• Environmental communication books available for loan
• Spring 2008 seminars
• Updates on FY07 funded projects

The Environmental Solutions Initiative

The central goal of the Environmental Solutions Initiative is to help search for, implement, and evaluate policies and practices that protect ecosystems while improving economic well-being and fostering strong communities in Maine, New England and beyond. Our overall strategy for achieving this goal is to transform the way we create and support interdisciplinary teams within the university as well as work to meet the needs of stakeholders. In essence, we want to link knowledge to action more effectively.

Innovative Steps

This bold effort involves several innovative steps. First, key stakeholders play a central role in ensuring that university research is relevant to their concerns and needs. Second, new organizational models are used to create and sustain integrated research teams that are committed to solving real-world problems. Third, ESI efforts focus particular attention on the processes by which decisions are made, the extent of stakeholder engagement and the degree to which conflicts over values and goals can be identified and resolved.

Place-Based Projects

In partnership with local stakeholders, five place-based projects have been initiated as a method for learning how to link knowledge to action. These competitively-funded projects focus on the causes and consequences of landscape change, based in part on several high profile reports, including the Brookings Institution report, Charting Maine's Future, indicating that Maine’s high “quality of place” and unique natural resources may be threatened by uncoordinated growth and development. These projects include efforts to create workable municipal ordinances to protect unique pond habitats, develop new monitoring methods that can help reduce polluted run-off, and assess and forecast the impact of landscape change on recreational opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Courses

ESI is also creating new ways for students to learn about the multi-faceted nature of environmental issues and participate in problem-solving partnerships. The initial focus of our first graduate course, which took place in Fall 2007, was on ways to improve shoreland management in Maine. Eight faculty with expertise from aquatic ecology to political science served as the facilitation team for the course. Students learned about both the environmental and human dimensions of shoreland management. Then, interdisciplinary teams worked in partnership with different stakeholders to develop recommendations for improving shoreland management policies and practices.

New Approaches

New approaches and partnerships are urgently needed in the effort to identify and implement sustainable policies and practices. Although the Environmental Solutions Initiative is still in its infancy, we are confident that it can help Maine improve its economy, strengthen communities, and protect its environment.