David Hart, University of Maine

The Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI):Maine as a Sustainability Science Laboratory

Supported by National Science Foundation award EPS-0904155 to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine.

David Hart and ColleaguesSenator George J. Mitchell Center

Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative - www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/

• Understanding the dynamics of coupled social‐ecological systems (SES)

• Analyzing and strengthening links between knowledge and action (K↔A)

• Investigating and fostering interdisciplinary integration and organizational innovation (OI)

2

Advancing sustainability science via three research strategies

Dynamics of coupled social‐ecological systems (SES)

http://gwd.dpri.kyoto‐u.ac.jp/english/research/index.html

nsf.gov

• SES thresholds, feedbacks, resilience

• SES as complex adaptive systems

Links between knowledge and action (K↔A)

Kollmuss and Agyeman, 2002. Environmental Education Research 8:239‐260.

Linking knowledge and action: A more complex model

Kollmuss and Agyeman, 2002. Environmental Education Research 8:239‐260.

Key research priorities for linking knowledge with action

• Salience, credibility, legitimacy (Cash et al. 2003)

• Participation, integration, learning, negotiation(van Kerkhoff and Lebel 2006)

(Clark et al. 2011)

www.nap.edu

Interdisciplinary integration and organization innovation

Individual and institutional factors influencing interdisciplinary collaboration and university‐stakeholder partnerships

Determinants of organizational learning

Landscape dynamics in Maine: SSI’s model system

Turner, Lambin & Reenberg. 2007. The emergence of land change science for global environmental change and sustainability. PNAS 104: 20666‐20671.

www.brookings.edu

Landscape‐related processes influencing SES in Maine

• Urbanization

• Forest ecosystem management

• Climate and energy

The design of SSI’s research portfolio

Jain et al., in prep

Implementation of SSI’s place‐based research projects

Engage with stakeholders to co‐define problems

Mobilize and support interdisciplinary research teams

Strive to create durable researcher‐stakeholder partnerships

Develop knowledge co‐production strategies

Emphasize solutions

Encourage innovation and risk‐taking

Evaluate outcomes and improve effectiveness

SSI emphasizes the experimental in EPSCoR

Risk

HighLow

Reward

Low

High

SSI

SSI Infrastructure

$20 million, 5‐year grant from NSF’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

$4 million in matching support from the State of Maine

> $2.8 million in additional external funding in FY 2012

> 100 faculty participating in SSI‐supported projects

> 30 disciplines represented

5 postdoctoral researchers

50+ graduate students

100+ undergraduates

Diverse partnerships

Penobscot Indian Nation

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians

Introduction

Maine’s flagship research & PhD institution – home of Maine EPSCoR & core SSI research faculty teams

Maine EPSCoR RII Project

Undergraduate & master’s level students ‐core SSI research faculty

SSP Partners (primarily undergraduate institutions)

A statewide partnership of academic institutions

• Technological feasibility

• Economic viability

• Social acceptability

Teresa R. Johnson, Gayle Zydlewski, Jessica S. Jansujwicz, Jeffrey Vieser, Chris Bartlett, Mick Peterson and Colleagues

Tidal energy development in Cobscook Bay

Who are the stakeholders?

Aquaculture Passamaquoddy Tribe

FERC

Industry CityOfficials

Agencies(Federal/State)

DEP

DOE

Fishermen

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Problem Identification

Research Plan

Data Collection& Analysis

PresentResults

Redefine Problem/Identify Needs

0

2011 Stakeholder Approach

Reducing vulnerability to an invasive forest pest

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has killed 50‐100 million ash trees in 14 states, and is spreading east towards Maine

Goal: Increase capacity to detect and respond to EAB

Protecting the Ash for Future GenerationsKolunkayowan Wikpiyik

Facilitate collaboration among indigenous basketmakers, tribes, state and federal foresters, university researchers, landowners

UMaine faculty Darren Ranco (Tribal governance and environmental justice) John Daigle (Human dimensions of natural resource management)Rob Lilieholm (Forest economics and policyBill Livingston (Forest ecology)

Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance – Theresa Secord and Jennifer Neptune

Theresa SecordDarren Ranco

Linking indigenous knowledge and western science to strengthen resilience

Coastal Adaptation in a changing climate

• Focus on Coastal Assets and vulnerability

• Single towns Maine coast

• Individual Extreme events Long‐term prospects

• Existing network (Maine Sea Grant)

• Initial Survey designed to understand the information needs, critical issues, and knowledge gaps

Shaleen Jain, Civil Engineering and Climate Change InstituteEsperanza Stancioff, Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant

Portland


Initial Scoping Exercise

Lincolnville

Maine’s Climate Future Report (2007)

Maine Sea GrantBuilding a Resilient Coast: Maine Confronts Climate change

Coastal Assets’Vulnerability

Modeling Tools to guide decisions/Adaptation

Portland



Lincolnville

Coastwide Survey (n = 71): Town managers and officials




Retrospective & IPCC simulation‐based Assessment of Extreme Precipitation Events

Typology of record‐breaking events:Importance of Atlantic hurricanes

Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methodology for Atlantic Hurricane Counts

Extreme Storms/FloodingAdequacy of Infrastructure:Culverts

Complexity of Governance & Financing:Culvert Repair, Replacement, Planning


Maine Emergency Management Agency

State Planning OfficeGovernance Mapping

Maine DOTE. MaineDevelopment Corp.

Town Focus Groups & Interviews

Decision calendars & processes

Design MethodsUSDA/NRCSMaine DOT

Maine IFW

Survey On Survey

Sea Grant ClimateNetwork

Portland



Lincolnville





Retrospective & IPCC simulation‐based Assessment of Extreme Precip. EventsTypology of record‐breaking events:Importance of Atlantic hurricanes

Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methodology for Atlantic Hurricanes





State Planning OfficeGovernance Mapping

Maine DOTE. MaineDevelopment Corp.




Maine IFW

Survey On Survey


Portland



Lincolnville





Retrospective & IPCC simulation‐based Assessment of Extreme Precipitation Events

Typology of record‐breaking events:Importance of Atlantic hurricanes

Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methodology for Atlantic Hurricane Counts





State Planning OfficeGovernance MappingMaine DOTE. Maine

Development Corp.




Maine IFW

Survey On Survey


Research on interdisciplinary collaboration

Mixed‐methods research (qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, economic experiments) to identify factors influencing collaboration

Researchers low in tolerance for ambiguity fare less well in SSI

Higher discomfort with ambiguity is correlated to:o Lower the pride in being a member of SSI, r = ‐.60**

o Less similar their values are to other members of SSI, r = ‐.50*

o Less they feel they can influence SSI, r = ‐.50*

o Less they would work on SSI without compensation, r = ‐.36*

McCoy, Gardner et al., in preparation

Feedback from OI research has strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration

“One of the most impressive things about SSI is that interdisciplinarity is truly central to this initiative; nothing is forced. Indeed, the interdisciplinary nature of the initiative seems to be one of the central elements that draws people to SSI.”

— Feedback from AAAS review, May 2011

Conceptual Model

Maine Public Broadcasting Network has created an entire series about SSI called “Sustainable Maine”

Conceptual Model

Maine Public Broadcasting Network has created an entire series about SSI called “Sustainable Maine”

Sustainable Maine just nominated for two Emmys!

Supported by National Science Foundation award EPS-0904155 to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine.

Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative - www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/

Connecting knowledge with action to strengthen our economic, social and environmental future

Acknowledgments

• NSF EPSCoR Award EPS‐0904155

• Maine Economic Improvement Fund

• Sustainability Solutions Initiative Team

• SSI Advisory Board (especially Bob Kates, Chair)

• Aldo Leopold Leadership Program (especially Jane Lubchenco and Pam Matson)

Documents

David Hart, University of Maine