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 […]
Stories of Impact
16 posts
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 […]
Eight new faculty members joined the Nicholas School over the past academic year, bringing extensive expertise and fresh perspectives in areas such as water and coastal change, geochemistry, natural resources finance, and environmental justice. We are excited to see their passion and in-depth knowledge continue to advance teaching and research […]
Bruce Molnia, MA’69, points to two photographs, side by side. The first is of an enormous glacier sandwiched between ice-capped mountains. The second shows a river almost hidden by towering trees with a green mountain in the background. It’s hard to see the similarities until you realize they are pictures […]
When Mary Mapes visited Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment on Friday, May 3, she thought she would be listening to her husband, Tim, participate in a panel discussion. Instead, she was greeted on the Grainger Hall rooftop with champagne and hugs from her family. Mary, an avid environmentalist who […]
Giving back to support the environment is a family tradition for Marshall Field V and his daughter, Abby Field Gerry, T’02. Marshall served on the Board of Visitors of the Nicholas School of the Environment from 2000 to 2009, and ultimately served as board chair. When he left the board, […]
Chuck Amsler, T’80, met Maggie O’Leary while they were both undergraduates spending the summer of 1978 at the Duke Marine Lab. She introduced herself when she saw him carrying scuba gear, and they soon arranged to go diving together. When Maggie badly cut her leg on an oyster shell during […]
By: Emily Siegel, MEM candidate Raquel Bensadoun, MEM‘19, didn’t plan on attending the Nicholas School. She nearly didn’t make the application deadline. However, when signs started appearing in her daily life, she knew she was meant to be at Duke. It started with an old professor’s Facebook post, then another […]