ACE Lab: Applied Cultural Evolution Laboratory

Thursday Ethan Trembaly successfully defended his master’s thesis, entitled “Splitting Together: The Evolution of Cooperation in Food Buying Clubs.” Ethan wrangled a large and complex dataset, built simulation model of emergent cooperation dynamics in food buying clubs, and calibrated it using the data. PhD level work.

Congratulations Ethan!

Ethan Tremblay, Cooperation Scientist, Economist, Artisanal Data Analyst

On Monday my honors student and key lab member Afton defended her honors thesis before a her committee. She did an absolutely powerful job of it, as well, and was awarded with the highest honors that UMaine offers undergraduates.

Congratulations Afton!

Afton Hupper, Ecology and Environmental Sciences with Highest Honors, 2017 Most Outstanding Student in the College

It is time for a national food system blueprint.

• US food is cheap but unhealthy
• US food is regulated by 15+ agencies
• US citizens are suffering from illnesses created by poor food quality
• US food causes lots of pollution

We can do better! It is time for a national food system blueprint.

Home

On January 11, USDA announced requests for applications for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), which offer $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to strengthen market opportunities for local and regional food producers and businesses.

Farm to school grants happen under the LFPP, as well. Many opportunities for Maine and Bangor here!

Together with colleagues from around the US and other countries, we are building a new science of sustainability. It starts with a theory of sustainability – a recipe for sustainability. We ask, when does sustainability happen, and why? Empirical answers refine the theory, and improve the recipe. Here are some things we’ve learned. Institutions that support sustainable resource management are more likely to evolve when:

1. Resource user groups exist.
2. Groups face the consequences of mismanagement and over exploitation.
3. Groups learn from failure.
4. Groups learn from each other.
5. Groups do not compete violently.

This is but a first start. We need more and better theory. We need more and better tests in diverse contexts. We can’t test the theory fast enough! We need help.  Join us!

Learn more at the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions!