Mitchell Center to host talk ‘Vacationland or Climate Migrationland?’ on Sept. 11
The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host a talk, “Vacationland or Climate Migrationland?” with speaker Vanessa Levesque, assistant professor at the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Southern Maine, at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11.
This talk will explore the concept of climate migration, discuss a region-wide partnership to better understand implications of climate migration and pose suggestions for future research and governance to help better prepare for potential changes. With Maine experiencing an influx of newcomers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion also will examine whether climate change will drive more people to the state, what the likely implications are and what should be done about it.
Levesque is a social scientist interested in rural community decision-making around environmental, social and economic issues. Smaller and more rural communities make up a large portion of the U.S., but are understudied by those interested in building community resilience. This focus on inclusive, interdisciplinary and democratic ideals is mirrored in her teaching. She strives to give students a voice as they learn how they can make substantive and lasting contributions in their own communities.
All sessions in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talks series are free and offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall on the UMaine. Registration is required to attend remotely; to register and receive connection information, visit the event webpage.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196; hallsworth@maine.edu.