BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions - ECPv6.15.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 CREATED:20240809T202704Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240812T145016Z UID:10000759-1727103600-1727107200@umaine.edu SUMMARY:Talk - It's all about the grid: the past\, present and future of energy 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\nSpeaker: Kate Cough\, Editor\, The Maine Monitor \nJoin Maine energy reporter Kate Cough for a discussion on the history of electricity generation in Maine\, recent efforts to shake up the system and what a transition to the grid of the future might look like. Cough will give an overview of the changes that have shaped Maine’s energy landscape since the late 1990s\, when the Legislature effectively banned grid owners from owning and operating generation plants and how those changes have influenced today’s landscape as the state looks to incorporate more renewable energy sources and meet its climate goals. \nKate Cough is editor of The Maine Monitor. She previously served as enterprise editor for The Monitor while also covering energy and the environment and writing the weekly Climate Monitor newsletter. Before joining The Monitor\, Kate was a beat reporter for The Ellsworth American and digital media strategist for The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander. Kate graduated with honors from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Magna Cum Laude from Bryn Mawr College. Kate is an eighth generation Mainer who lives on Mount Desert Island with her husband\, daughter\, and dogs. URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-its-all-about-the-grid-the-past-present-and-future-of-energy-in-maine/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240930T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240930T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 CREATED:20240612T143504Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240816T165853Z UID:10000754-1727708400-1727712000@umaine.edu SUMMARY:Talk - Gulf of Maine development: What can fishing teach us? 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: Robin Alden\, former Director\, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries \nUse conflicts are front and center in the Gulf of Maine as industrial-scale wind power and aquaculture development gain momentum and significant public and private investment. Looking more closely at fishing uses\, can we learn something from an aspirational industry that seeks to create value by operating within the Gulf’s changing ecology\, not just to use it as a place to do business? Robin Alden will explore the Gulf as a complex system and policy that could contribute to fishing forever. \nRobin Alden has been involved in fisheries since the early 1970s when she founded Commercial Fisheries News. She was a public member of New England Fishery Management Council\, was Maine Commissioner of Marine Resources in the first King Administration and co-founded the Maine Fishermen’s Forum and Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries\, which she led for 15 years. Retired since 2018\, she is writing about the last 50 years in New England’s fisheries. She has a BA in Economics from the University of Maine and lives in Stonington with her husband\, Ted Ames. URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-gulf-of-maine-development-what-can-fishing-teach-us/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241007T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241007T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 CREATED:20240701T131110Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240816T171615Z UID:10000757-1728313200-1728316800@umaine.edu SUMMARY:Talk - Valuing the Benefits of Maine's Great Ponds and Lakes in the 21st Century 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: Adam Daigneault\, Associate Professor\, School of Forest Resources\, University of Maine \nOver the past 25 years\, the Great Lakes and Ponds of Maine have faced challenges such as development\, invasive species\, and climate change\, prompting a reassessment of their economic value to effectively guide conservation efforts. In response\, we conducted a comprehensive economic assessment focused on recreation\, water consumption\, youth camps\, and the impact of water quality on lakefront property values. We estimated that the total net economic value of Maine’s Lakes is nearly $14 billion. An accompanying survey on perceptions of lake water quality highlighted the importance of water clarity in recreation choices\, with the average visitor indicating that they choose to visit lakes with water quality that is more than safe for swimming. The survey also highlighted that visitors have positive perceptions of Maine’s lake water quality\, but costs and lack of accessibility create barriers to using lakes. Given these findings\, our study emphasizes the need for Maine’s water bodies to be managed in a sustainable way that accounts for public perceptions of lakes and preserves or improves their water quality. \nAdam Daigneault is the EL Giddings Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics in the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources. He is a natural resource economist who develops models to value ecosystem services and assess the socioeconomic impacts of environmental and land use policy on the natural resource sectors. URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-valuing-the-benefits-of-maines-great-ponds-and-lakes-in-the-21st-century/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241021T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241021T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 CREATED:20240809T204348Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240812T145447Z UID:10000760-1729522800-1729526400@umaine.edu SUMMARY:Talk - Doing good through great beer DESCRIPTION:How leading with a purpose that focuses on community\, the environment and being a good employer is good for business\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: Steve Mills\, CEO\, Maine Beer Company \nSteve Mills has taken on many leadership roles throughout his over thirty years in the craft beer industry. As CEO of Maine Beer Company\, Mills expands on the company’s purpose of “doing good through great beer” which the company was founded on in 2009. His priorities are to take care of the company’s employees\, give to environmental and local nonprofits\, and make exceptional beer. Under his leadership\, Maine Beer Company has outpaced most peers as far as growth. It is now in the top 100 of the more than 9\,500 US breweries. \nMills is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps where he spent most of his active duty as a member of the honor guard in Washington D.C. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three children\, barbecuing with friends\, and boating in Casco Bay. URL:https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-doing-good-through-great-beer/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241104T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241104T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241118T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241118T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241202T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241202T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241209 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241210 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250108 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250109 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250110 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250111 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250203T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250203T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250210T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250210T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250224T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250224T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250303 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250304 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250324T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250324T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250327 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250328 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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:20250331T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250331T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250407T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250407T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250418T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250418T120000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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:20250421T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250421T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME 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:20260418T032047 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/ LOCATION:ME CATEGORIES:Mitchell Center Events ORGANIZER;CN="Mitchell Center":MAILTO:umgmc@maine.edu END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR