science from the University of New England\, and lives in Yarmouth with her partner and cat.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-maine-wont-wait-and-neither-should-you-maines-climate-action-plan-and-how-students-can-get-involved/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20240823T123430Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240823T123703Z
UID:10000761-1732546800-1732550400@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - Education as a Rural\, Public Good: Preparing Maine’s People\, Families\, Schools\, & Communities for the Opportunities of Tomorrow
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nSpeakers: \n\nCat Biddle\, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership\, Director of the Center for Applied Research on Education and Schools\, University of Maine\nZeke Kimball\, Professor and Interim Dean\, University of Maine College of Education and Human Development\n\nLooking toward the future\, Maine faces many wicked problems that will require innovative\, human-centered solutions. Without such a response\, climate change\, an aging workforce\, housing shortages\, widening geographic opportunity divides\, growing economic inequality\, and other pressing challenges threaten the state’s long-term economic prosperity. Education informed by and linked to rural community development will be an essential strategy for creating the adaptive\, transformative change required to turn the challenges of the future into the opportunities of tomorrow. In this talk\, Cat Biddle and Zeke Kimball will explore the relationship between Maine’s schools\, rural communities\, and future. \nCatharine “Cat” Biddle is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and the Director the Center for Applied Research on Education and Schools at the University of Maine. Her research focuses on ways in which rural schools and communities respond to social and economic change in the 21st century. She is particularly interested in how schools can more effectively leverage partnerships with external organizations or groups to address issues of social inequality and how non-traditional leaders—such as youth\, parents and other community members—may lead or serve as partners in these efforts. \nEzekiel “Zeke” Kimball is Professor and Interim Dean of the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. His research focuses on how to create the conditions for student success in PK-20 education systems. He is a leading expert on disability identity development\, postsecondary STEM learning environments\, and how academia leverages scholarly knowledge for social impact. He is deeply committed to the role that education and a focus on human development can play in strengthening Maine’s communities.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-education-as-a-rural-public-good-preparing-maines-people-families-schools-communities-for-the-opportunities-of-tomorrow/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241118T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241118T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20240823T124920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T164753Z
UID:10000762-1731942000-1731945600@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Student Sustainability Lightning Talks
DESCRIPTION:Lightning talks will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nTalks in this session will focus on sustainability research by graduate and undergraduate students in Maine. Each presenter will have 5-minutes for their talk. PowerPoint presentations are allowed but will be limited to 10 slides. \nPresenting Students\nSolar Bans in the US: Assessing Spread\, Drivers\, And Possible Solutions\nSolomon Agbesi\, MS student\, Resource Economics and Policy \nSustaining Food Waste Education in Maine through Collaborative Student-led Research\nWilliam Brenneman\, MA student\, Anthropology & Environmental Policy\nKathryn Busko\, BA student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences and Journalism \nCall the Midwife: A Sustainable Solution to Centralizing Maternity Care\nGianna DeJoy\, PhD student\, Anthropology & Environmental Policy \nHow is PFAS Impacting Maine Anglers?\nCarissa Furtado\, BS student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences and Economics \nSupporting Sustainable Energy Initiatives within Wabanaki Tribal Nations\nJasmine Lamb\, PhD student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences \nImpacts of Climate Language on Rural Maine Community Resilience Initiatives\nSonia Leone\, BS student\, Anthropology and Sustainability \nBuilding Capacity for Underserved Communities through Local Energy Action Networks\nFaizan Saif\, MS student\, Resource Economics and Policy \nLobster shell composite materials for temporary structural applications\nGreg Simms\, PhD student\, Materials Science and Engineering \nAbstracts\nSolar Bans in the US: Assessing Spread\, Drivers\, And Possible Solutions\nSolomon Agbesi\, MS student\, Resource Economics and Policy \nSustainable and clean energy generation is essential in the fight against climate change.  Solar energy offers a key solution to reducing carbon emissions as compared to fossil fuels because its generation is entirely free from carbon emissions. This contributes to global climate goals such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the United States’ target of producing 80% clean electricity by 2035. Solar energy’s potential to offset environmental damage caused by non-renewable energy sources is also well-documented\, positioning it as a vital strategy for mitigating climate change. \nHowever\, an emerging challenge is the rise of solar bans at various levels across the United States. Towns\, counties\, and even some states have enacted laws or held referenda to halt the installation of solar panels in their communities. This trend poses a significant barrier to achieving broader sustainability goals and raises important questions about the underlying causes of resistance to solar energy deployment. \nMy study seeks to understand the factors that contribute to the rejection of solar panels in the U.S.\, analyze how spatial proximity and socioeconomic factors influence the spread of these bans and explore possible solutions to mitigate opposition to solar energy projects. The findings will contribute to ongoing discussions about fostering public acceptance of renewable energy and inform policymakers about strategies to facilitate the smooth deployment of solar projects across the U.S. \nSustaining Food Waste Education in Maine through Collaborative Student-led Research\nWilliam Brenneman\, MA student\, Anthropology & Environmental Policy\nKathryn Busko\, BA student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences and Journalism \nIn the US\, 30-40% of food produced is never eaten\, and according to the 2024 WRAP consumer research study\, young people (18-24) are the highest food wasting segment. Since food waste has major economic\, social\, and environmental costs\, educating the next generation about food waste is vitally important to the future of our food system and our planet. \nAs part of the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions\, Food Rescue MAINE is a multidisciplinary team of students and faculty working together with community stakeholders to develop\, test\, and expand proven solutions to end food loss and waste in Maine. To address the need for youth food waste education\, we will work with four Maine elementary school nutrition directors on a Maine School Cafeteria Food Waste Study to develop and test solutions for reducing food waste in schools. A major concern shared by our team is how to expand the learning to more schools and into the future. In other words\, how do we ensure continuous food waste education after the study is over? This lightning talk highlights the work of two researchers using their very different academic backgrounds (anthropology and journalism) to effectively collaborate on developing this sustainable Maine school food waste solution. In it we present 1) the planned methodology for the upcoming school study\, 2) the tools our team has compiled and developed for teachers and students to provide continuous food waste education\, and 3) the exciting potential of this approach to be expanded beyond the school context. \nCall the Midwife: A Sustainable Solution to Centralizing Maternity Care\nGianna DeJoy\, PhD student\, Anthropology & Environmental Policy \nRural maternity care is in decline across North America. Following centuries of effort to eradicate traditional midwives and foster dependence on obstetricians and hospital birth\, millions of women in the U.S. now live in counties with no midwifery or obstetric services. In parts of Canada\, people are waiting until their ninth month of pregnancy to see a maternity provider\, while some remote Indigenous communities face policies of forced evacuation to birth in distant hospital settings. This crisis in access to care is costly socially and environmentally. Living far from care and/or in a community that loses local maternity services is associated with a range of adverse outcomes for both parent and infant. For some\, being unable to birth in familiar and culturally appropriate settings can be traumatizing and dangerous. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant people annually travelling long distances for prenatal care and/or birth also have implications for greenhouse gas emissions – new obstetric closures may lead to the equivalent of hundreds additional gas-powered vehicles on the road. Of course\, hospital obstetrics itself has a significant and well-studied ecological footprint. The solution to all these issues may be supporting the proliferation of those whose work was demonized and nearly eliminated by the biomedical system that is now neglecting rural areas: community-based midwives. Midwife-led birth center and home birth is demonstrably safe for low-risk pregnancies even in rural and under resourced settings. Further\, the low-intervention midwifery model of care is inherently more environmentally friendly than hospital obstetrics. There are even trickle-down effects; parents choosing home birth or attended by a midwife in any setting are more likely to breastfeed\, which leads to better outcomes for parent and child and has a smaller ecological footprint than human milk substitutes. Interested in sustainability and birth equity? Call the midwife. \nHow is PFAS Impacting Maine Anglers?\nCarissa Furtado\, BS student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences and Economics \nPer- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of synthetic fluorinated chemicals also referred to as “forever chemicals.” PFAS are contaminants that have become a focus point for Mainers due to their persistence in the environment and their potential to disrupt numerous economic sectors\, including fishing. PFAS has been found to bioaccumulate in organisms such as fish and could transfer to humans through consumption (Death et al.\, 2021). Exposure to PFAS in humans has been found to contribute to reproductive issues\, immunotoxicity\, and is designated as a possible carcinogen (Sands et al.\, 2024).  As a response to the concern for PFAS\, Maine has been implementing consumption advisories for anglers. This project’s purpose is to assess if Maine’s anglers’ behavior has changed because of PFAS contamination. We distributed a survey to a random sample of  Maine fishing license holders and asked questions about their fishing habits. The preliminary results are forthcoming as we prepare a technical report for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This research will allow us to grasp Mainers’ understanding of PFAS and its effects on fishing. We can use this information to see if locals think that PFAS is a prominent issue which would determine how it could be effectively regulated or treated. \nSupporting Sustainable Energy Initiatives within Wabanaki Tribal Nations\nJasmine Lamb\, PhD student\, Ecology & Environmental Sciences \nThe University of Maine is conducting research with the five Wabanaki Tribal Nations in Maine to identify barriers\, opportunities\, and decision drivers for renewable energy and energy efficiency technology adoption within Wabanaki Nations. The State of Maine uses the most heating oil per capita and by volume out of the entire United States\, increasing the proportion of income spent on energy\, or the household energy burden. Tribal citizens of Wabanaki Nations are particularly impacted by this\, with each nation experiencing energy burdens in the 90th percentiles for the United States. Many tribal members lack the opportunity to engage with the sustainability transition spreading across the world due to high rates of poverty\, caused in part by the State of Maine’s repression of tribal sovereignty. \nThe key objective of this research is to support and advance energy justice initiatives that increase access to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology for Wabanaki tribal citizens. We will discuss how our research has supported capacity building\, educational workshops\, and intertribal grants related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. The methods of our study include educational workshops\, REE options that include local ownership\, capacity building\, annual energy and emissions tracking from Community Resilience Partnership Grant activity\, and community surveys and interviews to track the awareness\, engagement\, and adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies over time. We will specifically discuss the efforts of the Sipayik Resilience Committee for the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point. \nImpacts of Climate Language on Rural Maine Community Resilience Initiatives\nSonia Leone\, BS student\, Anthropology and Sustainability \nMy sustainability research will culminate in an undergraduate Honors Thesis that analyzes the impacts of climate language in underserved Maine communities. Language about climate change often creates barriers for communities seeking to engage in resilience initiatives. Underserved Maine populations experience the effects of climate change\, from severe winter storms and power outages to high energy costs. However\, Maine’s culture of political polarization\, rugged individualism\, and distrust of institutions contribute to a frequently negative perception of climate action within rural communities. Language like ‘climate change’ and ‘government funding’ can bring local resilience projects to a halt\, especially when communities are not involved in research processes. Resilience initiatives are additionally influenced by language of risk certainty\, which often determines the ability of a community to justify capacity expenditures. My study aims to analyze how climate language is a barrier in underserved Maine communities and how climate language can be tailored to facilitate local resilience planning. Furthermore\, I touch upon how iterative co-production of research and equitable relationships can empower successful community climate initiatives. \nBuilding Capacity for Underserved Communities through Local Energy Action Networks\nFaizan Saif\, MS student\, Resource Economics and Policy \nUnderserved communities in Maine face significant challenges in accessing resources that support renewable energy equity (REE) and climate resilience. In response to these challenges\, our research team is building the Maine Community-led Energy and Climate Action Network (MAINECAN)\, a local energy action network (LEAN) designed to connect\, build capacity\, and provide educational opportunities across its member community groups. This initiative is in the early stage of surveying communities and organizations to engage them in the network and identify their specific needs. Going forward\, MAINECAN aims to strengthen community resilience across the state by supporting collaboration\, peer-to-peer learning\, and resource sharing. \nA key objective of this project is to enhance awareness of the various tools and resources available to underserved communities\, facilitating their participation in renewable energy initiatives. Additionally\, we will learn from LEANs in other states how to incorporate effective tools and strategies into MAINECAN. This talk will highlight the benefits and challenges of creating a network-based approach to REE\, with the ultimate goal of building a more connected and resilient Maine through increased community capacity. \nLobster shell composite materials for temporary structural applications\nGreg Simms\, PhD student\, Materials Science and Engineering \nThe Neivandt Research Group\, within University of Maine’s Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering\, has developed a novel lobster shell composite. The material is currently being investigated for temporary structural applications in collaboration with the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Alliance for Research Technology (SM2ART) Program – a partnership between the Advanced Structures and Composites Center\, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  The lobster shell composite is comprised of water\, lobster shells and a binder produced as a waste product of the agricultural industry. This composite is easily manufactured with processes used to make plastic components. The lobster shell composite’s flexural strength exceeds construction lumber\, and its compression strength exceeds concrete. The material can be glued with traditional construction adhesives but forms a stronger bond when glued with only water. The lobster shell composite retains screws and nails better than wood\, yet unlike wood it is flame resistant. The lobster shell composite is recyclable\, compostable or dissolvable in water within two weeks.   There are many potential terrestrial and marine applications for this composite. Our current focus is temporary relief shelters for refugees and dissolvable support materials for large format additive manufacturing. Commercial adoption of this material would elevate the value of waste materials generating sources of revenue in rural communities. Further\, wood currently wasted in temporary applications could be diverted to increase the supply for longer term building applications or left in the forest for higher purposes – habitat\, biodiversity\, sequestering and storing carbon dioxide. \nThe presentation will cover the purpose of the research\, the manufacturer of the lobster shell composite\, the material properties characterization with comparison to traditional materials and will close with a description of planned future research.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/student-sustainability-lightning-talks/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241104T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241104T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T042243
CREATED:20240829T195612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T133515Z
UID:10000763-1730732400-1730736000@umaine.edu
SUMMARY:Talk - United in Health: Exploring Linkages Between Animals\, Humans\, and the Environment Through an Interdisciplinary Lens
DESCRIPTION:The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall\, UMaine\, Orono. \n\nVirtual attendance: Complete the registration form for Zoom connection information\n\nSpeaker: Pauline Kamath\, Associate Professor of Animal Health\, School of Food and Agriculture\, University of Maine \n‘One Health’ refers to the holistic concept that the health of people\, animals\, and the environment are dependent on one another. The concept has been accepted internationally by public health\, veterinary\, and agricultural organizations\, and champions an approach that brings together diverse disciplines to tackle health challenges at the local to global level. This talk will cover the One Health Initiative at UMaine\, including the development of educational programming to train students to tackle human-animal-environmental health issues through interdisciplinary collaborations in the social and biophysical sciences\, as well as the engagement of diverse stakeholder groups. I will also give examples of interdisciplinary research from my group to understand and manage wildlife diseases from a One Health lens\, including a project examining the effects of parasite infections on Maine’s iconic moose population. \nPauline Kamath is an Associate Professor of Animal Health at the University of Maine\, Orono\, in the School of Food and Agriculture\, and an Associate Faculty of the Maine Center for Genetics and the Environment\, UMaine Institute of Medicine\, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Conservation Biology\, and Ecology and Environmental Sciences program at UMaine. Dr. Kamath earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science\, Policy and Management at the University of California\, Berkeley. Her research focuses on the ecology and evolution of wildlife diseases at the domestic animal-human interface. Dr. Kamath has been actively involved with One Health Initiative at UMaine\, through which student training programs in One Health and the Environment have been developed. She also is involved in One Health internationally\, and served as a member of the World Health Organization European Region One Health Technical Advisory Group from 2021-2024.
URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-united-in-health-understanding-wildlife-diseases-through-an-interdisciplinary-lens/
CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events
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