2:00 PM
IMRC Center 104
University of Maine, Orono, ME
Eddie Nachamie is an Ecology and Environmental Sciences major and an Honors student whose project Seeking Resilience: Climate Change Futures from McCarthy, Alaska examines the unique socio-ecological context of McCarthy, Alaska and the surrounding Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. For this research, Nachamie worked with faculty mentor Don Beith, Associate Professor of Philosophy. Nachamie’s Fellowship is supported by the Echoes of Maine Humanities Fellowship Fund.
Info:
In our rapidly changing and warming world, there are many questions regarding how we will adapt to the realities of climate change. The unique socio-ecological context of McCarthy, Alaska and the surrounding Wrangell-St. Elias National Park provide a reference point for resilience. This community is geographically isolated and relies on mostly off-grid technology for survival in Alaska’s rugged weather conditions. The area is also experiencing rapid changes in weather patterns and phenology as a result of climate change. Through a series of essays focused on consumption, sense of place, climate futures, and the relationship between people and their local ecologies, I have documented how this community is responding to climate change and creating resilience. Additionally, the project includes a photography series documenting the unique cultural and geographical points of interest in McCarthy and its surrounding preserve. Along with the essays and photography series are some sketches and a watercolor painting documenting the local ecology of McCarthy and its unique composition of flora, fauna, and geological features. Interspersed in the book are excerpts from interviews with McCarthy locals and teachers at the Wrangell Mountains Center where perspectives on climate resilience in the Copper River Basin are documented.
For more details, email mhc@maine.edu