Spring 2026 Talks
For many years, the Mitchell Center has hosted an innovative Sustainability Talks series during the fall and spring semesters. The goal of these talks is to provide students, faculty, and interested citizens with opportunities to learn about: 1) the multi-faceted nature of sustainability problems; 2) the value of connecting different forms of knowledge and know-how in efforts to understand and solve such problems; and 3) the ways in which partnerships between universities and diverse stakeholders can facilitate efforts to identify and implement useful solutions.
All talks are Mondays at 3pm and are available via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine. For Zoom attendees, registration is required for each talk. Please go to individual event pages to register. Many talks are recorded and can be found on our YouTube site following the event.
Sign up for our e-newsletter for regular event updates.
February 2
A journey in fisheries and ecosystem thinking: a conversation about the past, present, and future
Moderator: Josh Stoll, Associate Professor, School of Marine Resources, UMaine
A recording of this panel discussion is available.
February 9
Priorities for Prescribed Fire Research and Management in Maine – A Panel Discussion
Moderators: Rose Abramoff and Lydia Horne, School of Forest Resources, UMaine
A recording of this panel discussion is available.
February 23
CANCELLED – Vector-borne disease management decision-making in an uncertain information environment
Presenter: Allison Gardner, School of Biology & Ecology, UMaine
March 2
Amplifying the story of food: Sea Run’s connection to education, conservation, clams, and more!
Presenter: Anthony Sutton, Assistant Professor of Native American Studies and Food Systems, University of Maine
March 9
Collaborating for Impact: Can transdisciplinary teams help move the needle?
Presenter: Karen Bieluch, Transdisciplinary Research Strategist, Mitchell Center, University of Maine
March 23
Maine’s PFAS Response: A Comprehensive Policy Review
Presenters: Rachel Schattman and Eddie Nachamie, University of Maine
March 30
Why bowling balls end up in our recycling bins (and what state lawmakers are doing about it)
Presenter: Erin Victor, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Maine
April 6
Bright ideas for a Stormy Future: Strengthening Southern Maine’s resilience to power outages
Presenters: Karina Graeter and James Rather, Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission
April 13
OUR SHORE program for Nature-Based Strategies for Shoreline Erosion
Presenters: Nathan Robbins, Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Parker Gassett, Maine Climate Science Information Exchange Office (MCSIE); John Maclaine, Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Jordan Kimball, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
April 20
No More Wasted Food by 2030? Maine’s K-12 Schools are Proving it’s Possible
Presenter: William Brenneman, Anthropology and Environmental Policy, University of Maine