• McGreavy, Bridie
  University of Maine
  
• Lindenfeld, Laura
  University of Maine
  
• Bieluch, Karen Hutchins
  Dartmouth College
  
• Silka, Linda
  University of Maine
  
• Leahy, Jessica
  University of Maine
  
• Zoellick, Bill
  Acadia National Park
  

Communication is essential to resilience, as interactions among humans influence how social-ecological systems (SES) respond to change. Our research focuses on how specific communication interactions on sustainability science teams, such as how people meet with each other; the ways in which they categorize themselves and others; the decision-making models they use; and their communication competencies affect outcomes. We describe research from a two-year study of communication in Maine's Sustainability Solutions Initiative, a statewide network of sustainability science teams. Our results demonstrate that decision making and communication competencies influenced mutual understanding, inclusion of diverse ideas, and progress toward sustainability-related goals. We discuss our results in light of key resilience themes and conclude with recommendations for communication design in sustainability teams for improved collaborative process and outcomes.