{"id":35693,"date":"2025-12-16T16:38:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T21:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/?page_id=35693"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:34:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:34:44","slug":"keynote-speaker-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/keynote-speaker-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Keynote Speaker &#8211; 2026 Maine Sustainability &amp; Water Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21{margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:0px;row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21{background-image:linear-gradient(130deg,rgb(8,46,88) 22%,rgb(65,118,161) 69%);}.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;background:linear-gradient(222deg,rgb(65,118,161) 0%,rgb(8,46,88) 100%);mix-blend-mode:darken;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21{margin-top:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id35693_7e80c4-21 alignfull kt-row-has-bg um-UMBHHeaderWithImage wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-gradient\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_e2c048-23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_e2c048-23\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7{margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:20px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id35693_cc2dc4-c7 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-row kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:flex-start;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:40px;padding-right:35px;padding-bottom:35px;padding-left:35px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:35px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_5a9841-c1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\"]{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:45px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-family:Abel;text-transform:capitalize;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\"]{text-align:center!important;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\"]{padding-right:25px;padding-left:25px;font-size:40px;text-align:center!important;}}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-white-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_891b23-cd\">2026 Maine Sustainability &amp; Water Conference<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\"]{margin-top:10px;font-size:20px;line-height:32px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-family:'Open Sans';}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-size:20px;line-height:32px;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\"]{text-align:center!important;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\"]{padding-right:25px;padding-left:25px;text-align:center!important;}}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-white-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_2439d4-e9\" data-aos-duration=\"1200\" data-aos-once=\"true\">Thursday, March 26, 2026<br>Augusta Civic Center<br>Augusta, Maine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5{position:relative;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column35693_08035a-e5:not(.specificity){margin-right:-15px;margin-bottom:0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column35693_08035a-e5:not(.specificity){margin-left:-15px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column35693_08035a-e5, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column35693_08035a-e5:not(.specificity){margin-right:-25px;margin-left:-25px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_08035a-e5\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image35693_382456-59 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image35693_382456-59 img.kb-img, .kb-image35693_382456-59 .kb-img img{object-position:50% 74%;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-image.kb-image35693_382456-59:not(.kb-specificity-added):not(.kb-extra-specificity-added){margin-right:-20px;}}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image35693_382456-59 size-full kb-image-is-ratio-size\"><div class=\"kb-is-ratio-image kb-image-ratio-land43\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small.jpg\" alt=\"Sustainability graphic\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-35432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small.jpg 900w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-105x53.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-317x159.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-423x212.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-634x317.jpg 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/MSWC-graphic-small-846x423.jpg 846w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,900px\" \/><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id35693_349b63-6e alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_93b3dd-32\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#8ed1fc;}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_c155dc-63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_c155dc-63\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb\"]{text-align:center;font-size:30px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-family:Abel;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_33204d-fb\">Conference Menu<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btns35693_923456-a0{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns35693_923456-a0 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btns35693_923456-a0\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_0881ea-79.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_0881ea-79.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_0881ea-79 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Conference Home<\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_98ab5f-f2.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_98ab5f-f2.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_98ab5f-f2 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/call-for-abstracts-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Call for Abstracts<\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_3a1099-cf.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_3a1099-cf.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_3a1099-cf kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/sessions-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Concurrent Sessions<\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_00e9b4-36.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_00e9b4-36.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_00e9b4-36 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/poster-session-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Poster Session <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_85dd63-45.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_85dd63-45.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_85dd63-45 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/sponsors-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Sponsors<\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_e6a6b2-13.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_e6a6b2-13.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_e6a6b2-13 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/keynote-speaker-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Keynote speaker <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_dd6641-e2.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_dd6641-e2.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_dd6641-e2 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/organizing-committee-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">ORGANIZING COMMITTEE <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_c949e9-6e.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_c949e9-6e.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_c949e9-6e kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/registration-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">REGISTRATION <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_803325-68.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_803325-68.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_803325-68 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/exhibitors-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">EXHIBITORS <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_62692f-56.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_62692f-56.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_62692f-56 kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/agenda-2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">agenda <\/span><\/a>\n\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_965247-0c.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn35693_965247-0c.kb-button{color:#ffffff;background:#0693e3;text-transform:uppercase;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn35693_965247-0c kt-btn-size-small kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.us2.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=8d0889470befa3a8cb3a8ef9d&#038;id=60cc07bc9b\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">E-newsletter Sign Up <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column35693_cc2e8e-a8\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_a822da-58\"]{font-size:45px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-family:Abel;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_a822da-58\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_a822da-58\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading35693_a822da-58 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading35693_a822da-58\">Keynote Speaker<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Caroline Noblet\" class=\"wp-image-35847\" style=\"width:231px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web.jpg 450w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web-93x140.jpg 93w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web-317x475.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2026\/01\/Caroline-Noblet_for-web-423x634.jpg 423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,450px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Caroline Noblet, Associate Professor, School of Economics 91±¬ΑΟ, Faculty Fellow, Mitchell Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>People Matter: Partnering Science, Communities, and Action for a Sustainable Maine<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/6UmtHkbfyyQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A recording of Caroline Noblet&#8217;s keynote address is available<\/a>.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/resource\/2026-maine-sustainability-water-conference-keynote-slides\/\">A copy of Caroline Noblet&#8217;s PowerPoint slides is available<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Efforts to advance sustainability and community resilience in Maine increasingly rely on robust scientific knowledge.<strong> <\/strong>While this knowledge is essential, it is not sufficient on its own to produce meaningful, durable change. Decisions about water, climate adaptation, resource management, and community well-being are ultimately made by people, shaped by values, lived experience, trust, and social context. Failing to account for these human dimensions risks widening the gap between information and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This keynote address will explore people-centered decision-making, drawing on interdisciplinary research and community-engaged work from Maine and beyond, highlighting that sustainability challenges are often social and relational. Insights from environmental and behavioral science, coupled with partnerships across Maine\u2019s diverse communities, demonstrate why different audiences require different ways of engaging with science and that communicating science in ways that resonate with diverse audiences is not ancillary to policy success, but central to it. The presentation will showcase how a sustainable Maine is being built with bridges that cross divides between research and decision-making, expert knowledge and lived experience, and emphasizing the responsibility each of us has to foster dialogue, trust, and collaboration. Ultimately, achieving a sustainable, resilient Maine means pairing good science with a real understanding of how people make decisions, what they care about, and what gets in the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Caroline L. Noblet, Ph.D.<\/strong> is an associate professor in the School of Economics at the 91±¬ΑΟ and a faculty fellow at the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. Her research and teaching focus on environmental and behavioral economics, sustainability science, and how people use information to make decisions about natural resources and the environment. Her work bridges economics, psychology, and communication to better understand human behavior in the context of environmental challenges, including water quality, aquaculture, climate adaptation, and PFAS contamination. A Maine native, Caroline&#8217;s interdisciplinary research engages with communities, decision-makers, and stakeholders across Maine, emphasizing trust, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving to advance sustainable solutions. She teaches courses in environmental, behavioral, and experimental economics and has received multiple awards for outstanding teaching and mentorship. Caroline&#8217;s keynote will explore people-centered decision-making as a critical component of sustainability and resilience efforts in Maine and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-35693_8b9d9c-78 .kt-block-spacer{height:60px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-35693_8b9d9c-78 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#ffffff;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-35693_8b9d9c-78\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2026 Maine Sustainability &amp; Water Conference Thursday, March 26, 2026Augusta Civic CenterAugusta, Maine Conference Menu Keynote Speaker Caroline Noblet, Associate Professor, School of Economics 91±¬ΑΟ, Faculty Fellow, Mitchell Center People Matter: Partnering Science, Communities, and Action for a Sustainable Maine A recording of Caroline Noblet&#8217;s keynote address is available.A copy of Caroline Noblet&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":957,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35693","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"mitchellcenter","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/author\/mitchellcenter\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/957"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35693"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36505,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35693\/revisions\/36505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}