For Sally Kleberg, Nicholas School Board member emeritus and long-time donor, caring for the land is a birthright, woven through generations of her South Texas family. Part of the fifth generation of the family that founded King Ranch, a 170-year-old family-owned ranch in Texas, Sally was taught early that survival […]
Stories of Impact
22 posts
Interview by Julie Furr Youngman, T’87, SOE’94, JD’94 Dr. Chad Nelsen is the CEO of Surfrider Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans. He grew up on the coast of California, surfing, swimming, fishing, and, for his first job, lifeguarding at Laguna Beach. […]
The Karen Kirchof Internship Fund has helped many Nicholas School students gain summer internships to prepare them for careers in the environmental field. Kirchof, who passed away in 2019, influenced the careers of thousands of Nicholas School students during her 27 years as assistant dean and director of the school’s […]
This year the Nicholas School welcomed 15 new Nicholas Scholars with expertise ranging from power systems sustainability to ecotoxicology to community-based food production. Meet the new scholars below! Thank you for your support of these talented, driven students, who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to pursue their career […]
We are delighted to share our 2024-25 Annual Fund Impact Report. We hope it conveys the tremendous impact that donor support has had on the Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Marine Lab over the past year. Thanks to your generosity and commitment, the Nicholas School community continues to: […]
Lucas Joppa PhD’09, who didn’t get to attend his own graduation, said it was his “first time in robes” when he delivered the commencement address at the Nicholas School’s professional graduation ceremony on Friday, May 9. Joppa, a Nicholas School Board of Visitors member, is currently senior managing director and […]
The health of people and the planet are intertwined. In addition to protecting our natural ecosystems, research conducted at the Nicholas School of the Environment has the power to answer questions about how to treat human ailments like infections, inflammation, and cancer. Studying our natural environment can also shed light […]
Over the last several decades, a shift has taken place in the business of forestry. Once valued strictly for timber, forestlands are now recognized for their impact on carbon sequestration, water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitats. These shifts have created global demand for individuals who possess strong knowledge and […]
More than 100 Duke alumni and friends gathered at San Francisco’s Exploratorium on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to hear how Nicholas School faculty and students are developing a robust technology commercialization platform for scalable products and services that will benefit the planet, help people live better lives, and create economic value. […]
The Coastal Resiliency Research Symposium, held Sept. 19-20 at the Duke University Marine Lab, brought together a number of Duke alumni working in areas from law to community engagement to scientific research. During the symposium, organized by the Park Institute of America, environmental experts from across the country discussed how […]
There are only so many things you can learn about aquaculture in a classroom. At the Duke Aquafarm in Atlantic Beach, N.C., students are wading into the water to conduct hands-on research that will help determine the best conditions for oyster farming. Their work has the potential to support farmers […]
You are invited on a “virtual voyage” on the Marine Lab’s Shearwater research vessel to experience all of our adventures in 2023 and 2024. Now in its fifth year, the R/V Shearwater has served as our invaluable classroom at sea, advancing ocean research and providing exceptional opportunities for both students […]