Mitchell Center Stories

Want to learn more about Mitchell Center projects and people? We regularly publish stories about the work of our members and research teams.

Taking Root: Maine鈥檚 Shift Toward 鈥楲iving Shorelines’

In late 2023 and early 2024, back-to-back storms eroded 60-feet of shoreline on Little Diamond Island in Casco Bay. A massive community-led project to repair the extensive damage involved rebuilding the sand dunes with natural materials and incorporating native plants. 

Little Diamond Island isn鈥檛 alone; Maine is losing large sections of its shorelines to erosion. Parker Gassett and Nathan Robbins believe that building 鈥渓iving shorelines鈥� using nature-based solutions (NbS) for stabilization, like they did on Little Diamond Island, can help control it. 

Gassett and Robbins, along with their DEP colleagues, are now crisscrossing Maine sharing a draft of a place-based guide of NbS for erosion control. It represents decades of institutional knowledge from engineers, geologists, state agencies, nonprofits, shoreline restoration practitioners, and the public.聽

Eddie Nachamie: Helping People Every Day

For Eddie Nachamie, community service is about more than tallying up mandatory hours or meeting the requirements of a school project. It鈥檚 a way of life that started in high school and continues to guide his decisions as he completes his bachelor鈥檚 degree in ecology and environmental science at the 91爆料.

Nachamie鈥檚 impactful work includes a comprehensive review of Maine鈥檚 PFAS (“forever chemicals”) legislation. His research highlights Maine as a national leader, being the first state to ban sludge spreading and the sale of products with intentionally added PFAS.

Beyond policy, Nachamie has focused on local sustainability. He helped lead a study in K-12 cafeterias that implemented strategies to reduce wasted food. And a project that revealed drinking water in some Maine schools is contaminated with PFAS, likely due to floor cleaning products, inspired Nachamie鈥檚 Honors College thesis. After graduation, Nachamie intends to pursue environmental law, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific research and legislative action to protect public health and the environment.

Making a Match for Maine鈥檚 Manufacturing Waste

A new matchmaking network seeks to connect Maine manufacturers around a simple premise: One company鈥檚 trash can be another鈥檚 treasure.

鈥淢aine manufacturers are literally throwing away money. By that, I mean materials that go to a landfill or get hauled away at cost. But they often have real value to another company down the road,鈥� said Zainab Jafri, a 91爆料 master鈥檚 student working with the Materials Management Research Group (MMRG). 

In 2025, the MMRG received a Mitchell Center seed grant to develop a map of discarded manufacturing materials and build a picture of exchange opportunities across the state. Their goal is to connect manufacturers in a Maine Manufacturers Exchange Network (MEME). 

Molly Shea: From a love of nature to green energy evaluations

Molly Shea鈥檚 journey at the 91爆料 led her somewhere she never anticipated. Shea always knew she cared about the environment and wanted to be involved with academic research. But during her years at 91爆料, she also developed a surprising passion for economics, found an important mentor, and entered a burgeoning field of study about PFAS 鈥� per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 鈥� also known as forever chemicals. 

Now that she has completed her master鈥檚 degree at 91爆料, Shea is using everything she learned to tackle the complex analytical questions behind pressing environmental issues and policy decisions. 

Caroline Noblet鈥檚 Most Important Research Tool? Talking With People

鈥淲hen I engage in research, when I collect information from people, I鈥檓 establishing a relationship with them,鈥� said Caroline Noblet. Noblet is a 91爆料 associate professor of economics studying why people make the choices they do and what factors and contexts influence those choices. 

Her work tackles complicated topics, like how Mainers think about PFAS contamination or destructive coastal storms, that require, in Noblet鈥檚 experience, genuine connections between scientists and Maine communities. 

Noblet鈥檚 research, focused on sustainability-related behavioral economics, doesn鈥檛 take place in a vacuum. For her, relationships are at the heart of understanding how Mainers think about and respond to issues impacting their families and communities. 

Simulated Artificial Insemination Training Builds Farm Skills and Partnerships

At a recent Mitchell Center Sustainability Talk, a volunteer from the audience planted her feet before a life-size model of a cow鈥檚 hindquarters, listening to explain the steps required to artificially inseminate (AI) a cow. Knight is a 91爆料 assistant professor of Extension where he serves as the State Livestock Specialist.    

This is exactly the type of collaborative learning experience Knight and assistant extension and animal science professor were dreaming up when they received a Mitchell Center partnership development grant to purchase two portable AI simulators, one for cattle and one for swine. 

The grant helped purchase the simulators, but its goal was to spur something far less tangible though no less valuable: a statewide effort to build and strengthen partnerships within the farming community and with other farming organizations. 

Rethinking Waste: Can a New Policy Reduce Packaging Waste in Maine and Beyond?

Maine faces a persistent waste problem. Despite significant recycling investments, solid waste keeps growing. A major culprit is packaging materials.

In 2021, Maine became the first state to pass Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for packaging. Starting in 2027, major companies must help fund recycling and disposal costs for packaging they bring into Maine. The law charges higher malus fees for materials that are difficult to recycle. Lawmakers hope this will create market incentives for producers to redesign packaging.

Erin Victor, a Mitchell Center researcher and expert in EPR policy, sees both promise and challenges. While EPR could revitalize waste infrastructure, she worries about market-driven approaches that allow continued use of problematic materials as long as fees are paid. She’s also concerned how the lack of uniformity among the seven states that now have EPR on the books might limit the effectiveness of the laws. 

Bridging Complex Science and Public Understanding

Brianne Suldovsky wasn鈥檛 sure what she wanted to do as she neared the completion of her master鈥檚 degree in communication at Washington State University. Her future, however, crystallized when her advisor introduced her to Laura Lindenfeld, who offered Suldovsky a paid doctoral research position at 91爆料. 

 At the time of their meeting in 2012, Lindenfeld, a former 91爆料 professor of journalism and communication, was working on the Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI). This $20 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant laid the foundation for the creation of the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions in 2014.

It was SSI鈥檚 sustainability and interdisciplinary focus鈥� and the chance to further study how peoples鈥� beliefs shape their scientific engagement鈥攖hat compelled Suldovsky to move all the way across the United States.

Building a Sustainable Portland, One Bucket at a Time 

If you鈥檇 asked 91爆料 freshman Tims what she would be doing after finishing her bachelor鈥檚 degree, she probably would have said she wanted to be a doctor. The thought wouldn鈥檛 have occurred to her that she might one day be brainstorming and implementing sustainability solutions for the City of Portland. 

It鈥檚 not uncommon to see a resident of Portland, Maine hauling their compost bucket in one hand with a toddler in the other to one of 10 drop-off sites. Katie Tims, a sustainability associate with Portland鈥檚 Sustainability Office said, 鈥淲e are trying to put them in every neighborhood.鈥�  Already the municipal composting program collects approximately 13 tons of food scraps per month.

Marina Tomer: Scientist and Bridge Builder

Marina Tomer began her academic journey in human ecology and marine science at the College of the Atlantic, where early exposure to interdisciplinary talks shifted her focus toward solutions-based work. She went on to pursue a dual master鈥檚 in marine biology and marine policy at 91爆料, collaborating with faculty from the Mitchell Center on projects bridging science, policy, and community. Her fieldwork included partnerships with fishermen, municipal staff, and coastal communities in Maine, then work with NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey on climate-adaptation science. Now regional coordinator for Maine鈥檚 Community Resilience Program, Tomer says, 鈥淩eturning to Maine has really been a full circle moment for me. The values that I gained from my time at 91爆料 and the Mitchell Center are really what鈥檚 still guiding my work today.鈥�

Building Connections Over Time: a Q & A with University of Southern Maine Professor Vanessa Levesque

University of Southern Maine professor Vanessa Levesque knows that solving tough sustainability problems takes more than good data 鈥� it takes time, trust, and collaboration. In this Q&A, she shares how her work with Maine communities has taught her the value of building relationships that last beyond a single project.

鈥淩elationships take time,鈥� Levesque says. 鈥淏ut when you invest in them, the work becomes more meaningful and impactful for everyone involved.鈥�

Levesque also reflects on balancing her roles as researcher, teacher, and collaborator 鈥� and why those partnerships are essential for preparing students to tackle real-world challenges. Her approach reflects the Mitchell Center鈥檚 mission to bring people together across disciplines and sectors to create solutions that work for Maine.

Eating better, discarding less: New toolkit helps Maine鈥檚 K-12 schools reduce food waste

Every year, Maine throws away around 361,000 tons of food鈥攏early 40% of production鈥攚ith about 4,200 tons lost in K-12 schools alone. To tackle this, the Maine Department of Education, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and 91爆料鈥檚 Mitchell Center have rolled out a in time for Maine Wasted Food Awareness Week.

The toolkit offers practical strategies for schools鈥攍ike 鈥渟hare carts鈥� and sorting stations鈥攖o track and reduce waste. Pilot schools already implementing these strategies saw up to a 25% drop in overall food waste and up to a 64% reduction in discarded fruits and vegetables.

Maine Marine Geologist Sam Roy is Hooked on Public Service

Marine geologist Sam Roy has always been fascinated by Maine鈥檚 rocky coast, but he realized he wanted his work to have a bigger impact than journal articles alone. After earning his Ph.D. in geodynamics, he joined the Mitchell Center, where projects like dam removal modeling and coastal water quality studies showed him how science could solve real problems for Maine communities.

鈥淚 realized I wanted to do work that directly helps the people and places I care about,鈥� Roy says. That realization led him to the Maine Geological Survey, where he now leads efforts like mapping coastal bluffs to help towns plan for erosion and sea-level rise.

Emma Fox: From Researching Maine鈥檚 Mudflats to Shaping Environmental Policy

Emma Fox regularly juggles eight projects during a typical work week as a senior associate at Industrial Economics, Inc. (IEc). IEc is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based environmental economic consulting firm whose clients include federal and state agencies, private firms, Tribes, and non-governmental agencies. In the morning, she might be analyzing interviews from community members regarding their attitudes towards energy assistance programs. A few hours later, she is crunching data to model the costs associated with improving recycling infrastructure across the U.S.

鈥淢y work is focused on program evaluation and policy analysis, mostly for state and federal agency clients. My day-to-day work is pretty varied, which I love,鈥� Fox said. 

Samantha Horn on MOCA鈥檚 Collaborative Approach to Strengthening Maine Communities

Sonja Heyck-Merlin interview with Samantha Horn

The Mitchell Center and the state of Maine have a deep history of cross-pollinating practical solutions to address our state鈥檚 sustainability challenges. The newly created (MOCA), led by Samantha Horn, which merges several state programs under one umbrella, aims to strengthen this type of connection. With historical ties to many of the programs that will fold into MOCA, the Mitchell Center hopes to further develop these relationships to build stronger and more resilient Maine communities. 

Connecting the Dots: Creating a Community Network for Energy and Climate Resilience

From the St. John River in Aroostook County to Ogunquit Beach in York County, Mainers are facing the impacts of climate change: town piers destroyed by coastal storms, roads washed out from heavy rain, and cooling centers sprouting up in communities large and small. 

In response, towns, cities, nonprofits, community groups, and individuals are increasing their efforts to build more resilient communities and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to this extreme weather. 

In Dover-Foxcroft, five residents have formed a climate action advisory committee. A vulnerability assessment undertaken by Phippsburg helps inform decisions about rising sea levels. In Portland, a nonprofit bicycle coalition supports climate-related legislation that advocates for making communities more bikeable. 

We Need This More Than Ever: Perspectives from the 2025 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference

Earlier this spring, nearly 600 people gathered at the Augusta Civic Center for the 30th Maine Sustainability & Water Conference.

The annual conference provides a forum where professionals, researchers, consultants, citizens, students, regulators, and planners gather to share information and present new findings on sustainability and water resource issues in Maine.

Some participants locked in on a single issue for the entire day, such as the Marshes for Maine鈥檚 Future session. Others moved between the rooms, distilling information from a broad range of topics 鈥� community efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change, using discarded Christmas trees for coastal dune restoration, and efforts to reduce derelict fishing gear. 

Mitchell Center Food Rescue Maine Interns Tackle a Real World Problem

Susanne Lee sometimes has to remind Food Rescue MAINE (FRM) partners that they鈥檙e working with students. Partners like Maine state government, municipalities, schools, hospitals, and private businesses.

鈥淭he students are so good at doing their jobs that I have to remind the partners that they鈥檙e actually just students. They might have a paper to write or finals that week,鈥� said Lee, a faculty fellow and member of the Mitchell Center鈥檚 Materials Management Research Group (MMRG).

Don鈥檛 Be Blue: A Team Effort to Protect the Heritage of Maine鈥檚 Wild Blueberries

What do the tidy rows of plastic covered tunnels at Wyman鈥檚 Wild Blueberry Research and Innovation Center have to do with the future enjoyment of a juicy, wild blueberry pie?  

The tunnels are part of a four-year agricultural trial designed to understand how wild blueberries, Maine鈥檚 state fruit, will respond to different climate scenarios. The project is funded by a $650,000 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The research center was created in 2022 through a gift from Wyman鈥檚, a wild blueberry grower (managing 18,000 acres of berries) and processor based in Milbridge, Maine. It鈥檚 the first time there has been a designated wild blueberry research site on the 91爆料 campus in Orono/Old Town. 

Sustainability Graduate Fellow Goes with the Flow for Safe Drinking Water

鈥淲here I grew up in Ghana, I became aware of the challenges many communities face in accessing clean and safe drinking water. That experience sparked my interest in environmental and then water quality research,鈥� said Josephine Adu-Gyamfi.

These formative experiences coupled with her passion for problem-solving steered her educational journey. In Ghana, at KNUST-Kumasi, she received an undergraduate degree in geological engineering followed by a master鈥檚 in water resources engineering and management.

Hungry for more advanced training, Adu-Gyamfi, with her self-proclaimed can-do attitude, decided to pursue a second master鈥檚 at 91爆料 in civil and environmental engineering with a focus on water and the environment.

Melding Art and Science to Strengthen Resilience in the Damariscotta River Estuary

In 2023, Heather Leslie stepped onto California鈥檚 Santa Catalina Island with a well-developed literary goal. She鈥檇 long wanted to write a book about her decades of studying the interconnectedness of humans and nature within small-scale Mexican fisheries. Leslie is 91爆料 professor of marine sciences and a Mitchell Center faculty fellow.

As part of her sabbatical, Leslie was visiting the island for a week-long intensive called the Wrigley Institute Storymakers program hosted by the University of Southern California. The program鈥檚 goal is to train scientists in the art of storytelling.

She stepped off the island a week later with a completely new idea to bring back to Maine.

As innovative training program in conservation ends, its legacy lives on beyond 91爆料

Conservation is a multi-dimensional issue that goes beyond preserving the environment. Conservationists not only need ecological expertise, but also have to understand the impact of conservation on the economics and culture of an area, be able to interact with the public about issues of conservation and so much more.

Through a program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), 91爆料 graduate students have had the opportunity to cultivate the interdisciplinary skills required for conservation. 91爆料鈥檚 NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program in Conservation Science and Practice has reached the end of its five-year term, but it has sent 91爆料 graduates off with a more holistic approach to conservation and started a legacy of similar programs at 91爆料. 

Caroline Noblet鈥檚 Secret to Talking About PFAS: Be clear about what we do, and don鈥檛, know

The harmful health impacts of a group of chemicals known as PFAS is a pressing issue facing Mainers, as it increasingly found in our soil, water, and bodies. The science behind PFAS is complex and new, and despite the urgency of the situation, the facts can be hard to communicate as it evolves. One researcher who has become adept at helping people navigate the growing environmental crisis is Caroline Noblet, associate professor of economics and member of the 91爆料 Senator George J. Mitchell Center鈥檚 PFAS Research Initiative. 

91爆料-led first-of-its-kind food waste study shines light on where food is wasted in Maine

September 25, 2024

Addressing the breadth of issues related to food surplus, loss and waste 鈥� which span across economic, social and environmental sectors 鈥� is a herculean task for any state. 

As Maine works to better understand and address the complex problem of food waste, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) tapped a team of researchers, including those from 91爆料鈥檚 Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, to produce the Maine , a first-of-its-kind investigation that provides key Maine food waste data.

Jasmine Lamb: A window into energy justice on Wabanaki lands

August 30 2024

For Jasmine Lamb, energy justice is about ensuring that marginalized communities have equitable access to the benefits of energy production and a say in the decision making processes about how their energy is produced. The Ph.D. student in the Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program and member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point works to identify barriers and opportunities for renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption. Through her work, she is helping to lead the charge for community actions advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption in communities across Maine, including the five sovereign Wabanaki tribal governments. 

Interdisciplinary research met creative collaboration through Mitchell Center鈥檚 Sustainability Graduate Fellows program

August 5, 2024

Academic research often happens in silos, confined to specialized departments. Compartmentalizing research can make it more difficult to solve real-world problems, or approach them in new and creative ways.

Through the 2023-2024 academic school year, the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions hosted an experimental cohort of 11 graduate students across seven different departments for networking, career building workshops, and peer-to-peer learning. This first-of-its-kind project for the university brought together an exceptionally wide range of disciplines, and the results sparked new life into the research of graduate students across academic fields, from computer science to soil science.

For 91爆料 emerald ash borer researchers, preparing for the inevitable is an act of hope

July 19, 2024

Emerald ash borer 鈥� or 鈥淓AB,鈥� as it is known by those who study it 鈥� is an invasive insect that will decimate ash tree populations in Maine, as it has done in so many other places across the country. It鈥檚 not a matter of if, but when.

At the 91爆料, that inevitability is not met with despair, but hope, thanks to years of interdisciplinary research supported by the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. Together, the Wabanaki Nations, 91爆料鈥檚 dedicated researchers and the collaborating state entities responding to EAB have been able to develop innovative management and adaptation strategies that integrate Indigenous knowledge as a guiding influence to deal with the invasive pest 鈥� and, hopefully, preserve ash trees for generations to come.

Maine lakes are worth $14 billion, according to 91爆料 study

June 3, 2024

Anyone who has been to a Maine lake can feel their value 鈥� its beauty, the rich wildlife, the memories created there 鈥� but communicating that value to policy makers when they are deciding where to allocate funds for conservation can be challenging. Thanks to a supported by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, advocates for Maine lakes now have a data-backed value for Maine lakes to support their efforts to preserve them: a staggering $14 billion.

Melissa Genoter: Finding a career in a love for Maine鈥檚 outdoors

June 3, 2024

Melissa Genoter鈥檚 experience at the 91爆料 turned her love of the outdoors into an impactful research project 鈥� and a post-graduate career. Thanks to internships through the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and the connections she made with fellow students through outdoors clubs, Genoter has established herself in Maine鈥檚 environmental work and will continue to work towards building a better environment.

Resilience is Key: Interns take on shoreline erosion with Maine DEP

May 20, 2024

Long before the devastating winter storms of 2023-2024, it was clear that Maine鈥檚 coastal communities were becoming increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of storm surge and sea-level rise. One important way to prepare for more extreme storms is to develop resilient infrastructure, which is exactly why the Maine Department of Environmental Protection sought help from Mitchell Center faculty and students.

The collaborative project is focused on the growing problem of shoreline erosion along Maine鈥檚 coast, which can severely erode beaches and coastal highways and damage boats and buildings.

Susi Moser Highlights Mental Health Concerns of the Sustainability Workforce

May 16, 2024

Climate change can be a worldwide source of anxiety, depression, and mental exhaustion; this is particularly true for the sustainability workforce, especially those who directly confront its impact. Many researchers, government employees, public safety workers, reporters, and other professionals deal with climate change impacts on a daily basis, but their psychological wellbeing is often dismissed due to the presumed mental resolve that their jobs require.

On March 28th, Dr. Susanne Moser gave the keynote address to the 500+ attendees at the 2024 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference. Her talk, Adaptive Communities Need Adaptive Minds: Navigating the Psychosocial Challenges of a Planet in Crisis, directly addressed the psychological struggles felt by sustainability professionals.

Are PFAS on My Plate? Assessing Maine Anglers鈥� Preferences for Fish Consumption

April 15, 2024

Dr. Caroline Noblet, an Associate Professor in 91爆料鈥檚 School of Economics and Faculty Fellow in the Mitchell Center, is leading a new project to survey Maine fishers about their fish consumption and harvest habits. With support from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, her team will gather information to support the safety of people who eat Maine fish, and the knowledge of public officials who create health advisories. Recreational fishing is the main source of wild freshwater fish consumption throughout Maine, so accurate information on the health of Maine鈥檚 waters and fish is important to communicate to the public. Beginning in Spring 2024, the team is planning to survey people with Maine fishing licenses about their fishing habits and their knowledge of environmental issues from contaminants like mercury or PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

Wildfires in Maine. What鈥檚 Next

March 2024

Regions like Nova Scotia and Quebec have recently experienced some of their largest, most dangerous wildfires. This has directly affected many of us, as the smoke covered Maine throughout most of this past summer. The East Coast is vulnerable to wildfires; Maine is vulnerable. We cannot safely hide behind East-Coast weather anymore. Right now, we have a chance to prevent and prepare for damage that could affect our homes. Incredible work is being done with this in mind. This session, led by David Ludwig and Kent Nelson, will feature professionals from across the state; come learn about how climate change has impacted our forests, what is currently being done to change this, and what you can do to help protect the pine trees we place on our flags.

Mitchell Center expands its roles in equity initiatives

January 2024

From its inception, the Mitchell Center鈥檚 work with community partners has emphasized issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2020, the Governor鈥檚 Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) asked the Center to develop a road map for strengthening the equity outcomes of Maine鈥檚 Climate Action Plan.

More recently, the Mitchell Center was asked to assume a larger role in the next State Climate Action Plan through the Equity Engagement Project. This effort will ensure that the populations in Maine most impacted by climate change are aware of, and have the opportunity to influence, the State鈥檚 climate programs and policies. The project will engage with tribal communities, people of color, immigrant communities, older adults, youth, people without reliable access to transportation, recipients of energy assistance benefits and other low-income and disadvantaged groups.

Mapping Meals: A Geographic System Searching for Food Waste

January 2024

On November 20, 2023, 91爆料 graduate student Courtney Baker gave a presentation on the development of a new food waste management tool.

According to Baker, food is the largest part of the solid waste stream in Maine. Most of the food that doesn鈥檛 get eaten ends up in landfills across the state, which presents a number of problems including wasting money and resources, harming the environment, and preventing good food from getting to those who might need it.

In response, Food Rescue MAINE, a Mitchell Center program, is working to launch the Maine Circular Food System Geological Information Systems (GIS) Map and Resource Locator.

The Future of Climate Migration in Maine

January 2024

On September 11, 2023, Vanessa Levesque gave a talk at the Mitchell Center as part of the Sustainability Talks series. 鈥溾�� provided information about climate change as a potential driver of migration and what that might mean for Maine communities.

鈥淧eople have been moving away from the places they love (or don鈥檛) to new homes with hopes for a fresh start for as long as we鈥檝e been on Earth,鈥� said Levesque. 鈥淔urther, these past migrations have often disadvantaged Indigenous, Black, and low-income people.鈥�

Leaving the NEST: A final report to NOAA on climate migration

November 2023

Last month, the Northeast Safe & Thriving For All (NEST) project team released their final report to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Climate Program Office presenting their findings on climate migration. The NEST project is composed of researchers, experts and practitioners in the Upper Northeast with an interest in the potential for and effects of climate migration specific to these regions. The Upper Northeast is defined by NEST as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, western Massachusetts, and upstate New York, which are areas perceived as 鈥渃limate havens鈥�.

鈥淥ur Maine鈥�: New Book Captures Maine鈥檚 Uniqueness

November 2023

From alpine summits to blueberry barrens, freshwater wetlands to estuaries, and everywhere in-between, Maine offers a brilliantly diverse natural landscape to be explored.

鈥�Our Maine鈥�, a newly released book edited by Mitchell Center faculty fellows Aram Calhoun and Malcolm Hunter in collaboration with Kent Redford, gives readers an opportunity to explore the natural heritage of the state and learn about the many species and ecosystems found within it. The book includes stories, and other information from experts and academics, members of the Wabanaki, conservation groups, and state agency staff. Additionally, 鈥淥ur Maine鈥� features beautiful photographs of Maine鈥檚 natural landscapes and some of the signature species associated with them.

Resourceful Research: Three water resource projects get underway

October 2023

On September 1, 2023, three new research projects launched under the Maine Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) 104b (state-level) program. The WRRI 104b program, funded through the U.S. Geological Survey, provides annual grants for faculty members of 4-year educational institutions in Maine in collaboration with partner organizations. These grants are designed to support projects centered around finding sustainable solutions to better manage Maine鈥檚 water resources. The Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions leads the Maine WRRI program and handles funding for all projects. This year, three faculty members from the 91爆料 were awarded research grants based on a competitive, peer-review process. Their projects are focused on innovative strategies for irrigation in agricultural settings, monitoring of mountain ponds to evaluate potential effects of climate change on water quality, and effectiveness of biochar on blueberry growth and maintenance.

Klein receives $1.1颅颅25 million EPA grant for research in community-based sustainable energy

August 2023

In recent years, Maine has seen great interest in renewable energy infrastructure. With the state鈥檚 renewable portfolio standard set at 80% by 2030, installation of solar panels and wind turbines have been on the rise. However, it鈥檚 often up to other organizations to assist underserved communities to develop sustainable energy systems at the local level.

Sharon Klein was recently awarded a four-year, $1.125 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to study how statewide local energy action networks (LEANs) can support community-initiated, community-engaged, and community-owned renewable energy and energy efficiency in underserved communities, with a strong focus on Wabanaki tribes and rural lower income communities within Maine鈥檚 borders.

Sharon Klein is helping to galvanize community energy in Maine

May 2023

Look to your right or left on the interstate in Maine, and you鈥檙e almost as likely to spot a charging station or field of solar panels as you are a toll plaza. Maine鈥檚 rush to promote sustainable energy is generally considered positive and necessary, but, like a Tesla racing up I-95, it risks leaving some smaller communities behind.

Dr. Sharon Klein is interested in energy justice, or making sustainable energy more accessible to underrepresented groups. She believes that community energy, or collaborative efforts among neighbors to address energy issues, could be the key to making sustainable energy available to all communities. Specifically, she is studying how workshops to provide residents with energy-saving window inserts can kickstart community energy initiatives.

鈥淧art of what needs to happen in each of these different communities is to start that conversation about what the energy goals are for different community members, for the local government, and everybody that鈥檚 involved,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 community workshop to build window inserts can be a catalyzing event that starts that process.鈥�

Can Maine restaurants get reusable packaging 鈥榯o go鈥�?

April 2023

The thrift store in your local church鈥檚 basement might be doing more for the community than saving families from spending $40 for jeans. Not only can systems of reuse, like thrift stores, reduce waste, they strengthen bonds between neighbors and make communities more resilient to hardship.

鈥淎nytime we see any sort of big economic or cultural shock, a lot of times traditional supply chains are broken,鈥� Dr. Cindy Isenhour said. 鈥淏ut when you have more localized and resilient systems for procurement, they can help you weather those storms.鈥�

Isenhour studies the way that people think about and deal with material waste. With funding from the Mitchell Center, she and , a 91爆料 Masters graduate, have been studying the feasibility of a different kind of reuse system in Maine: reusable take-out packaging.

Mudflat meets world: Hillyer鈥檚 research reaches a global audience

March 2023

Gabby Hillyer has been a member of the 91爆料 community going on seven years, and for approximately five of those years she has been telling and re-telling a story about a stolen bucket. Hillyer is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology and Environmental Sciences program at 91爆料. She also participates in the National Research Traineeship Program in Conservation Science and serves as the project coordinator for the (MSLN), a novel partnership that connects harvesters and others from up and down Maine鈥檚 coast to better address the multifaceted issues facing their shellfisheries. Both the MSLN and her graduate research on the coast of Maine emerged from her involvement with an organized effort to strengthen coastal economies at the Mitchell Center. Hillyer has a robust list of accomplishments on her resume, but the bucket drifters always seem to float to the top.

Career Pathways Through Undergraduate Research

January 2023

Katie Tims, Class of 2021, and Dominique DiSpirito, Class of 2022, are recent 91爆料 graduates who found promising footholds in the fields of sustainability and materials management in Maine, in part because of their undergraduate research experiences. As interns, both students worked on the Mitchell Center鈥檚 Food Waste Management project. The project grew from work started in 2019 by the interdisciplinary Materials Management team to find solutions to Maine鈥檚 solid waste problems. In research done by the team, food waste was ranked by stakeholders as a major area of concern. The food waste team collaborates with partners to research and pilot solutions to reduce food waste, keep organics out of landfills, and address food insecurity in Maine.

Roger Milliken meditates on the ethics of industry

January 2023

In a talk on November 28, Roger Milliken discussed the conflict between western culture and the sustainability of life on Earth from his unique ethical perspective as a Maine forest manager and environmentalist. Milliken has always had a vested interest in Maine鈥檚 forests, partly because its past, present, and future is intertwined with the story of his own heritage. One of Milliken鈥檚 core arguments is that the destruction of the natural world and degradation of humans鈥� quality of life is a result of a western culture rooted in 鈥渋ndividualism, separation, and dominion.鈥� Milliken did not pull this claim out of thin air or tabloids, but from his own family鈥檚 history.

New internship program empowers the next generation of sustainability leaders

November 2022

Conjure an image of the prototypical intern: you might imagine a bored 19-year-old fetching coffee and making photocopies, or you might imagine that student struggling to do the work of a full-time professional for free. In these scenarios, interns are either tossed in head-first or beached. Last summer, however, students in the Mitchell Center鈥檚 pilot internship program were taught to swim. They were challenged to work with faculty, stakeholders, and each other to tackle real issues facing communities in their backyard, all with the necessary funding, research training and mentorship to promote their success.

Reconnecting Wabanaki Communities to Coastal History

September 2022

Maine鈥檚 coast is dotted with over 2,000 shell heaps, sites where Wabanaki ancestors would gather to harvest and eat shellfish, producing deposits of shells ranging in size from small piles to 30-foot-deep mounds. These collections of exceptionally well-preserved materials can help scientists reconstruct a record of past lifeways and environments. For hundreds of years, scientists and industries have extracted a wealth of materials and history from some shell heaps without consultation or collaboration with those whose ancestors created them. As sea level rise accelerates, these losses are compounded by increasing erosion. Dr. Bonnie Newsom is one of the scholars urgently seeking to reconnect Wabanaki people to shell heaps before they disappear forever.

Cultivating Coastal Stewardship in the Damariscotta Estuary

August 2022

Survey the picturesque Damariscotta River and, among the many moorings and oyster farms, you might spot youthful figures hunched over the mudflat, waders on, clam rakes in hand. These are not shellfish harvesters, but local students gathering data to support the sustainable management of an ecosystem and industry.

This summer, Sarah Risley, a 91爆料 graduate student based at the Darling Marine Center, is leading a team of university and high school students to study the shellfish populations of the upper Damariscotta estuary. They are also recording the local knowledge of harvesters who know the ecosystem the best.

Difference-making is about risk-taking

July 2022

If all the researchers in a given discipline compiled their peer-reviewed research, what would it amount to? Would it better address the world鈥檚 greatest problems, or would it falter?

This is the query Dr. Linda Silka raised this past June, as she stood in front of several hundred members of the (SPSSI) at their summer conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Silka, a Senior Fellow with the Mitchell Center, serves as the President of SPSSI, an organization of 3000+ social and behavioral scientists focused on engaging with the world鈥檚 critical social and policy issues from a psychological perspective.

The Mudflat: Creating space and making connections to support shellfishing

April 2022

Shellfishing is deeply embedded in the foodways, cultures and traditions of communities all along the coast. This livelihood also contributes significant value to the marine economies and sustenance fishing cultures of coastal areas. Although shellfishing is crucial for many coastal communities, it faces some daunting challenges including water quality problems, increasing pressure from predators like green crabs, shoreline access, and more. How can a new collaborative website help to sustain it?

Moving from polarization to partnership

March 2022

How can we move beyond the notion that there are 鈥渙thers鈥� among 鈥渦s鈥� and 鈥渇ind a common place that we can all call home鈥�? This is one of the questions that Judy East will explore in her keynote address at the 2022 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference on Thursday, March 31.

Managing the risks of 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥�

February 2022

PFAS, also known as 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� due to their persistence in the environment, are at the center of a growing environmental and public health crisis in Maine, with devastating effects that are being felt across the state. These chemicals have been linked to  and have now been detected in well water, farm soils, farm products including milk, wildlife, and people鈥檚 bodies in Maine. The Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection reached out to Laura Rickard for help training agency staff in communicating about PFAS risks as part of their overall response to this crisis.

鈥楧isciplinary Nomad鈥�: Jessica Jansujwicz finds her place as researcher, teacher, mentor, leader

January 2022

Jessica Jansujwicz has charted a path from ecology to sustainability science that eventually led her to the Mitchell Center and a career focused on community-engaged research, teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and a leadership role with Maine Sea Grant.

Raising awareness, inspiring action and developing tools to reduce food waste in Maine

November 2021

As part of the ongoing work of Food Rescue MAINE, a team of undergraduate students is working this fall to engage and educate people to help reduce food waste. Along the way they are learning and developing skills, stepping into leadership roles, and connecting with professional networks. And their work provides real benefits for Maine communities.

Return on investment: Making the business case for conserving watersheds

October 2021

A research team led by Adam Daigneault explored the benefits and costs of scaling up conservation in the Sebago Lake watershed to protect a pristine drinking water source and provide other ecosystem services.

Coming home to help 鈥榗raft the best possible future鈥� for Maine

July 2021

From ocean acidification to climate adaptation, Parker Gassett works with Maine communities to build resilience in the face of change.

Mitchell Center researchers examine options for managing PFAS 

June 2021

In response to concerns raised by many different stakeholders, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is gathering and documenting knowledge of where PFAS are in Maine and how they move through soil, water, wildlife and food.

鈥楳aine Food鈥擳oo good to waste鈥�: Students lead the way to food waste solutions

May 2021

A team of eight undergraduate students, led by Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow Susanne Lee, are working together to pilot solutions that can reduce both food waste and food insecurity in Maine.

Navigating change: Cultivating resilience in fisheries and coastal communities

April 2021

Joshua Stoll鈥榮 passion for community fisheries led him to co-found the Local Catch Network, and to his current project investigating resilience in the Maine lobster fishery.

Let the sun shine in: Developing tools for community solar in Maine

March 2021

Sharon Klein鈥榮 research and teaching center on the technical, economic, environmental, and social tradeoffs inherent in sustainable energy decision-making, including solar and other forms of renewable energy. Her current focus is on 鈥渃ommunity solar,鈥� and how people, organizations, and communities can weigh their options and find the solutions that work best.

Less waste but is it safe? Anticipating risks in food waste recovery

February 2021

We鈥檙e making progress in moving toward a more circular food system, which has many economic, environmental, and social benefits. Recent research looks at potential risks in food waste recovery so it can be done safely and sustainably.

2020 Mitchell Center Sustainability Awards

January 2021

Mitchell Center Sustainability Awards have been presented annually since 2013. The awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of researchers, students, and external partners who have helped advance the values and principles at the heart of the Mitchell Center鈥檚 stakeholder-engaged, solutions-focused, interdisciplinary projects and partnerships.

Connecting community and classroom

January 2021

Mitchell Center Senior Fellow Linda Silka and colleagues from 91爆料 Machias worked with graduate students and faculty on incorporating Community-Based Learning (CBL) in their courses and curricula.

鈥榃e鈥檙e all in this together鈥�: Students lead climate-planning project

December 2020

91爆料 graduate students often undertake research, whether their field is economics, ecology or anthropology. Rather than just participating in research, however, a team of graduate students is leading an innovative new climate-planning project, funded by a Mitchell Center seed grant.

Challenges and change: Cultivating resilience in rural communities

September 2020

Papermaking has been important not just for the economy of the Katahdin region in northern Maine, but for its social and cultural identity. The industry鈥檚 decline has been devastating. Adam Daigneault led a collaborative project to help the region assess its resilience and chart a path forward.

Eels and energy: Can we have both?

August 2020

91爆料 graduate student Matthew Mensinger has studied the hazards American eels face from hydroelectric dams and in search of solutions that help eels survive while preserving power generation.

鈥楢 fishery worth investing in鈥�

July 2020

Shellfishing is important to the economies, cultures and traditions of communities all along the Maine coast. At Shellfish Focus Day, part of the annual Maine Fishermen鈥檚 Forum, shellfish harvesters, scientists, municipal leaders, educators, and representatives from state agencies come together to connect and learn how to help shellfishing communities thrive. Bridie McGreavy, Gabrielle Hillyer, and colleagues share their research and education efforts as part of the Mitchell Center鈥檚 Strengthening Coastal Economies project.

The art of collaboration in natural resource management

June 2020

Atlantic salmon are in trouble. Can effective collaboration help restore this iconic species? 91爆料 graduate student researches how people and agencies work together and communicate in salmon restoration efforts.

Strengthening Coastal Economies broadens shellfish focus to include oysters, scallops and mussels

June 2020

While softshell clams remain a priority focus due to their economic, ecological, and cultural value, in 2019 the Strengthening Coastal Economies project broadened its focus to include sea scallops, mussels, and oysters, all of which are high-value fisheries in Maine.

Helping Maine businesses find food waste solutions

April 2020

On November 18, 2019, the Maine Food Production Leadership Council held its first work session, led by faculty and students involved in the Mitchell Center project, Food Waste Management: Empowering Maine Businesses Toward Sustainability. Since that meeting, the students involved with the project have researched potential solutions for reducing food waste and food insecurity in Maine. Their next step is to present these potential solutions to the Council and garner feedback on how they might work in Maine.