Kappa Psi Upsilon Maine Based Environmental Studies Fellowships
Issie Gale '25 - Town of Topsham Planning and Development
Issie spent the summer with the Topsham Office of Planning and Development working on a range of projects. She learned that the Topsham Transfer Station seamlessly blends municipal components and public recreation and put her Geographic Information System (GIS) skills to use performing maintenance on the Topsham zoning map, updating it with current data. She also created a database documenting Topsham's GIS layers and those from 15 other Maine municipalities as a comparative reference for future expansion. Her ‘passion project’ involved researching alternative land use options for Topsham’s capped former landfill sites, settling on a pollinator garden to bolster biodiversity.
“During my fellowship with the Topsham Planning Department, I formed a fundamental understanding of how a municipal planning department functions. I learned how to read subdivision and site plans, participated in the staff development review process, and read memorandums submitted by developers. Additionally, I worked with the Planning Board, the Energy Committee, and the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee (CPIC). Outside my projects, I attended meetings discussing everything from traffic calming techniques to sidewalk engineering.
Chase Lenk '26 - Town of Gorham Planning Division
Working with the Town of Gorham Planning Division Chase completed a variety of projects. He aided with the digitization of the land use code and helped complete a historic walking tour Story Map by working with the Gorham Historical Society. For Public Works, he helped monitor the town’s stormwater outfalls. Chase's largest project aimed to help the Town Council Ordinance Committee consider how to change the zoning code to shape redevelopment in the Gorham Village, where he created a series of maps using GIS analyzing the extent to which the modern zoning code would allow the traditional vialage-style development that gives Gorham's downtown its pedestrian character.
“My supervisors invited me to any meeting where I would learn and answered every question I had about municipal governance, planning, economic development, architecture, public works, stormwater, affordable housing and transportation. My overall project evaluated the current conditions for multifamily housing construction in Gorham. My analysis drafted some recommended changes to the zoning code to enable more multifamily construction, which the towns needs as it plans for the construction of a highway spur and rapid transit routes that will strengthen its connection to the Greater Portland region. My research included reading most of the town’s plans and listening to dozens of public meeting recordings to understand the politics that may impact the town’s future.”
Naomi Lopez '26 - Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Naomi spent her summer working with the education and advocacy teams at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. To help promote youth engagement with BCM’s advocacy efforts, she created community-organizing toolkits for students, bike safety education materials, and a curriculum guide for educators with interdisciplinary lesson plans. She hopes that these materials will serve to empower young people with the tools needed to advocate for better bike and pedestrian infrastructure in their local communities! She also worked directly with students and community members by leading bike safety presentations, helping with fix-a-bike events and bike rodeos, making bike art, and participating in group rides across Maine.
"Being interested in youth activism, education, and environmental advocacy, this experience gave me the opportunity to work at the intersection of my interests and to gain a valuable look into how nonprofits foster meaningful connections with community. I’m so grateful that I was able to get hands-on experience working with and learning from students and the amazing staff at BCM!"
Chloe Sheehan '26 - Town of Brunswick Planning and Development
Chloë spent the summer diving into work in municipal government by interning for Brunswick’s Environmental Planner in the Planning and Development Department. Her main project was creating a draft Brunswick invasive plant species guide by researching invasive plant guides and meeting with Brunswick stakeholders to provide examples and information on identifying, controlling, and disposing of Maine invasive plants. This work was connected to Brunswick’s draft Climate Action Plan which she assisted with leading up to its future presentation to the Town Council. Additionally, she helped take water samples for a water quality study in Maquoit Bay and researched other Maine towns’ pesticide ordinances for a future Brunswick ordinance.
“I have had an amazing time working on Brunswick’s climate initiatives this summer. I followed projects in a variety of ways, such as researching and meeting with stakeholders to discuss invasive plants and then removing the plants themselves at an invasive species workshop. Being able to take the communication, policy, and research lessons I have learned in Environmental Studies classes and apply them to real-world work gave me a whole new perspective on what I am studying. I am excited to take some of the interests I developed this summer and continue to research them.”
Zoe Stonorov '25 - Manomet for Conservation Science
Zoe spent the summer as a fisheries intern at Manomet Conservation Sciences. Throughout the summer, she worked on a series of projects centered around building resilient and productive ecosystems along the coast of Maine. She split her time between working in the field and research. The fieldwork that she did included, trapping and tagging blue crabs to monitor their presence and movement in the New Meadows River System, monitoring eelgrass beds In Casco Bay and the effects that green crab may have on their health through green crab trapping, as well as collecting unmarketable oysters from local farmers and using them to better understand oyster growth and reef health as a part of the Basin Oyster Project. Some of the research that she did included analyzing municipal shellfish records, and historical research on how fisheries have been managed in the past in the Brunswick area.
“I spent the summer working with Manomet Conservation Sciences. As part of my fellowship, I got to learn how a nonprofit works, by sitting in on meetings, meeting partner organizations, and contributing to projects that Manomet was carrying out. I also got to spend a lot of time in the field, trapping crabs, collecting oysters, and growing quahog seed. This fellowship provided a great balance between office work and fieldwork and taught me a lot about coastal Maine as a place of commercial industry that is drastically different from the coastal Maine of recreation and leisure that many people know about.”
Selima Terras '26 - Environmental Studies Fellow with Milkweed Farm
Selima worked alongside Lucretia Woodruff to tend to her beautiful organic farm in Brunswick Maine. Selima learned the basics of weeding, developing seedlings, planting, caring for plants, and harvesting delicious fruits and vegetables. She also dried medicinal flowers and learned to make tinctures and oils. Finally, and most importantly, Selima engaged in critical conversations about possible futures for healthy and strong communities that center land, nutritious food, natural healing, and music.
“I had the most wonderful time with my mentor Lucretia Woodruff on her land this summer. I learned that there is something truly magical about weeding strawberries; The slow movement and caring intentions clear the mind and allow for space to slow down and radically imagine what our collective futures can look like.”
Justin Whitney, 25 - Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, summer 2024
During their fellowship with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Justin immersed himself in Maine’s fishing communities, visiting docksides and conducting interviews with fishermen and stakeholders from Harpswell to Vinalhaven. In the aftermath of the past winter's severe storms, He investigated how these communities coped when formal resources, like FEMA and state assistance, proved insufficient. By mapping the limits of official aid, His work underscored the critical role of informal support networks and mutual aid. Throughout the fellowship, He gained deep insight into the resilience of these coastal communities and the enduring commitment of fishermen to sustain their families and nourish their communities despite mounting environmental and economic pressures.
"My fellowship with MCFA gave me invaluable tools and connections to explore the heritage industry of Maine's fishing communities. This experience not only deepened my respect for the resilience of fishermen but also equipped me to engage meaningfully with the ongoing stewardship of coastal traditions and resources alike.."
Eden Zumbrun '26 - City of Bath Sustainability Office
This summer, Eden worked for the Bath Sustainability Office with a focus on sea level rise in the city and the development of an updated Climate Action Plan. Her projects included authoring a Flood Resilience Checklist Summary Report, developing GIS resources for residents, drafting the policy for a pilot Clean Energy Rebate Program, and a variety of other small projects to help the community address climate concerns. The outcomes of these projects not only helped push some of the city’s climate actions forward, but they will also inform future resilience measures as Bath continues to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
“My experience with the City of Bath allowed me to leverage my coursework and apply what I had learned to create resources and programs that would benefit the community. I walked away from the fellowship with a much better understanding of a municipal government’s roles in shaping local climate action as well as the challenges that need to be overcome for these actions to be effective and impactful for residents.”
Cooke Environmental Research Fellowships
Liliana Restrepo '26 - Naugatuck Valley Health District
This summer, Liliana worked alongside the Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD), a public health agency in Seymour, CT. There, she spent her time researching air quality and its impact on environmental health. One such project included working with the district’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator to develop an Air Quality Emergency Annex, which outlines a protocol for future air-quality incidents in the district. She also created a page on the NVHD website to help educate residents on how they can take action to monitor local air quality and keep themselves safe.
"I had a wonderful experience during my fellowship with NVHD. Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, and I am glad to have been able to work on several projects centered around the topic. Additionally, I enjoyed all the different hands-on ways in which I gained exposure to public health, such as conducting water samples and distributing PPE and vaccine information at community events. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with an important organization that is also closely linked to my professional goals."
Gabe Sarno '25 - Shell+Claw
This summer Gabe worked as an intern for Shell+Claw in York, Maine, where he helped pioneer the first commercial-scale fishery for the invasive European Green Crab in the state. Gabe worked to fish hundreds of thousands of crabs out of local waters and sorted through them to identify “pre-molt” crabs - those about to molt their exoskeleton and become completely soft - to sell to local restaurants. Gabe also conducted experiments investigating the crabs’ behavior and morphologies to better identify these pre-molts. Additionally, Gabe worked on outreach to coastal communities to inform people about the importance of the removal of the invasive species.
“The working waterfront is a staple of Maine life, contributing to both the state’s economy and character. Preserving the working waterfront and the livelihoods of those who work on it is paramount. My work removing an invasive species - one that harms coastal and estuarine ecosystems - has been highly rewarding, as I not only protect the environment of my home state, but also strive to add a new economic avenue for those who work on the water, bolstering local fisheries.”
Hayes Foundation Fund for the Environment Fellowships
Evan Grauer '26 - The Nature Conservancy of Maine
Evan spent his summer focused on two main projects: a preserve accessibility project, and an oyster restoration project. The preserve accessibility project consisted of visiting and surveying several of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC’s) nature preserves to update the information about the preserves’ hikes on TNC’s website. The goal of this project was to ensure that visitors could better understand the preserve and help them determine if the recreational opportunities fit their accessibility needs. The oyster restoration project helped to support a restoration site in Phippsburg, ME, and Evan researched other potential locations for oyster restoration in Maine.
“My experience interning at The Nature Conservancy was both interesting and rewarding. I enjoyed getting to know the accomplished staff and learning from their insights about their careers, and I spent much of my time shadowing TNC employees and discussing their work. It was a meaningful opportunity to learn more about Maine and about how a global nonprofit harnesses their resources to address local issues, and I am incredibly grateful to have spent my summer at an organization with such clear and ambitious goals to address the climate crisis”.
Eli Mears, '26, Coastal Enterprises, Inc, CEI
As CEI’s policy fellow, Eli worked on research that heightened CEI’s knowledge on solar interconnection in rural Maine communities, utility legislation in New England, and local solar developers’ logjams. This research was completed with the hope of helping CEI staff help developers build and connect more projects and, in the long run, reduce electricity rates for rural Mainers. Eli arranged numerous interviews with key players in Maine’s solar policy field and spent weeks completing extensive bill and testimony analyses. Additionally, by attending loan meetings and working with lending staff, Eli learned about the benefits of community financing.
“I could not have asked for a better experience as a policy fellow at CEI. I gained a deeper, more nuanced perspective on environmental politics through my interactions with CEI staff members, solar developers, and politicians. It was a privilege to research solar interconnection and, more broadly, to connect with the state of Maine. Approaching Maine’s climate goals through the lens of CEI’s mission has given me a new, positive perspective on my career.”
Poppy Environmental Fellowship
Asher Savel, '26, Coastal Enterprises, Inc, CEI
Asher Savel worked for Coastal Enterprises Inc.’s Climate and Agriculture team and was tasked with creating a toolkit for CEI’s local clients that would help them prepare for and recover from climate disasters. In research, Asher met with local Maine businesses and farmers that dealt with climate disasters in the past. He also dove deeply into agricultural finance policies from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, as well as practices that other institutions have used. After getting to know CEI’s employees and working with three other summer interns, Asher presented his work to CEI at the end of his internship.
“My time at CEI was nothing short of fascinating. From researching crop insurance to interviewing local Maine farmers and businesses, I learned so much about food systems and how complicated growing can be. I am proud to know that my efforts in creating a disaster toolkit for CEI’s clients will be used to help others in an everchanging climate. Thank you to Bradley Russell and Emily Wood for your constant support and insight!”
Addison spent the summer working on the Town of Brunswick’s climate and conservation initiatives, putting skills from environmental policy courses. Projects included monitoring Town-held conservation easements, developing a climate action survey, and interviewing local community leaders. The findings from the latter, incorporated with an analysis of infrastructural vulnerabilities, will inform the Town’s future actions on adapting to climate change. He also became familiar with many different municipal activities and departments, such as the Town Clerk, Assessing, and GIS Administration. Finally, in Climate Action Task Force and Conservation Commission meetings, he met and worked with various Brunswick residents.
As a fellow with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Emma was involved in many aspects of the organization’s diverse work. She worked with the stewardship team to manage invasive plants, upkeep trails, and delineate property boundaries on KELT’s land. She collaborated with ArtVan to create an environmental education and art workshop for youth in the Bath area. And she spent several weeks developing protocols, creating educational materials, and setting up study sites for a new community science program that will monitor red-backed salamanders on KELT preserves. Emma worked with great people, supported important work, and gained experience that will inform her studies and work going forward.
During his time with the Topsham Planning office, Theo was exposed to many facets of municipal government and community planning through conversations across town departments, visiting local organizations, and meeting with town committees and other engaged town residents. His work included researching comparable impact fee policies, habitat mitigation policies, and electric vehicle charger experiences of other municipalities. His major focus was a survey of street trees, which focused on developed areas with limited trees and green space. This resulted in an interactive map of existing street trees and recommendations for street tree and green space plans.
This summer, Angus focused most of his time studying the future of offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine and how such development will impact Maine’s commercial fishing industry. He researched the effects of electromagnetic field exposure from subsea energy cables on benthic organisms to predict potential impacts of offshore wind development on Maine lobster populations. Angus also prepared a 15-page report for the executive director and board of MCFA regarding current and projected global installed offshore wind capacity. This report helps illustrate where offshore wind infrastructure is currently located, what technologies are being utilized, and what shifts to expect in the industry in the near future.
This summer, Leif learned about the role of community finance in supporting a just transition to a green economy while interning at CEI. With the lending team, he explored new ways to assess and incentivize sustainable business practices and grow green industries in rural communities. This included research and conversations on how to support farm borrowers employ regenerative methods to develop healthy soils. With the communications team, Leif developed a guide for communicating about CEI’s environmental and climate work that frames CEI’s role in supporting a just transition to renewable energy and a climate resilient local economy. With this guide, he helped shape grant applications and the new website update. Finally, with the policy team, Leif wrote feedback responding to the climate resiliency section of the notice of proposed rulemaking on the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), originally passed in 1977. The new rule has the potential to direct more investments towards climate resilience in low- and moderate-income communities across the U.S.
As a summer fellow for Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT), Jane supported the Land Trust’s Tom Settlemire Community Garden with numerous projects. This included assisting with work in the New Mainer’s Garden and collaborating to lead volunteer workdays at the Common Good Garden, a section of TSCG cultivated to be donated to MCHPP. She also completed extensive research on orchard management and compiled a maintenance plan for the TSCG orchard of peaches, apples, blueberries and raspberries. Additionally, Jane conducted interviews with many of the over 80 plot holders in the garden, compiling their stories into blog posts to share with the BTLT community. The connections she made at the Land Trust made her feel closer to Brunswick as a community, and advice from the surrounding gardeners allowed her to successfully cultivate her first season of crops in her own plot as a first-time gardener.
As a fellow for the Nature Conservancy, Audrey read through archaeological archives of TNC’s preserves, conducted legislative research in support of TNC’s policy work, and wrote part of a $20k grant which, if awarded, will help fund TNC’s seasonal staff. In addition to in-office work, she was also able to attend an in-person board meeting (followed by a boat ride at Maine Maritime museum), get out on preserves by participating in volunteer work days, tour the Portland Fish exchange as part of a development event introducing donors to TNC’s fisheries work, and attend a climate conference in Augusta.
Jill spent this past year working with The Farmlink Project, a student-run nonprofit, whose purpose is to provide humanitarian assistance to farmers and communities in need. Farmlink rescues surplus produce from farms and connects it to food relief organizations across the country. Jill stood as one of the leaders for the Fundraising Team this summer, where she acted more specifically as the Grants Team Lead. Her work helped The Farmlink Project continue its mission to connect farmers with millions of pounds of fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste, feeding people in need, reducing carbon emissions, and building a more sustainable future. This summer, Jill was responsible for overseeing everything fundraising-related and worked toward raising funds needed to support Farmlink’s operations. Mainly, as the Grants Team Lead, her role was to spearhead and oversee the application process to grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies, as well as build and maintain relationships with grantmakers and foundation partners. 
During her summer at Growing to Give, Sophia joined an amazing network of people who are striving to make fresh and healthy produce accessible for everyone in Midcoast Maine. She worked alongside volunteers and staff to care for the crops and soil in accordance with regenerative agricultural practices, from planting seedlings all the way to harvesting and packing ripe vegetables for distribution. As an independent project, she surveyed Growing to Give’s recipient organizations to gather data about their food use and processing abilities, which will help inform future decisions about what produce to grow and where to send it in order to best serve the community’s needs.
As a summer intern at Unadilla Community Farm, an off-grid, nonprofit farm and education center located in West Edmeston, New York, Hayden was immersed in permaculture farming and the operations of a food bank farm. She worked alongside a wonderful team of fellow interns and staff to grow vibrant organic produce to be distributed to food banks and directly to the local community through the free and sliding scale veggie box program. In addition to hands-on time in the field, Hayden took classes taught by Unadilla staff and guest instructors on topics ranging from permaculture design to fundraising to conscious communication.
Katie spent the summer as an intern in the small town of Perugia, Italy through The Umbra Institute, an American university in partnership with the University of Perugia. Her mornings were spent in two beautiful community gardens within the historic city center, working alongside community members and a local immigrant organization to physically restore the gardens by building stairs, planting seeds, and growing vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, and eggplant. Outside of physical garden work, Katie designed an environmental education curriculum to integrate the local middle school into the Umbra Institute’s garden, Orto Sole. She also wrote an extensive report about community partners and future educational programs, updated an online StoryMap of the space, and planned the garden for the winter and following summer.
Through her work as a Poppy fellow, Jane worked on a variety of environmental policy projects with the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). By conducting research on Wyman Station as well as oil power plants that have already been shut down, Jane was able to help NRCM determine the best practices for potentially starting a campaign to close Wyman Station. Jane also did work regarding Maine’s bottle bill by calling bottle redemption centers to inquire about pressing issues they faced and condensing spreadsheets to make this information more accessible. She was involved in several other projects, including working on NRCM’s 50 Champions of Clean Water nomination process, creating a document containing Susan Collins’ environmental voting records on clean energy, and gathering information from comments regarding Wolfden’s potential mining operations in Northern Maine.
financed emissions. The guidelines set by PACF or the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials was used to calculate the financed carbon emissions. Her role was to familiarize herself with the PCAF standards and collect the necessary data from CEI loan databases, PCAF emissions factor databases and external databases as needed. Once this data was collected, she then calculated the total financed carbon emissions for CEI's loan portfolios for the fiscal year 2020.
plethora of projects. Between helping with conservation easement monitoring or working on an inventory analysis of environmental features within Brunswick, every day brought something new and exciting. She worked largely on the start of a new project: the implementation of a wayfinding system within Brunswick. This involved using GIS to map bicycle routes, and points of interest in Brunswick to help visualize where signage can be improved. She collaborated with the surrounding towns, and the Brunswick Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee with a goal of creating a cohesive and easily accessible community within Maine. This work culminated in a public report and StoryMap suggesting how best to implement new signage within Brunswick to increase economic activity. 
produce for local people facing food insecurity. He learned organic farming practices and worked on a broad range of farm activities: from feeding and caring for goats, to eliminating tomato hookworms, to harvesting beautiful beets. Paul also assisted with a farm-scale research project of his own design, which will increase the yield and productivity of the farm. These projects included but were not limited to biochar application, companion planting, under-cropping, mycorrhizal fungi applications, low-till/ no-till methods, and biological pest control. Paul met lovely people, worked on a beautiful farm, and had a lot of fun.
agronomists to create a soil amendment guide for the farm. He also created a weekly Plant to Plate campaign post, involving photography and recipe testing. Finally, Kyle worked on the Mobile Farmer’s Market truck to supply produce to food-insecure residents at local affordable housing complexes. Kyle coupled this experience with working at a second farm, Cloverleaf Farm, supporting their Community Supported Agriculture programs.
She co-lead the Fundraising Team which raised over $6 million dollars since the organization’s inception one year ago and consists of 25 students. This summer, Maeve, and fellow 糖心vlog student Annie Boasberg, focused on designing and implementing an internal education program for their organization. Together, they researched topics related to food justice and racial equity, covering everything from how institutional and systemic racism creates an American food apartheid to how POC (people of color) farmers are reimagining urban agriculture. They disseminated resources and held conversations with people across the organization to provoke thought, discussions and create a more informed, actively anti-racist organization. 
communities from industrial logging. Working with a coalition of leaders from NC communities impacted by wood pellet facilities, she created tools for organizing and outreach, including a series of ‘Postcards from Polluted Places’. Brianna also took on a GIS mapping project incorporating justice and equity concerns into conservation choices by building a socially-conscious prioritization model. She also created a StoryMap supporting Dogwood’s organizing in Georgia and the Gulf South for presentation to legislators and community partners.
surplus food from farms across the country. She researched and collected sources to share each week under themes that included food justice and food sovereignty, BIPOC farmers and land ownership, queer farmers, and racial health disparities. All resources and ideas were shared in a Slack channel that employees had access to. Employers then shared their perspectives on the resources from that week in the fellows' open houses. Overall, the fellows intended to provoke thought and raise awareness within the organization about food justice to make FarmLink's work more intentional.
understanding to the present crisis. By researching a national trend banning single-family zoning to preserve affordability, Lola reviewed the effect zoning has on Portland's housing crisis. Lola was able to better understand the benefits of multi-family zoning following interviews with nine local housing, preservation, and planning organizations.
worked with the Freshwater team to write an annotated bibliography for a report on the benefits of river barrier removal to be shared with the European Open Rivers Programme and the European Union’s Directorate General for the Environment as they guide member states on methods they need to meet the 2030 goal for 25,000 newly connected kilometers of rivers in Europe. She was also involved in solar policy research on equity considerations for Maine’s solar development incentives and solar siting policies. Additionally, TNC provided opportunities for Amy to participate in meetings, webinars, and connect with her coworkers on a hike.
residents of a bikeable community, the equitability of making low-cost transit a practical option, or the power to mitigate climate change through offering transportation alternatives to get cars off the road, Katie connected deeply to BCM's work through the broader issues that she sees need solving in our world. As a passionate climate and social justice advocate, Katie worked on projects that ranged from creating a fact sheet to educate partner organizations on how biking, walking, and public transit are low/no carbon transportation options with the potential to mitigate climate change, to developing an independent research project to investigate how bike lanes and improved sidewalks can parallel gentrification. Finally, some of Katie's favorite work was participating in the hands-on, grassroots Imagine People Here (IPH) infrastructure projects within which driven residents from all over the state seek support from the BCM to install traffic-calming infrastructure.
Topsham for the consulting firm Stantec. The Topsham office focuses on environmental sciences and the commissioning of environmental projects, such as wind farms, within communities in Maine and across the country. As part of this role, Stantec performs acoustic bat surveys that monitor the presence of different bat species and the potential for bat fatalities at proposed wind farm locations. 
integrate the interests of its stakeholders to sustain Brunswick's department, Lauren Hickey (Class of 2020, Environmental Studies and History major), surveyed and mapped erosion in Mare Brook, updated coastal bluff maps for the Shoreline Stabilization Task Force, researched the feasibility of a bike share in the Brunswick-Topsham region, and monitored conservation easements. She even got a chance to present at a televised Conservation Commission meeting!
fishermen can be included in our local food systems. She focused on three main projects. The first was to trace Pollock and American Plaice from landing in Maine to people’s plates. We know little about where Maine fish, so integral to the identity of our state, end up. The second project was to look into ways that local farmers can find local fishmeal for fertilizer. The third project is to help other food councils include fishermen in the conversations. Fish are often overlooked in local food movements. 
Planning and Development Office assists the Planning Director and Assistant Planner with various projects concerning the future of the town, its residents, and its resources. This year, the focus was primarily on GIS map creation and data collection for the town to utilize in creating their ten-year comprehensive plan. The fellow is based out of the municipal offices in Topsham, but also spends time outdoors conducting surveys or in committee meetings getting to know residents and familiarizing themselves with the processes of local government.
Studies) spent her summer at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the state's leading environmental advocacy organization. She worked on a diverse array of projects including legislative initiatives, solar energy constituency mobilization, evaluating congressional contribution data, and drafting advocacy articles. A July NRCM press release and media conference focused on the analysis she conducted of over 192,000 comments submitted on behalf of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. These experiences gave her insight into how state and federal environmental policy can be crafted to sustainably manage and protect the environment.
Bay Area's local branch of the Sierra Club, which is the nation’s most powerful environmental grassroots organization. The San Francisco Bay Chapter is especially active and influential, tackling environmental issues through various campaigns. Ally worked on the Community Choice Energy campaign, specifically focusing on educational outreach to promote MCE Clean Energy in Contra Costa County. She also interviewed city council members who voted against MCE to gain insight into why their cities did not join so that the Bay Chapter can more effectively engage with these areas that have not prioritized the environment.
students to explore internships in the nonprofit sector or in other agencies that pertain specifically to issues of Environmental Justice. This fellowship allows students to accept an internship of their choice rather than one that is assigned. These nonprofits/agencies may focus on the intersection of the environment with race, class, and/or gender, and may be based in Maine or elsewhere. The Environmental Justice Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for students to explore careers pertaining to social justice and environmental studies in a focused, intentional manner.
Trust's Tom Settlemire Community Garden to research squash pests. Cucumber beetles in particular are a big problem in the community garden and interfere with growing food for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Mikayla's research studies whether planting various other crops (buckwheat, radishes, and nasturtium) in close proximity to squash can reduce the damage that cucumber beetles inflict. Although data are still being gathered, the results look promising and ideally this research will help the community garden grow food more easily while also adding some new crops to the mix!
pursue an independent research project on Maine's food system. Through her independent study last semester that focused on Maine's agricultural history, she was struck by a seeming paradox between the recent proliferation of small, local farms in Maine and ever increasing rates of food insecurity throughout the state. Her summer project sought to ask why this is the case. Why has an increase in local food production in Maine not led to a decrease in hunger, how are individuals and organizations in the state already working to bridge this gap, and what needs to change in Maine's food system for the local food movement to be one that both supports small farmers and the food insecure? To address these questions, Jamie spent the summer conducting interviews with farmers and people employed at various non-profits and organizations that work on issues of local food and food insecurity in Aroostook, Washington and Cumberland counties.
(Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network), which is a federally funded grant program designed to determine the potential for aquaculture development in the state of Maine. As a Bioregional Intern, Hugh created a white paper detailing the demographics, economic characteristics, and state of aquaculture development in the Casco Bay. This segment of Hug's work also required his contact with numerous aquaculture organizations and stakeholders. Hugh also engaged in independent research, using R and ArcGIS to spatially analyze media perceptions of aquaculture in conjunction with the work of other SEANET researchers.
Annie Glenn (Environmental Studies and Sociology major / History minor) interned at the Merrymeeting Food Council and Access Health in Brunswick, ME. “MFC is a collaborative network of farmers, non-profits, businesses, government, and individuals working together in Maine to advance a thriving, resilient food system throughout the Merrymeeting Bay region.” Annie’s primary project during her 10-week fellowship was to plan the logistics for an “Edible Street,” which will provide free edible produce in planters along streets in downtown Bath and at the Bath Housing Authority. Annie’s work also included working at the Farmer’s Market, gleaning, conducting interviews for the newsletter, grant writing and attending a multitude of fascinating meetings all revolving around different aspects of our food system. 
The Town of Brunswick’s Department of Planning and Development is responsible for guiding the growth and changes in Brunswick through comprehensive planning, zoning, development review, design review, natural resource regulations, and other permitting and enforcement responsibilities. As a fellow at the Town of Brunswick, Amanda (Environmental Studies and History major) was immersed in a wide range of planning activities such as Staff Development Review, televised Planning Board meetings, rewriting the Town’s zoning ordinance, interpreting and visualizing ordinances with maps and diagrams, monitoring conservation easements, and preparing maps for zoning purposes. Amanda also had the opportunity to self-direct a project for the Town in partnership with the Master Plan Implementation Committee conducting an updated parking audit of the downtown area and drafting new parking literature for the Town. The Town’s review of parking in Brunswick will continue in partnership with 糖心vlog through a Common Good Day project in the fall, surveying visitors to the downtown about their parking habits.
The Maine Coastal Program is a state agency administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry that distributes funds and manages projects to assess coastal change and the impacts on coastal communities and habitats. Ethan (Environmental Studies and History major) conducted research and investigation into Maine’s coastal salt marshes to prepare for the installation of monitoring devices next year that MCP hopes will provide insight on coastal change. Ethan also drafted a grant proposal to secure funding for essential monitoring equipment. Additionally, Ethan joined the Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative (launched by MCP) as one of their Marine Mammal and Avian Observers.
Ben's work at KELT mainly consisted of data collection and data entry for water quality and clam flat research projects as well disseminating that data to local communities. He also assisted with other KELT programs including teaching local youth about clam flats. His focal project for the summer was to research, design, and initiate a plankton characterization experiment for tidal waters over clam flats. He constructed and compiled the necessary materials and drafted protocols to begin testing. He also analyzed the initial data collected. The hope is to expand this project to include community volunteers from around the lower Kennebec. 
Maine Migrant Health Program (MMHP) is a federally-qualified health center based out of Augusta that provides health care and health services to Maine’s migrant and seasonal farm workers. The organization runs mobile clinics year-round at various agricultural labor camps all throughout the state of Maine. MMHP also has a strong Community Healthy Worker program that serves to ensure that the quality of healthcare they provide is culturally-appropriate. As a fellow at MMHP, April (Psychology and Environment Studies major) staffed many of the mobile clinics as an intake worker, registering patients for 2016 so that they could be seen on the medical unit during the season. Because many of the workers only speak their native-tongue, April served as a Spanish speaker for the program.
Emma Moesswilde ’18 (Environmental Studies and History major, Teaching minor) spent her summer with Maine Conservation Voters advocating for Maine’s environment. She worked with MCV on their annual Environmental Scorecard release and endorsement slates, two important legislative projects. Emma also conducted research on biomass energy in Maine and wrote for Maine newspapers to raise awareness about climate change. In addition, Emma assisted with political organizing in her home county of Waldo in preparation for the upcoming elections. Emma was privileged to attend the National League of Conservation Voters’ annual Lobby Day, where she participated in an organizing training and met with the Maine congressional delegation about environmental legislation. 
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. is a mission driven lender focusing on economic development in rural Maine and across the United States. As an intern for CEI, Jesse Newton (Mathematics and Environmental Studies) worked in their Natural Resources department researching and developing several projects to increase the productivity, diversity, and resilience of farmers and fisherman. Projects included a pilot study that grew five ethnic, or specialty produce items not currently grown commercially in Maine that target its unsaturated market for locally grown, culturally appropriate produce. He also worked on the early stage construction of a comprehensive climate change toolkit that would help farmers adapt to a changing climate.
Linnea Patterson (Biology and Environmental Studies major) interned this summer for the Sustainable Agriculture Program of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. CEI, a lender and investor specializing in rural economic development, recently launched a pilot project to supply Maine markets with locally grown ethnic, or specialty, crops. Linnea evaluated the market potential of the produce, designed a marketing plan, and conducted market research in order to establish a foundation for replication in Boston markets. She also developed business counseling tools and an interactive infographic for Maine’s farming community. These resources are pieces of a larger initiative to increase the resilience and decrease the vulnerability of farm businesses in the face of a changing climate.
The Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association is an industry-based non-profit that identifies and fosters ways to restore the fisheries of the Gulf of Maine and sustain Maine's fishing communities for future generations. As a fellow at MCFA, Stephanie (Environmental Studies and History major) worked on a variety of projects, from updating MCFA’s fishery primer, to helping produce an episode of the Dock Talk podcast, to attending a New England Fisheries Council meeting in Portland, and researching the history and importance of the Portland Fish Exchange. The New England Fisheries Management Council meeting gave Stephanie insight into the way in which fisheries management decisions are made, while site visits to the Portland Fish Exchange and seafood retailers in Portland showed her what happens “behind the scenes” in Maine’s seafood food system. 
This summer, Shannon Deveney (Environmental Studies and Economics major) interned at the Rhode Island’s chapter of The Nature Conservancy. TNC is a global non-profit that is dedicated to protecting and conserving land and water for current and future generations by engaging the young and inspiring a new generation of conservationists. Over this summer, Shannon has researched one of the growing green energy sectors: wind. She worked to uncover the environmental and economic impacts of historic windmills off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island. She researched environmental impacts caused by both the construction and use of the wind farm and interviewed a multitude of people and businesses to uncover the economic impacts of this alternative energy. She accumulated the history of realties’ sales in order to decipher the statistical changes in house prices due to this historic operation.
In Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness region, Garrett English ’16 (Sociology-Environmental Studies) worked as the Maine Woods Initiative documentary photographer with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative (MWI) is an innovative strategy for land conservation that combines recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry, and community partnerships. With the support of the Cooke Fellowship, Garrett was able to experience life on AMC property, photograph MWI events, and interview people who live, work, or recreate on AMC’s 70,000 acres of conserved land in the North Woods. In the upcoming year, Garrett will continue investigating the role of people in land conservation.
Brooke Goddard - Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Samantha (Government and Spanish major) interned with Maine Audubon’s Piping Plover Project and learned about the many aspects that go into protecting an endangered species – an incredibly complex and difficult process. Samantha worked alongside biologists in managing about twenty Maine beaches where Piping Plovers nest. The job included surveying, putting up and taking down fencing, and educating the public about the birds. She not only learned the logistics of managing elusive birds, but also effective ways of communicating with and educating a multitude of people.
Lu Miao - The Nature Conservancy
As a Psi Upsilon Sustainability Fellow, Jamie worked with the RUNA Foundation to research and promote sustainable agriculture development among native farmers in the Peruvian Amazon. The RUNA Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates new value for tropical rainforests while simultaneously improving the lively hoods of indigenous farmers. RUNA employs communities to grow guayusa tea in sustainable agroforestry systems-systems that discourage deforestation for monoculture plantations by giving value to native rainforests. They also support the creation of farmer cooperatives to strengthen local decision making processes, providing funds that communities invest in their own development. 
Eliza Huber-Weiss - Cooke Environmental Research
Dana Bloch - Cooke Environmental Research
To read more about Marisa's experience with National Audubon, see the 
This summer Madeline Davis '16 (Psychology and Environmental Studies major / Spanish minor) interned at the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to examining the effects of toxic chemicals on the body and pressuring the chemical industry and retailers to phase out the use of such chemicals in products. The EHSC's 2014 campaign focuses on phthalates (pronounced thal-lates), a plasticising endocrine disrupter found in vinyl and cosmetics that has been linked to reproductive issues, birth defects, asthma, and much more. Currently companies don’t have to disclose if phthalates are in their products, so the EHSC is currently working to change that by fighting for the right to know what products are safe for families. In addition, EHSC has founded a sister organization called Prevent Harm that seeks to change environmental policy by electing responsible and dedicated representatives to office.
