Dr. Caroline Noblet PFAS Research

SOE is a leader in UMaine’s socio-economic research related to the family of chemicals often called PFAS, or “forever chemicals”. These chemicals affect the health of people, animals and our environment. Along with SOE students, an interdisciplinary team at UMaine, and partners across Maine, Dr. Caroline Noblet is engaged in several projects related to Maine residents’ knowledge and perceptions about PFAS, the impacts of PFAS on rural community resilience, consumer confidence in our Maine food system and impacts of PFAS on hunting and fishing choices. Professor Noblet’s research on PFAS lies at the intersection of economics and psychology (i.e., behavioral economics) with strong connections to a larger interdisciplinary team, which won the 2024 Research Collaboration Award from UMaine’s College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. Dr. Noblet’s PFAS-related activities have been disseminated to policymakers and scholars through numerous presentations for a variety of audiences (see for example her podcast on Resources Radio), publications (see for example her article with graduate students in Maine Policy Review), and it has provided research opportunities to UMaine students.