Center for Research on Vermont The Vermont Research News at UVM is a bi-monthly curated collection of Vermont research -- focused on research in the Vermont "laboratory" -- research that provides original knowledge to the world and research that adds to an understanding of the state's social, economic, cultural and physical environment.
Bernie's 1981 Mayoral victory focus of podcast
A new MudSeason podcast tells the story of Bernie’s first electoral win, the 1981 campaign for Mayor, with the help of local organizer Phil Fiermonte. At the time of Bernie’s upset
mayoral victory, Phil was working for the King Street Youth Center – part of a growing social justice and neighborhood organizing community that Bernie would ally with in his surprising upset victory. Listen to it here.
Community Gardens & Bees
Burlington’s thriving community garden culture makes the Queen City uniquely suited to help remedy colony collapse disorder in bees, a recent study found. The authors suggest the implementation of a community beekeeping program in the Old North End of Burlington as a program with both ecological and social benefits.
Vermonters support raising the minimum wage
Almost three-quarters of Vermonters support raising the minimum wage, according to a poll released Tuesday by VPR & PBS. The poll also found a majority of Vermonters in support of paid family leave. About 40% think the state is doing enough to combat climate change and 40% think the state is doing too little. Jobs and the economy far outranked any other issue as the top "problem" facing Vermonters. Listen here with Castleton pollster Rich Clark and VPR's Bob Kinzell.
Walking prevents deaths
2,000 early deaths could be prevented by meeting goals for energy-efficient transportation, according to a recent study by the Vermont Department of Health. Increasing walking and biking helps to meet physical activity goals and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which also benefits air quality.
Smart babies
Vermont is one of six states with more than 50% of births to mothers with a Bachelor’s or advanced degree, according to a recent report by National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This is much greater than the national average of 41.7%. The mean number of births declines with increasing maternal educational attainment, the report found.
Vermont teen birth rates low
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recently published data on birth rates for teens aged 15–19 years by state. The report finds that northeastern states had the lowest rates in the country. With the national average at 17.4 births per 1,000 females, Vermont had 8.8 births per 1,000 females.
Visualizing the future
Landscape photovisualizations (PVZs) are simulated images of potential future changes to landscapes or the built environment. A recent study finds that PVZs are useful tools for engaging Vermont farmers about climate change adaptation. Surveyed farmers reported that the PVZs helped them to envision climate change adaptation more clearly. Additionally, the farmers noted increased interest in implementing or recommending best management practices (BMPs).
Local food sales up
The local food movement in Vermont has greatly increased local food sales in recent years. A recent study aims to identify trends. Direct to consumer sales, which made up nearly half of total sales in 2010, decreased to just under a quarter of total sales in 2017. In its place, Food Stores made up half of all sales in 2014 and 31.7% of all sales in 2017.
Act 166 improves access to high-quality education
Access to higher-quality educational environments improved for pre-k students with an individualized education program and children eligible for the national school lunch program after the implementation of Act 166 in 2014, states a recent report.
Special needs expenses increase
Vermont has significantly underestimated the cost of educating special needs and English-language learning students in low-income districts, states a recent report commissioned by the Vermont Agency of Education. The report recommends adjustments to the current census grant strategy in the interest of providing districts with adequate resources to strengthen early intervention services for students who are struggling.
Logging and run-off
Logging operations contribute to Vermont’s run-off problems more than ski resort development or maple sugaring, according to a recent study. However, Vermont’s maple trees are affected by runoff due to increased erosion, and as the maple sugaring industry expands, runoff could post a greater threat to this industry as a whole.
Healthcare workers lags
While Vermonters have higher rates of health insurance coverage when compared to the rest of the country, a majority of the counties lack an adequate supply of healthcare workers (2010). In 2020, Vermont’s Dept. of Health aims to have 100% of Vermonters covered by health insurance and increase the number of healthcare workers in the state. This comes after a recent report which found that there were 19 fewer primary care physicians in 2018, as compared with 2008.
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Bi-Partisan book
In our current culture of growing polarization in politics, Vermont Senator George D. Aiken’s work across the aisle from the Great Depression through the Vietnam War has only increased in relevance. Senator Aiken’s open-mindedness and bipartisanship served as the catalyst for consensus on issues from civil rights to foreign policy. Say We Won And Get Out: George D. Aiken and the Vietnam War is available for purchase online and in select Vermont bookstores.
Copyright © 2019 Center for Research on Vermont, All rights reserved. Send your news items to Newsletter Editors Eliza Giles or Richard Watts.