Duke Environment

High Seas Fisheries Management Falls Short of Mandates, Analysis Finds The review comes as the United Nations prepares to enforce a new oceans treaty that will require collaboration with these management bodies.

It's been 15 years since an independent performance review of the regulatory bodies that manage fisheries in two-thirds of our oceans. A new analysis led by Gabrielle Carmine, Ph.D.'25, and Pat Halpin’s lab, provides an updated picture.

What Lies Beneath The ocean floor off North Carolina’s coast is a world unto itself, a time capsule of ancient geologic activity punctuated by signs of civilization and creatures rarely seen by human eyes. Essayist Cha...

The late coastal geologist Orrin Pilkey frequently spoke about the dynamic nature of North Carolina's barrier islands. In this essay, Pilkey's son Charles explores the geologic processes that formed those islands, as well as other fascinating ocean features less visible to the eye.

I have a @nytimes.com op-ed today on managing power demand growth. Central point: load growth is an opportunity to *offset* upward rate pressure (and avoid gas overbuild), if we plan the system to make fuller use of infrastructure we’ve already paid for. 🔌💡 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...

Tyler Norris: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025 Find out why Tyler Norris is on TIME's 2025 list of the 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action.

Congrats to Ph.D. student Tyler Norris, @tnorris.bsky.social, who was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list. His research on electric power systems is helping the tech and energy industries find ways to meet rising electricity demand using the existing grid.

time.com/collections/...

Roots of Resilience Two hurricanes and a global pandemic exposed a need for youth mentorship in coastal North Carolina. What began as a training exercise in personal resilience has grown into an expansive middle school c...

As the anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaches, N.C. educators may be looking for resources to help students navigate challenging times. Ready, Set, Resilience — a middle school program from the Nicholas School and partners — uses nature-based stories to support them.

From studying deepfake whales as a conservation tool to conducting fieldwork in Malawi, it’s been a busy summer at the Nicholas School. Explore recent faculty and student research + impact highlights in our latest newsletter.

Vengosh Receives Prestigious Patterson Medal for Innovation in Geochemistry Named for a 20th-century geochemist who determined the age of Earth and the solar system, and who conducted foundational analyses of lead contamination in the environment, the annual award recognizes ...

During a July ceremony at the 2025 Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, Avner Vengosh accepted the Clair C. Patterson Medal from the Geochemical Society. The annual award recognizes innovative contributions to environmental geochemistry, particularly in service to society.

The deepest-diving whales could inspire new treatments for stroke and cancer Goose-beaked whales hold the record for the deepest dive of any mammal. Researchers want to learn their secrets to develop new drugs for human diseases.

Duke experts from NSOE and @dukehealth.bsky.social are studying goose‑beaked whales, the ocean’s deepest‑diving mammals. Their extreme tolerance for low oxygen may offer clues for new treatments in humans for stroke, cancer and more. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Rising Deep-Ocean Oxygen Levels Opened Up New Marine Habitats, Spurred Speciation Some 390 million years ago in the ancient ocean, marine animals began colonizing depths previously uninhabited. New research indicates this underwater migration occurred in response to a permanent inc...

About 390 million years ago, rising deep-ocean oxygen levels opened new marine habitats. New research suggests this shift sparked an evolutionary burst among jawed fish — the ancestors of most vertebrates alive today.

New Joint Master Degree in Business, Climate, and Sustainability | Duke Today

Duke is proud to launch a new joint-degree program: the Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (MBCS). Designed by @fuqua.duke.edu and the Nicholas School, this pioneering 10-month interdisciplinary program will equip students with core business skills informed by climate science.

Deepfake Whales Could Be Key Conservation Tool AI-generated images of rare species could improve efforts to understand, monitor and protect them.

Deepfake images may be notorious for celebrity spoofing, but in ecology, they could be an important conservation tool. Nicholas School researchers used generative AI to create synthetic whale images. These deepfake whales could be used to train wildlife detection systems.

Study Identifies Global Upswing in Photosynthesis Driven by Land, Offset by Oceans The findings could inform planetary health assessments, enhance ecosystem management, and guide climate change projections and mitigation strategies.

Nicholas School researchers studying trends in global photosynthesis found different stories unfolding on land and sea. The findings, published in Nature Climate Change, could inform ecosystem management strategies and climate change mitigation efforts.

nicholas.duke.edu/news/study...

Journey to Belize For students enrolled in the Duke Marine Lab’s Belize travel course, total immersion in tropical ecosystems and hands-on research projects made for an unforgettable learning experience.

From coral reefs to rainforests, tropical ecosystems in Belize were immersive classrooms for students in the marine ecology travel course, led by Brian Silliman. Dive into their experience:

For Developing Countries, Seafood Imports Are a Nutritional Bargain A new economic analysis found that developing countries pay less for the nutrition in seafood imports than developed countries, largely because developed countries pay a premium for non-nutritional at...

When it comes to seafood imports, developing countries get more nutritional bang for their buck, according to a new study published by Nicholas School environmental economist Martin Smith and colleagues.

a plate of sushi wrapped in plastic

Microplastics are increasingly being detected in our food, water, and even within our bodies.

Researchers at Duke are investigating a critical question: what are the health implications of this invisible exposure?

🔗: today.duke.edu/2025/06/micr...

#MedSky #AcademicSky #DukeMedicine #DukePCB

YouTube video by Sci NC Why whales keep falling for plastic

Greg Merrill, Ph.D.’25, joined PBS North Carolina to discuss the impact of plastic pollution on marine mammals. He also shared how researchers at the Duke Marine Lab are investigating its causes and consequences.

Global map showing climatological mean Chlorophyll a concentration between 60°S and 80°N (2003–2022)| Image by Haipeng Zhao

A Duke-led analysis of satellite data reveals ocean waters are getting greener at the poles and bluer near the equator. If the trend continues, it could reshape marine food webs and impact global fisheries: nicholas.duke.edu/news/ocean-g...

New Hubs Represent “Big Bets” on Interdisciplinarity at Duke | Office of Interdisciplinary Studies The Office of the Provost has chosen three faculty-led projects to receive Multiyear Interdisciplinary Hubs grants for research, education and engagement.

Avner Vengosh, Erika Weinthal and Ginger Sigmon are part of a team looking to establish an interdisciplinary platform for research and education of critical minerals. The project was selected as one of three new hubs funded through the provost’s office.

Researchers Discover Unique Chemistry in Critical Lithium Deposits Much of the world’s lithium occurs in salty waters with fundamentally different chemistry than other naturally saline waters like the ocean, according to a new study published in Science Advances. The...

New Vengosh Lab study finds unique chemistry in critical lithium deposits.

Commencement Weekend 2025 See the story

Congrats to all our graduates! Check out our recap from last weekend's celebrations. duke.is/commencement-weekend...

Three Students Receive Virlis L. Fischer Award for Academic Achievement The Nicholas School honored Andrew Dominguez, Chris Hachtman and Kirsten “Kat” Taylor with the prestigious award.

Congrats to Andrew Dominguez, Chris Hachtman and Kirsten “Kat” Taylor for receiving the Virlis L. Fischer Award for Academic Achievement. nicholas.duke.edu/news/three...

Nicholas School Honors Undergraduates Demonstrating Academic Excellence Faculty presented awards for high academic achievement and integrity, and recognized Graduates With Distinction.

The Nicholas School of the Environment honored several students with awards for academic excellence and 22 students who earned Graduation With Distinction. nicholas.duke.edu/news/nicho...

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Manuscripts Announced Papers investigated flame retardants in vehicles and sediment patterns on Mars.

Congrats to Ph.D. students Rebecca Hoehn and Conner Lester for receiving the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Manuscript.

Nicholas School to Honor Undergraduates in Recognition Ceremony Ahead of Duke University’s 2025 commencement ceremony, the Nicholas School of the Environment will recognize undergraduates during a ceremony on Saturday.

Ahead of Duke University’s 2025 commencement ceremony, the Nicholas School of the Environment will recognize undergraduates during a ceremony on Saturday.

Nicholas School to Honor Professional Students in Recognition Ceremony The Nicholas School will celebrate 182 graduates receiving master’s degrees.

The Nicholas School of the Environment will honor more than 182 graduates receiving master’s degrees at tomorrow's Professional Student Recognition Ceremony.

Nicholas School to Honor Ph.D. Graduate Students in Recognition Ceremony The event will celebrate Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science graduates.

The Nicholas School will honor 29 graduates during the Ph.D. Graduate Students Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday. Students selected Rafaella Lobo, who will receive a Ph.D. in marine science and conservation, from among their peers to address graduates.

Mural Reflects Nicholas School's Role in Duke History New floor-to-ceiling artwork enlivens Grainger Hall with vibrant colors and symbols that reflect the Nicholas School’s role in Duke history.

A new floor-to-ceiling artwork enlivens Grainger Hall with vibrant colors and symbols that reflect the Nicholas School’s role in Duke history.

Earthly Business: Innovating Climate Solutions with AI & Entrepreneurship At Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, researchers and entrepreneurs are coming together to transform energy system management. Dalia Patiño-Echeverri joined forces with Jesko von Wi...

Dalia Patiño-Echeverri joined forces with Jesko von Windheim to launch GridSeer, an AI-driven software and analytics platform that provides smarter forecasting and robust risk analysis.

Bass Society of Fellows Honors Two Nicholas School Professors for Teaching, Research Excellence Nicolas Cassar and Brian McAdoo, faculty members within the Nicholas School of the Environment’s Division of Earth and Climate Sciences, have received named chair titles from the Bass Society of Fello...

Congrats to faculty members Nicolas Cassar and Brian McAdoo for receiving named chair titles from the Bass Society of Fellows for excellence in undergraduate teaching and scholarship.

Kimberly Marion Suiseeya Advances Environmental Justice Research at Duke’s Nicholas School Kimberly Marion Suiseeya, who started on Jan. 1 as associate professor of environmental policy, studies how historically marginalized groups affect and are affected by environmental policies, and how ...

Kimberly Marion Suiseeya, associate professor of environmental policy, studies how historically marginalized groups affect and are affected by environmental policies, and how researchers influence environmental justice.