Interested in seeing what EES students were up to in the spring? Check out our July newsletter to see student and faculty awards, research, fieldwork, and more!

We are thrilled to share the University of Maine’s feature on EES Undergraduate Eddie Nachamie! Check out the full Black Bear Profile here.

Kate Busko traveled to Iceland through the Climate Change and the Arctic program. This program combines field research, independent study, and lectures from Icelandic experts to expose students to a different perspective on climate change. Check out her advice on studying abroad!

What was your Program?

I was studying abroad through SIT, and my program is called Climate Change and the Arctic. Every single day looked different. Some days we spent in a classroom, with lectures from Icelandic experts on everything from energy to glaciers to forestry. Some days we were out in the field – I have measured trees to calculate carbon sequestration, hiked on a glacier, and visited a tomato greenhouse. Some days, we work on our independent research projects. We moved all throughout the country – Reykjavík, Selfoss, Stykkishólmur, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, and Húsavík, to name just a few places. As part of this program, we will all conduct an independent research project. I am interested in the impact of climate change on Icelandic farming.

What deciding factors played into your decision to study abroad?

I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but it was hearing about other students’ experiences that really convinced me that it was possible. I also wanted my study abroad experience to relate to my major. That’s why I chose Iceland, a place where I can see glaciers and hear a different perspective on climate change.

Any advice for students wondering if they should study abroad?

If you have even an inkling that you might want to study abroad, schedule an appointment with the study abroad office. They are awesome and can help you figure out what you are looking for in a study abroad experience.��

What was your favorite experience you had while abroad?

I had way too many magical experiences to pick a favorite. But here’s one example. It was our last night in Ísafjörður, and I had heard a rumor that the Northern Lights would be out. So I walked down to the edge of the water with some friends and just stared out over the fjord. It took a few hours, but I saw the most amazing sky – purples and greens just dancing over the mountains. I couldn’t stop jumping for joy.

We are thrilled to share the University of Maine’s feature on EES Undergraduate Jordan Ramos! Check out the full Black Bear Profile here.

We are thrilled to share the University of Maine’s feature on EES Undergraduate Madelynn deBest! Check out the full Black Bear Profile here.

This week’s episode of “The Maine Question” features EES-affiliated faculty Jean MacRae, Christina Murphy, Caroline Noblet, and Rachel Schattman! Their expertise is invaluable in the conversation surrounding PFAS research and regulation. Host, Ron Lisnet, focuses on how their work, spanning engineering, economics, agriculture, and conservation biology, is helping communities confront PFAS and chart a cleaner path forward.

Listen to the podcast on ,��,��,��,�� or “The Maine Question” website.��

Check out the link to the original 91���� news article here.

We are thrilled to share the University of Maine’s feature on EES Undergraduate Mo Drammeh! Check out the full Black Bear Profile here.

We are thrilled to share the University of Maine’s feature on EES PhD student Amanda Gavin! Check out the full Black Bear Profile here.

Eddie Nachamie of North Andover, Massachusetts, a University of Maine rising senior majoring in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, is one of the 55 recipients nationwide of the Udall Scholarship in the Environmental category.

The Udall Foundation describes its purpose as “… awarding scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the  and to the  to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues, and training; and provides assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR).” 

As an Ecology and Environmental Sciences major and Honor’s student, Eddie has worked tirelessly to be an excellent student and mentor in the program. His award of the Udall Scholarship in the Environmental category is the first in over 15 years. 91����’s last recipients in the Environmental category were and Michael Parker in 2009. 91���� students had received Honorable Mention for the Udall Scholarship in 2011 in the Environmental Category and in 2020 in the Native American category.

“ I am incredibly grateful to have been awarded the Udall Scholarship. It’s been really amazing to join a community of other students and alumni who are involved in work regarding tribal policy and environmental justice. We’re at a pivotal moment in history where our actions on environmental issues matter more than ever.”  says Eddie, who received support for his application from the Office of Major Scholarships in Estabrooke Hall.

What is the environmental policy project you focused on in your Udall application? 

I focused on my passion for strengthening environmental policy regarding toxic compounds. Last year, I wrote a policy review of Maine’s legislation of PFAS forever chemical compounds. As part of this paper, I created a framework for the regulation of PFAS compounds that outlines discrete ways local and state governments can reduce exposure to better protect people and the environment. 

Tell us about the research, internships or scholarly pursuits you are involved in as a student. 

While at 91����, I have been involved in research centered around food waste reduction and PFAS policy. During my freshman year, I worked as part of a student research team, Food Rescue MAINE, to develop food waste reduction interventions in elementary schools. I worked with the Department of Education to design a study which was implemented in four different public-school cafeterias across the state in which we tracked and measured the amount of food waste produced in cafeterias over a 9-week period. This also included implementing educational interventions to curb the food waste produced by the students. The results of this data collection showed that every school engaged in the program experienced a reduction in food waste. Combined, the schools diverted a total of 630 pounds of food waste over the study period which equates to roughly 1.62 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided. 

During my junior year, I worked with a professor from a course I had previously taken to write a policy review of current PFAS legislation in Maine and throughout the United States. The review serves as a framework for other states to implement more stringent regulation of PFAS compounds as well as offering recommendations for changes to federal environmental policy to protect public health and promote environmental justice. I have presented my research at two conferences in Maine and am in the process of publishing the policy review. 

This past summer, I worked as part of the Agroecology Lab at 91���� as a research technician collecting data on wild blueberry fruit production under different temperature conditions to simulate the impacts of climate change before leaving to take a field course on the natural history, ecology, and geology of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. 

I have also worked as a forest technician with both the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit and the University Forest. As part of these roles, I have learned about forest measurements and low impact forestry practices. These roles strengthened my plant identification skills and taught me about forest ecology in an applied way. I also worked as a student assistant to plan the Downeast ROOTS (Rural Opportunities for Ocean, Timber, and Soil) conference last spring where forest resources, agriculture, and aquaculture professionals met to discuss the future of natural resource management in Maine. 

Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities occupy your time? 

I am the President of the Permaculture & Gardening Club at 91���� and a resident steward at the Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center. In this role, I help to host workshops and events focused on gardening, food preservation, community resilience, and dialogues about the impacts of climate change. As a resident steward, I take care of the permaculture garden at Terrell House. 

I am also an officer for the Student Environmental Action Division (SEAD) and have helped to host and facilitate testimony writing workshops where students can provide input on issues happening in the Maine State Legislature.

How would you describe 91����’s academic atmosphere? 

91���� has an extremely supportive and cooperative academic atmosphere. Students are excited to help each other out, form study groups, and work together to succeed in their classes. The academic atmosphere is rigorous but not competitive, and I’ve found that professors are always willing to help accommodate student situations and concerns.

Have there been other students, professors, mentors or role models who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new? 

I have been lucky to have the mentorship of Rachel Schattman from the School of Food and Agriculture to support me in my research about PFAS compounds in Maine and throughout the United States. Dr. Schattman’s feedback on my policy review showed me what I was capable of from a research perspective. 

I am lucky to lead the Permaculture & Gardening Club with three other amazing resident stewards who share the responsibility of taking care of the garden, hosting sustainability related events, and living together in a way that is lighter on the earth. 

What’s on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?  

After I graduate, I hope to work in environmental education and advocacy with nonprofits in Maine and Alaska for a few years before going back to school to obtain my Juris Doctor and Masters of Law in Environmental Law.

Sarah Hammond traveled to Tanzania to experience a unique study abroad course that focused heavily on sustainability, being aware of environmental consciences and supporting the roots of local communities. The   teaches its volunteers to invest in community-based tourism, which establishes long term sustainable benefits for local communities. The idea of supporting your neighbor was encompassed through the community-based initiatives and still resonates with Sarah, even now after the program ended. On her particular trip, she was in a group of 36 other volunteers.

They traveled to Zanzibar, one of the two larger islands off the coast of Tanzania, where they worked with the community of Kairo to install offices for the teachers, painted a classroom, and taught English to the children and adults.

After Zanzibar, she traveled to Arusha and volunteered with a women’s co-op to build chicken coups. Then Sarah went on a coffee tour, where she was able to see coffee plants and watch the process of making instant coffee straight from the bean. Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park were their next stops, where they learned about the terrible impacts of poaching.

After the safari, 18 people including Sarah stayed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest point in Africa. Sarah reported that it was easily one of the most challenging things she has ever done, and to remember that she was 19,341 feet in the air is a surreal feeling. She credits the support and guidance of  and their outstanding team of guides, porters, and everyone in-between for her adventure.