Sustainability Leadership Fellow Cohort: 2025-2026

Ph.D. Student, Department of Sociology

Research Summary: My research explores how Maine lobster-fishers use cooperation formally and informally as a tool for managing lobster populations and fishing practices. To do this, I will evaluate publicly and privately available historical documents dating back to the 1800s from Maine lobster cooperative organizations to show how cooperation in the fishery has evolved over time. Then, I will interview and observe lobster-fishers to see how cooperation in their fishery looks today. This research is important for understanding how communities who rely on natural resources for economic well-being can sustainably adapt and manage their changing eco-systems due to the global climate crisis.