Back to Class: “Land and Sea: Perspectives on Our Changing Forests and Oceans”
On a beautiful spring day, the Nicholas School welcomed back over 25 alumni and friends to our annual Duke LEAF Weekend Alumni Back to Class, with graduates ranging from the classes of 1964 to 2012.
This year, we were excited to offer alums three special sessions in both the LSRC and Environment Hall. In the first, 2014 Duke LEAF Award winner (for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts), nature photographer James Balog, gave an inside perspective on his work with the Extreme Ice Survey, sharing astonishing time lapse footage of retreating glaciers and his experiences with photographing a changing climate. Forest economist Jeff Vincent, forest biodiversity and global change biologist Jim Clark, and new Duke Forest Director Sara Childs participated in a lively discussion about current forest health and management challenges, with plenty of questions and input from the audience. Finally, Mike Orbach, who is retiring this year, gave his perspective on past and present marine management attitudes and policy. Despite the increasing effects of environmental change on coastal and marine environments, he says he is leaving Duke optimistic about the future — thanks to the many bright, dedicated students he has seen walk through the doors of the Marine Lab and Nicholas School.
After class, members of the Triangle Nic Alumni Network met up at downtown Durham’s The Pit for some good company, locally brewed drinks, delicious BQQ and Southern appetizers like fried pimento cheese and bacon-goat cheese bruschetta. We’d especially like to recognize alum Greg Andeck, MEM ’05, for his inaugural leadership of our local alumni network.
Many thanks to all who came out and participated in the learning and fun! Stay tuned for our next opportunity to come Back to Class here at the Nicholas School on Field Day weekend. (Date TBD in September.)
