Interdisciplinary Methods for Social-Ecological Systems Science: Summer 2025
Apply by February 15, 2025
Workshop dates: July 14 – July 18, 2025
Location: University of Maine, Darling Marine Center, Walpole, Maine, USA
An intensive one-week, interdisciplinary, graduate-level workshop in social-ecological systems science will be offered at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center (DMC). This workshop will enable participants to gain experience with concepts and methods from social and ecological science disciplines relevant to social-ecological systems science. The workshop also will contribute to statewide environmental and conservation goals, e.g., those of the Maine Climate Action Plan, by building students’ capacity to engage in collaborative, community- engaged research.
Who is this workshop for?
• University of Maine System graduate students – regardless of their primary department or campus
• Postdoctoral scholars and professional researchers working in academia, industry, government, and the non-profit sectors
• Other marine conservation, fisheries, and environmental professionals who are seeking new skills, knowledge, and connections
Prospective students, regardless of where they are in their learning journey, who are ready to engage in intensive learning and collaboration are encouraged to apply. Please contact the lead instructor, Dr. Leslie, at heather.leslie@maine.edu if you have questions about the workshop and whether it is a good fit for you.
Workshop elements include:
• Lectures on key elements of social-ecological systems science; relevant ecological and social science methods; community-engaged research, collaboration, and knowledge co- production; and science communication and boundary spanning
• Hands-on activities related to social-ecological science methods from ecology, the social sciences, and science communication
• Ecological and social science fieldwork in coastal Maine
Lead Instructor: Prof. Heather Leslie, University of Maine
An interdisciplinary scholar of marine conservation science, Dr. Heather Leslie conducts research on the environmental and human dimensions of coastal community and ecosystem resilience. Dr. Leslie is Professor of Marine Sciences in UMaine’s School of Marine Sciences and a Faculty Fellow of UMaine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. She studies the drivers of ecological and social processes in marine systems, and how to more effectively connect science to policy and management. Her current research areas include human-ecosystem linkages, particularly those related to coastal areas; social-ecological resilience and knowledge co-production; and the design and evaluation of marine management strategies. Dr. Leslie has shared her science with decision makers from the local to international scale on topics that include marine ecosystem-based management, assessing conservation success, and marine protected area design. She is a dedicated science communicator and writer.
Dates: July 14 – July 18, 2025 (arrive Sunday, July 13, and depart Friday, July 18)
Costs: Students have two enrollment options for this workshop: the on campus residential student rate = $1,284 or commuter student rate = $1,025. We advise that commuters live or stay within 40 minutes of the DMC campus, given that this workshop runs all day, every day, the week of July 14th , and includes evening activities on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The residential rate includes all instructional costs, plus 5 nights lodging (Sun-Thurs), and meals starting Sunday evening through Friday lunch (breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered, Mon-Thurs). The commuter rate includes all instructional costs, plus 5 lunches (Mon- Fri) and the Tuesday and Wednesday group dinners. For an additional fee, graduate course credit (as SMS 598) is available through the University of Maine.
Please contact DMC Programs Manager at dmc@maine.edu with questions about DMC campus facilities and the room and board plan, and contact the instructor at heather.leslie@maine.edu about graduate credit options.
Application Deadline: February 15th, 2025
Notification by: March 15, 2025
To apply: Submit the following in pdf or word format with the subject ‘SES 2025 summer workshop’ to heather.leslie@maine.edu:
(1) a recent transcript,
(2) a current CV (two-page maximum),
(3) a letter from your advisor (or supervisor), and
(4) a one-page statement of how you anticipate that this workshop will contribute to your
professional development
Sponsorship Invitation: If you or your organization can sponsor a student who cannot cover the financial costs associated with this workshop, we would welcome that support. UMaine’s Darling Marine Center is committed to bringing a cohort of students together whose background, experiences, and training result in diversity of interests, ideas, and skills from which everyone benefits. Please contact Prof. Leslie at heather.leslie@maine.edu for more information about this giving opportunity. We thank you for considering this!