The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine plans to host a talk about the unanticipated consequences of successful seal conservation in the Gulf of Maine at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26.

In this talk, “Out of Our Depth: Interdisciplinary science for marine mammal conservation,” Kristina Cammen, an assistant professor with the UMaine School of Marine Sciences, will discuss the complicated conservation case study of seals in the Gulf of Maine, whose populations have returned to the area in force after decades of environmental protection.

Cammen will describe how she has used her training as a geneticist and ecologist to approach the issues of such conservation successes, such as increased human-wildlife conflict. She also will share how this work has been strengthened through interdisciplinary collaborations with diverse research and stakeholder groups.

Cammen’s research focuses on expanding knowledge of marine mammal ecology and ocean health and advancing the use of genomic techniques in conservation biology. She has active research projects investigating gray and harbor seals in the Gulf of Maine.

All talks in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talks series are free and will be offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall on the UMaine campus in Orono. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. To register and receive connection information, visit umaine.edu.

Face coverings are required for all persons attending Mitchell Center Sustainability Talks. For the latest UMaine health and safety guidance, see umaine.edu/return.

Updates for this event will be posted to the event webpage. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth at 207-581-3196 or hallsworth@maine.edu.

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