Finding Place in a Warming World

What does it mean to take responsibility for a place at a moment of irrevocable changes? Dr. Olson will read from her forthcoming book, which documents lived experiences of climate change in Maine and explores how communities are reimagining a relationship to place amidst the unpredictable currents of climate change. 

Dr. Kate Olson is a writer, climate sociologist, and mother. Her work explores the interconnections among people, places, and livelihoods in a changing climate, from mega-dams in Southeast Asia to clam harvesting in rural Maine. Her writing on rural futures and climate change has been published widely, including in Smithsonian Magazine, The Guardian, and DownEast, among other places, and her essay “Dis-ease” was the recipient of the 2021 John Burroughs Nature Essay Award. 

Kate is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Bowdoin College.  She holds a PhD in sociology from Boston College, an MA in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University, and a BA in sociology and psychology from Middlebury College. Her forthcoming book, Living Change: Finding Place in a Warming World, explores reconnecting with place as an antidote to climate despair. 

Portland’s Sustainability Series is co-hosted by the Portland Public Library and Momentum Conservation, and is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank. The Portland Sustainability Series presents speakers who share aspects of the work needed to make Maine and our environment more sustainable. Please join us as we engage in these important topics and conversations!