Teaching

UAS Applications and Operations in Environmental Science

This three course sequence is taught online, with both asynchronous and synchronous components, providing significant flexibility for professionals seeking to learn more about how drones are applied in environmental science. Class materials will be provided through Duke’s suite of learning tools, and interactions amongst students and instructors will be facilitated through Discord, a free voice, video, and text chat app that’s used by tens of millions of people to talk and hang out with their communities and friends. Our new Discord server – the Flight Deck – is a growing online community focused on sharing knowledge and experiences regarding the use of drones in research and natural resource management. Assessments of student work will be conducted via a range of tools, from embedded quizzes in videos to structured online debates.

Drones in Marine biology, Ecology, and Conservation

Comprehensive exploration of current drone technologies in coastal and marine research, including aeronautical concepts, rules and regulations, safety, mission planning, aircraft design, payload selection, operational procedures, maintenance, data management and data analysis.

Marine Conservation Ecology

An experiential field course focusing on the ecology and management of marine vertebrates in North Carolina or the main Hawaiian Islands.

Climate Change in the Marine Environment

A graduate course that introduces students to the ongoing effects of climate change and variability on marine systems.

Marine Mammal Biology and Ecology

A course on marine mammal biology, ecology and conservation. Summer block section includes field excursions with local fauna to demonstrate oceanographic observations and quantitative lab components including conservation genetics and population assessment techniques for studying populations in the wild.