Corbett's Corner
As I’ve reflected on the past few weeks, I’ve found myself returning to the words of Dr. Jane Goodall—whose recent passing has reminded so many of us just how powerful her message remains. Like millions around the world, I have long admired her as a scientist, communicator, and tireless advocate for our planet. She once said, “If you care, you cannot give up. Hope is not passive—it’s about action.” That sentiment has taken on renewed meaning for me lately, as we navigate change here at ECU and witness change along our coast. It captures the responsibility we share as scientists, educators, and community members to turn understanding into action and to find hope even amid uncertainty.
Over the past few months, I and so many of my faculty and staff colleagues have been working together to transition the people and programs in the Department of Coastal Studies (DCS) into the new Department of Earth, Environment, and Planning in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences (THCAS). This is a faculty-driven process and a strategic effort to strengthen our academic foundation, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and reduce administrative complexity. THCAS offers a research-intensive and interdisciplinary academic home for our coastal faculty and students, positioning ECU’s coastal enterprise for long-term success. Importantly, this transition does not change the mission or operation of the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI). CSI remains a centerpiece of ECU’s coastal enterprise—continuing to serve as a hub for coastal science, innovation, and community engagement. In fact, this evolution creates new opportunities to build partnerships across campus, leveraging CSI’s premier research facility at the Outer Banks to deepen collaboration with faculty, students, and programs that share our commitment to coastal resilience.
While our academic landscape evolves, so too does our physical one. The recent series of powerful storms up and down the East Coast has reshaped beaches, flooded communities, and, in places like Buxton, devastated homes and livelihoods. My heart goes out to the families and property owners who have endured these losses. These changes are deeply personal, yet they are also part of a larger reality—one we cannot ignore. As Goodall reminded us, “You can bombard people with statistics, but unless you touch their hearts, they won’t act.” At CSI, our mission is to bridge that space between knowledge and empathy—to bring science to the table in ways that help communities make informed, compassionate, and forward-looking decisions.
We face real challenges, but we also have reason for optimism. Each new partnership, research project, and conversation about resilience and adaptation represents a step toward a more sustainable future. Hope, as Goodall said, is not passive—it is what we do each day through our work, our teaching, and our engagement. That hope continues to guide us as we strive to understand and protect the coast we all love.
Warm regards,
Reide Corbett
Dean, Integrated Coastal Programs
Executive Director, Coastal Studies Institute
Student Section
Curious Campers Enjoyed Coastal Courses in 2025
Over the summer, the Coastal Studies Institute welcomed over one hundred school-aged children through its doors for summer camps. Each day of the nine weeks of programming brought both learning and laughter in a fun and engaging environment. During the 2025 season, CSI introduced two new camp themes, CSI All Stars and Coastal Explorers, as well as returning fan favorites such as Legends of the Atlantic and Shapes in Science. With enrolled students from ten states and Washington, D.C., the appeal of CSI camps continues to be far-reaching, proving there is truly a program for everyone at the ECU Outer Banks Campus.
CSI All Stars was the season opener, targeting new campers who wanted a little taste of everything and older campers longing for one last hurrah. Each day of the week featured a different focus, including marine biology, shipwrecks, renewable energy, art and science, and a boat trip. Giving campers a variety of topics to explore was an ideal way for CSI Education and Outreach staff to ease into the busy summer ahead.
In the weeks following, CSI offered programs that dove deeper into the topics covered during CSI All Stars.
Coastal Kingdoms campers enjoyed a fast-paced mix of classroom sessions and field trips around the Outer Banks. They visited a nearby marsh island by boat, Jennette’s Pier, the NC Coastal Federation, and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center. Campers seined, kayaked, and explored the unique ecosystems of the Outer Banks.
In the lab and on the docks, the campers gained a better understanding of fish biology, used microscopes to view plankton, and examined oysters housed in floating cages in the Sound. By the end of each of the two weeks of Coastal Kingdoms camps, the students received a comprehensive overview of coastal environments and critters big and small.
Photo above or right: With the help of an instructor, Coastal Kingdoms campers finish collecting a plankton sample from the Croatan Sound. The fine-mesh net was towed beside the boat for several minutes. Water and plankton were filtered through the net and collected in a small bottle attached to the other end. The final step of the process is to rinse the net, ensuring any plankton stuck in the mesh also make it into the sample bottle. Once back in the classroom, campers analyzed the sample under a microscope.
Next came Blue Horizons, formerly known as Sustainable Seas, but reimagined with a new focus. During these weeks of camp, students focused on coastal community resilience, sustainability practices and mindsets, and forms of renewable energy, including wind, ocean waves, and ocean currents. Faculty members Drs. Eric Wade and Reide Corbett shared about their research in these areas and their experiences working with local communities along the Outer Banks. In one activity, the campers pretended to be “County Commissioners” tasked with planning a future for the Outer Banks while considering development, recreation, weather events, and more.
While the first half of the week was focused on community planning and human responses to coastal hazards, the latter half contained many hands-on, renewable energy-related activities. The students created model wind turbines, water current turbines, and wave energy converters, all of which produced small amounts of energy in the classroom! Through these lessons and others, they learned about the large impact that even small-scale renewable energy devices or seemingly small decisions can have when it comes to addressing community needs.
Photo above or left: Blue Horizons campers worked in groups to redesign a more sustainable coastal community for the future.
Legends of the Atlantic returned once again for two weeks as well. With as many shipwrecks as there are off the coast of North Carolina, this maritime heritage and archaeology-themed camp is always a popular choice. Students attracted to these weeks are first introduced to NC maritime history, including boat building. With a field trip to Harrison Boatworks, the campers learned what it takes to build vessels by hand from start to finish. Many of the campers appreciated the fine details and hard work of the trade, realizing the craft was a science in and of itself! As a fun, complementary activity to the field trip, the students built their own model boats from blocks of foam insulation (hull), skewers (mast), and small vinyl pieces (sails), and then raced them in a 10-foot-long tabletop tank.
Throughout the rest of the week, the campers tried on dive gear, navigated themselves through a “low-visibility” obstacle course on land to simulate near-dark diving conditions, and practiced their archeology skills to determine the identities of mock shipwrecks. They also visited the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village one day and received a special, behind-the-scenes Collections tour. Legends of the Atlantic weeks are always filled with a lively mix of fun, analytical thinking, competitions, and expert insights.
Unsurprisingly, spring registration for the one week of Shapes in Science camp in July filled in the blink of an eye. This camp is a bit different from most programs offered at CSI and focuses on the artistic interpretation of the local environment and scientific concepts. The first four days each brought a new topic and a new project, while on Friday, the students tied up loose ends and hosted a Gallery to present all their creations from the week to their family and friends.
Photo above or right: Shapes in Science campers made a banner to welcome friends and family to their gallery.
This year’s projects included shrimp origami after the students learned about the shrimp species in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System; carving and stamping bird-inspired prints after enjoying a bird walk at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge; clay creations influenced by the shapes, patterns, and textures of plant species found around the Outer Banks and seen at the Dare County Arboretum; and nature photography that encouraged students to slow down and see the coastal environment from a new perspective. Creativity is always flowing during Shapes in Science week, and the outcomes are ever-changing.
Photo above or left: Coastal Explorers campers show off one of the CSI drones after a demonstration and lesson with Dr. Stu Hamilton.
Finally, last in the summer lineup, but certainly not least, came the inaugural Coastal Explorers– a pilot week of camp offered exclusively to teens and focused on marine science technology and remote sensing. The new program included lessons on the principles of flight, coding, drones, and robotics. The students made and tested model airplanes, flew drones through obstacle courses, and crafted their own remotely operated underwater vehicles outfitted with grabber arms and cameras to help them complete a mission in the CSI wave tank. One team of students even took their ROV for a test run in the Sound for fun on the last day of camp! These activities were coupled with seminars led by ECU faculty members, Drs. David Lagomasino and Stu Hamilton, who use remote sensing tools every day as a part of their ongoing research projects. Aside from being interesting and entertaining, the interactions with faculty proved helpful to the campers as they considered what remote sensing routes they might pursue in the future.
Though the 2025 camp season only recently ended, plans are already well underway for 2026. As CSI Education and Outreach staff reflect on the summer, they are building upon the successes and lessons learned to refine and expand opportunities for the year ahead.
For more information about 2026 summer camps, please visit the CSI Summer Camps webpage. Registration for the upcoming season will open on March 2, 2026.
Interesting Internships
While younger student campers made their rounds at CSI this summer, a group of twelve undergraduates made the ECU Outer Banks Campus their home for the season. The older students arrived in late May from all over the United States and stayed nearly two months as part of CSI’s undergraduate summer internship program. The competitive program, which received 42 applications, attracted students from eight different universities, including the University of Delaware, Cornell University, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Middlebury College, NC State, ECU, and UNC-Chapel Hill. Five of the twelve 2025 summer interns had participated in previous offerings at CSI, pointing to the strength of the undergraduate programs held at the coast.
Among the internships offered this summer were those focused on fisheries ecology, remote sensing, ecological modeling, environmental assessments, engineering, social sciences, and marine renewable energy. Each student was assigned a mentor and a specific set of tasks within one of these fields. Though some students often worked in the field and others worked mainly in the lab, each one received hands-on experience and professional guidance that helped shape their future career paths.
Lauren Elgin, a Charlottesville, VA, native and marine biology student at the University of Delaware, interned with Dr. Jim Morley and the Marine Fisheries Ecology Lab. Alongside lab members, Elgin assisted with various lab projects. Her favorite project involved a study exploring organismal density and abundance on oyster leases using hydrophones. She learned new skills both in and out of the water, and realized she really enjoys hands-on fieldwork. In fact, as her internship concluded, Lauren shared, “post-graduation, [I hope] to work somewhere along the coast, ideally doing lots of hands-on fieldwork!” Over the summer, she also had opportunities to practice her scientific photography skills, and some of her photos were used on CSI’s social media platforms.
While Elgin’s internship duties had her at various coastal sites, Maya Blanchard spent most of her days on the ECU Outer Banks Campus under the mentorship of Dr. Stu Hamilton. Blanchard, who has roots in both New York and North Carolina, is a biological sciences student at Cornell University. She assisted Dr. Hamilton in crafting a technical paper for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) about sustainable aquaculture practices on Lake Victoria in East Africa. The draft included considerations of environmental, legal, and socioeconomic aspects of aquaculture in and around Lake Victoria, which is surrounded by five countries.
Through her internship experiences, she realized how much effort goes into a technical paper, stating, “[It’s] very complicated! It requires extreme organizational foresight.” The skills she gained through her writing experience will no doubt serve her well in a future science career. In addition to working with Dr. Hamilton, Blanchard also contributed to CSI’s social media posts about internships this summer.
As part of the comprehensive internship experience, Elgin, Blanchard, and the other ten students also went on a few field trips. Visiting Dominion Energy’s offshore wind lease was one of the highlights. The group also met with and heard from various CSI faculty who shared their own career experiences and research throughout the summer.
“I am really grateful to those who spoke with the students and helped show them the many different ways they can be a scientist,” says internship coordinator Julie Kirn.
Near the end of their internships, the students each shared their experiences and research findings with fellow interns and CSI/ ECU faculty and staff during a half-day Research Symposium at CSI. Each student learned and refined skills that will be beneficial as they complete their schooling and apply for jobs in their chosen field.
“I was so blown away by the students’ final products at our end-of-summer symposium - so many of them had mastered new skills in coding, software, fieldwork, and more in just a few weeks!”, Kirn elaborates.
“This was a wonderful group of students, and their presence on campus will certainly be missed. We wish them well in all their future endeavors.”
A Milestone Year for the Outer Banks Field Site
2025 marks the 25th year of the UNC Institute for the Environment’s field site for undergraduates on the Outer Banks. First established in 2001 as the Albemarle Ecological Field Site, the program, now known as the Outer Banks Field Site (OBXFS), offers UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduates the opportunity to study at the coast each Fall. During each iteration of the OBXFS experience hosted by the Coastal Studies Institute, students take courses, participate in a community-based internship, and conduct research for an intensive group capstone project.
This year, thirteen students (pictured above or left) representing California, Colorado, North Carolina, and even Taiwan, are enrolled in the OBXFS program. Each has a passion for the environment and is majoring in one or more topical areas such as biology, environmental studies, public policy, and journalism. While on the Outer Banks, these high-achieving students are taking courses which include Sustainable Coastal Management; Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems: Coastal Estuarine Ecology; and Coastal Law and Policy. Their classes often involve guest speakers or hands-on field trips to places like Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary and other cultural sites in Corolla, the Croatan Sound via pontoon boat, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Lake Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Arts, and more.
Photo above or right: OBXFS students prepare a vegetation plot for study in Nags Head Woods.
Additionally, for their capstone research project this year, the group is working in Nags Head Woods Preserve, where they will explore the quality and value of the maritime forest ecosystem through the lenses of human dimensions and natural systems. As a result of their study, they hope to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of Nags Head Woods Preserve, which, in turn, could inform future management decisions for the area. Their work is currently ongoing, and they will present their findings during a public presentation at CSI on Thursday, December 11, at 3 pm.
When not dedicating time to their course work or capstone, the students can be found at their various internships or enjoying all the great opportunities the Outer Banks has to offer. Student internship placements include the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, the Town of Manteo, the Atlantic Marine Energy Center, the National Park Service, and others as each student has their own placement. Additionally, popular downtime activities have included visits to local coffee shops, movie screenings at the Manteo Community House where they currently reside, work outs at local gyms, and sunrise viewings at the beach.
Summarizing her experiences as an Outer Banks Field Site student this semester, sophomore Ellie Poitras shares, “[We have] been very busy with vegetation surveys, interviews, and research for our capstone project, and we have made lots of progress. So far, we have also been on field trips to the Inner Banks, Corolla, and Nags Head Woods to learn more about the dynamics of coastal management at the coast. Finally, in our free time, we love going to the beach, stargazing, trying new local restaurants, and exploring downtown Manteo!”
Photo above or left: The group has enjoyed many golden hours and sunsets along the Outer Banks while on the coast this semester. Photo courtesy of Ellie Poitras.
As chronicled in their weekly blog posts, it seems the students are certainly making the most of their time on the Outer Banks. Having only been at the coast for two months, and with almost two more months still ahead of them, there is no doubt this group is set to accomplish a great many things before the semester ends.
To learn more about the Outer Banks Field Site or to follow the students’ Capstone progress and daily life experiences, visit https://tarheels.live/obxfieldsite/.
Finally, OBXFS organizers are planning a celebration of 25 years that will include reunions. Those wishing to contribute to planning the events or attend as an alumnus, internship mentor, or CAB member should contact OBXFS Director Lindsay Dubbs (dubbs@email.unc.edu or dubbsl@ecu.edu).
“To celebrate 25 years of a UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment Field Site on the Outer Banks, we are aiming to reconnect the network of current and former students and the many people from our community who have contributed to the learning environment and social collective of the Outer Banks Field Site/Albemarle Ecological Field Site. We want to learn about the paths taken by alumni post field site and to hear about the memories that stand out for all who have been involved! We hope that the network will bring opportunities and inspiration for OBXFS/AEFS alumni, friends, Advisory Board members, and mentors of the past, present, and future,” says Dubbs.
Research Focus
Saltwater Sounds
Rahdiaz Delvillar, most often referred to as Ray, grew up on the North Carolina coast. His time spent fishing, boating, and keeping aquariums as a child connected him to estuarine habitats and the species that utilize them. As an adult, he continued to lean into these interests, gaining experience in aquaculture, field ecology, and acoustic monitoring. It’s likely no surprise that Delvillar’s current research as an ECU biology graduate student is focused on the underwater soundscapes- the collective set of sounds heard underwater- of oyster leases.
For his project, Delvillar is specifically investigating how oyster aquaculture influences estuarine habitats. Oyster farming is becoming more popular in North Carolina, and an ever-growing number of leases have been approved in the last few years. While it seems clear that the leases provide habitat, structure, food, and improved water quality for species living in the estuary, little is known about how the farms compare to natural reefs or how the farms might alter the soundscape of the estuary.
Through his study, Delvillar hopes to answer three main questions:
- Do soundscapes differ between sites with oyster leases and otherwise similar sites without the aquaculture operations?
- Is fish behavior, such as call rates or activity, altered by the presence of oyster farms?
- Does aquaculture gear attract a greater abundance or diversity of fish?
To tackle these questions, Delvillar deploys hydrophones, or underwater sound recording devices, at oyster leases and nearby control sites. The control sites are areas approximately 500- 1000 meters away from the lease that do not have farming operations but are otherwise comparable. The hydrophones are deployed for an extended period and collect sound samples for 10-20 minutes every hour.
Sounds that might be heard on an oyster lease include those made by fish, watercraft, aquaculture gear, and human activity. Red drum and silver perch are examples of soniferous fish, or those that produce sound. Species like these make noise to attract mates, defend territory, and coordinate with schools. By capturing sounds regularly, Delvillar will be able to assess whether fish sounds and activity vary throughout a 24-hour day. He will also be able to determine if certain types of fish behavior are more common than others amongst oyster lease sites. These determinations will be made in the lab with the help of computer programs. Using a program called R, Delvillar can distinguish human noises from fish noises, then count the number of fish calls in each recording. From there, he will estimate the abundance of calling fish and compare the diversity among oyster leases and control sites. Another program, Raven, assists him in visualizing the recordings to provide further details.
Standard Monitoring Units for the Recruitment of Fishes, better known as SMURFs, are also deployed alongside the hydrophones at a subset of the aquaculture and control sites. These passive, larval and juvenile fish collectors made of mesh mimic small reefs. Delvillar will use them to test whether larval fish use the sounds from an oyster farm as a cue to settle among the lease as they would in natural seagrass beds or oyster reefs. By comparing the aquaculture and control sites, Delvillar will assess if the farms can act as nursery habitat, attracting young fish. Upon retrieval of the SMURFs, Delvillar will count and identify the fish, resulting in a dataset that complements the sound recordings captured by the hydrophones.
When asked about the inspiration behind his study, Delvillar explained,
“I’ve always been drawn to aquaculture because it merges food production with habitat creation. Oyster aquaculture in particular is highly sustainable, requiring no feed inputs while providing a wide range of benefits such as water filtration, shoreline protection, and new structural habitat. For me, this project blends personal passion with applied science. I get to use new technologies like hydrophones while tackling practical conservation questions that matter to both fishing communities and coastal managers.”
Though his current study is in its early stages, Delvillar is sure it will yield useful results. Before he began pursuing his masters, he was a participant of ECU’s Undergraduate Semester Experience at the Coast. During that time, he ran a pilot study with identical methods.
“[It] gave me valuable practice and preliminary data. That early experience directly shaped how I designed my current graduate research,” he says.
Click play on the video above to hear a short sample of an underwater soundscape. The recorded sound is likely produced by silver perch or Atlantic croaker, and it has been paired with its representative spectrogram for the best viewing and listening experience.
So, why is this study important? According to Delvillar, it is relevant to future conservation and species management practices and decisions. If oyster farms have similar soundscapes and benefits as natural areas, leases could be a valuable tool for habitat enhancement while also contributing to local seafood industries. On the other hand, if oyster farms produce too much additional sound that overshadows the biological noise produced by soniferous fish, lease siting may need additional consideration.
“Either way, the results will help guide sustainable aquaculture development and fisheries management in North Carolina,” says Delvillar.
To learn more about this project and to hear from Delvillar himself, watch the short video below.
Local Ecological Knowledge and Modeling Insights for Shrimp Abundance in the Pamlico Sound
As environmental changes occur in the ocean, so does overall fish behavior. Species and populations of marine organisms are constantly responding to changes in the ecosystem around them. In turn, this can affect species abundance, distribution, reproduction, and more, which then have implications for fisheries operations and management. This series of chain reactions was highlighted in a recently published study conducted by Drs. Nadine Heck, Lela Schlenker, Samantha Farquhar, and Jim Morley, all of whom have ties to ECU and the Coastal Studies Institute.
The study, Environmental drivers of shrimp abundance: comparing insights from local ecological knowledge and empirical modeling, examines how storms, rainfall, temperature, wind, and offshore reproduction impact the abundance of brown and white shrimp populations in North Carolina. The Pamlico Sound provides critical habitat for these two species which are commercially targeted in the state. Thus, it is important to understand how brown and white shrimp respond to changing environmental variables. Through their research, the scientists use fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) obtained through surveys alongside population models made from long-term datasets to gain a better understanding of observed shrimp response to environmental changes and to make recommendations for future management considerations.
While many other fisheries population studies are conducted by analyzing trends over time and using computer models to make predictions, this study is unique because it attempts to understand and utilize information and observations from those who interact with the local marine environment regularly. Fishers can often provide “on the ground” insights due to their daily interaction with the local marine environment; however, up to this point, this type of knowledge has been rarely used for management decisions. Heck, Schlenker, Farquhar, and Morley (subsequently referred to as Heck et al.), highlight through their study that LEK in combination with long-term models may provide better information for decision and policy makers in the future.
To arrive at this conclusion, Heck et al. first distributed surveys to commercial shrimp fishers in nine coastal North Carolina communities, as well as in Newport News, Virginia. The survey included questions about observed shrimp abundance and environmental drivers that might affect shrimp populations. The survey also asked respondents for demographic information, including their role in the fishery, how they obtained fishery knowledge, and their livelihood dependency on the fishery. Finally, the survey allowed respondents to qualitatively describe some of their observations in greater detail.
Once survey results were analyzed, they were compared with long-term data about white and brown shrimp in the Pamlico Sound. The ecological data indicated that the general abundance of the two shrimp populations varied across the 33-year time span of the dataset. Specifically, white shrimp trends have increased over time, a fact echoed by almost half of the survey respondents. Furthermore, brown shrimp data indicated no population trend, which was also corroborated by survey results, in which many shrimp fishers reportedly observed a stable population with no clear trend. Interestingly, fishers’ perceptions of shrimp populations were seemingly tied to their experience with the local shrimp fishery based on their respective number of years participating in the fishery.
Furthermore, factors such as storms, rainfall, and temperature were identified by both LEK and the models as influencing brown and white shrimp abundance. However, results from the survey did not always match the model outputs when it came to specific environmental factors affecting shrimp populations. For example, fishers generally felt that storms reduced the abundances of both shrimp populations. However, the models indicated that storms had a positive effect on white shrimp abundance and a negative impact on brown shrimp numbers. On the other hand, both the fishers’ LEK and the models agreed when it came to rainfall, which appeared to have negative effect on shrimp abundance.
The biggest differences between LEK and the models were highlighted when considering wind. Survey respondents did not typically mention wind as a factor influencing shrimp abundance. However, the models indicated that wind was a strong predictor of increased white shrimp abundance but had a moderate negative effect on the abundance of brown shrimp.
As noted by Heck et al., another result of the survey responses was a better understanding of how the fishers receive or seek out fishery-related information. Those who had participated in the fishery for a longer period of time, and those with a high number of participating family members, had an increased reliance on information shared by friends and family rather than by fishery managers. Those who had participated in the fishery for less time or had fewer family members also participating were slightly more apt to rely on information provided by fishery managers. Overall, however, most fishers learned about shrimp abundances from friends and family, as well as from their own experiences in the fishery.
While the LEK and model results did not always match, and even though the two approaches are based on very different information, the methods “can converge and can be comparable, even in the context of highly variable species such as shrimp,” the authors report. Furthermore, they conclude that “being able to examine lagged environmental drivers is a strength of empirical models, while LEK might attribute annual variation to more proximal drivers.”
Though the new study has many nuances, and this story only highlights a few, the key take away is that LEK can provide valuable insights that correspond to and build upon model outputs. Fishers’ knowledge spans many years and seasons in the fishery, providing valuable details where standardized, long-term data might be lacking. In the future, the best policy and management decisions will be made when both types of information are considered in tandem.
“Fishers are on the water every day and often have a lifetime, and even generations, of knowledge of species and habitats. Incorporating that knowledge base into scientific studies can enhance our understanding of how natural and man-made environmental changes shape species movements and behaviors,” says co-author Dr. Lela Schlenker.
North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) News
NCROEP had a busy summer packed with conferences, outreach, education, and research. The NCROEP notes below highlight program efforts, accomplishments, and accolades from the past season.
Conferences & Collaboration
In September, Dr. Caroline Lowcher and Lauren Kerlin represented NCROEP at the UNC Wilmington Ocean Innovations Conference. The conference brought together investors, innovators, students, and citizens to inspire solutions for the oceans and coastal communities. At the event, Kerlin (left, main photo) shared about NCROEP-funded research, testing, and education programs.
Additionally, Dr. Mike Muglia (pictured above) and George Bonner represented CSI and the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) at the International WaTERS and European Wave and Tidal Conference in Madeira, Portugal, where they collaborated with global marine energy test centers. While at the conference, Muglia and Bonner shared information about the Jennette's Pier Wave Energy Test Center, an AMEC open-water test site co-managed by NCROEP.
In August, many NCROEP and AMEC researchers (pictured above) participated in the University Marine Energy Research Community (UMERC) conference at Oregon State University. UMERC seeks to foster collaboration between marine energy researchers at universities and those working at national labs and in the industry.
Among the conference presenters were NCROEP researchers Lindsay Wentzel and Trip Patterson, who gave a presentation entitled, "Powering Coastal Aquaculture: Field Demonstration of Paired Tidal Energy Harvesting & Water Quality Monitoring".
Dr. Caroline Lowcher shared her research- "Instrumented Swivel-based Mooring System to Improve Reliability of Wave Energy Converters via Integrated Load Monitoring"- during a poster session.
Finally, Drs. Lindsay Dubbs and Linda D'Anna hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop to gather insights on social licensing for marine energy. The workshop also helped participants learn how to utilize stakeholder engagement methods to advance their own research and technology development.
In July, AMEC Environmental Manager Amy Thompson (above, far right) and George Bonner (above, second from right) participated in the Department of Energy's inaugural TEAMER Facility Summit at the University of Michigan to collaborate with other marine energy testing centers.
Thompson also attended the NSF-funded 2025 OOIFB Summer School on Acoustics at the University of Washington in July. The week-long program focused on the analysis and interpretation of acoustic data and was comprised of lectures, hands-on tutorials, and practical exercises working with real-world examples from scientific instruments deployed off the Pacific Northwest coastline. The knowledge she gained while there will complement her ongoing acoustic monitoring efforts at the Jennette's Pier Wave Energy Test Center.
Research & Development Highlights
In August, NCROEP researchers Dr. Matt Bryant (left, main photo) and Vinson Williams (right, main photo), and NCROEP summer intern Ryan Page (middle, main photo), had the opportunity to visit the NSWC, Carderock facility in Bethesda, MD, to test the performance metrics of an 8-foot-long coaxial turbine.
With the testing of this device (pictured above), which can harness energy from flowing water currents, they are one step closer to generating renewable energy from the ocean. The four-day venture resulted in valuable data that will inform future iterations of the device. More tests are scheduled at the same facility in November.
Meanwhile, another team of NCROEP researchers from NC State, including Dr. Andre Mazzoleni and Saurabh Agrawal, has been engineering and testing another marine energy device. The Flow Powered Low Cut-In Speed Oscillating Subsea System, or FLOSS for short, uses drag bodies to harness the power of the ocean. Watch the video below to learn more!
While projects at NC State are well underway, another study at CSI is just getting started. Dr. Mike Muglia was recently awarded funding from the National Science Foundation to better understand the role of small-scale ocean movements such as eddies, fronts, and spatially varying wind forcing on the exchange of water masses, nutrients, and pollutants across the continental shelf near the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight (SMAB).
As depicted on the map above, the three-year study will utilize the OOI Pioneer Array, CDIP buoys, and high-frequency radar (HFR) stations to study the oceanographic processes that drive the exchange of heat, salt, nutrients, and carbon in the area. Further knowledge of these processes may subsequently result in a better understanding of the ecosystem's productivity, carbon cycling, and even the transport of larvae.
Finally, just recently announced, NCROEP researchers based in Wanchese have been selected to participate in the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program as part of the Fall 2025, Stage 0 Cohort! The program will help advance the team's marine energy connection technologies, which aim to improve the safety of deploying marine energy devices.
Education & Internships
Dr. Lindsay Dubbs, George Bonner, and Laren Kerlin supported AMEC's inaugural Introduction to Marine Energy Short Course at the University of New Hampshire in August. The highly competitive program drew 27 students from 17 universities and 14 states. It covered the fundamentals of marine energy through lectures, lab activities, projects, and field trips.
One offered experience was a Tidal Energy Lab which was facilitated by AMEC Project Engineer Stephen Pamboukes (pictured speaking in the main photo) and UNH graduate student Megan Andersen. During the lab, students had the opportunity to analyze and manipulate data produced by a tidal turbine demonstration in the University of New Hampshire's tow tank.
Other short course programs are in the works, and CSI will be next to host the intro course in Summer 2026.
Last but certainly not least on the education front, CSI hosted Ryan Page (above), an NCSU Rural Works summer intern. Ryan helped develop CSI’s open water testing accreditation and business plans for the Jennette's Pier Wave Energy Test Center. The business plan allows for improved planning and cost estimating for personnel, equipment, contracts, and supplies related to the deployment, monitoring, and decommissioning of marine energy technologies. Ryan presented his summer research at the NCSU Summer Research Symposium.
In addition to his main tasks, Page also joined Lauren Kerlin (below, right) to teach middle schoolers about marine renewable energy at the NC 4H Electric Congress at UNC Wilmington in July. At the event, youth attendees learned about electricity and magnetism, renewable energy technologies, and energy conservation.
Community Calendar
Exploring Oyster Ecology
-Shell-ebrate NC Oyster Month with us from 3:30- 5 PM on October 29, 2025!
Exploring Oyster Ecology is an educational opportunity for families with children ages 5 and older. Instructors will lead the public in a fun, interactive lesson about oysters and their vital role in our estuaries. Participants will get an up–close look at live oysters, investigate the organisms they interact with, and play games, too! This program is open to the public with limited availability on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost to attend is $10/person, and pre-registration is required.
CSI Family Programs are educational opportunities for elementary school-aged children and their accompanying adult(s). Such events are offered 1- 2 times per month, and the content changes seasonally. Each program incorporates fun, hands-on activities for experiential learning. Questions about Family Programs can be directed to Lauren Kerlin via email or at 252-475-5451.
Soundside Science Scouts: Estuary Expedition
Take a glimpse into the magical ecosystem that is the estuary! In this day-long mini-camp experience based at the Coastal Studies Institute, students ages 7-9 will discover what makes an estuary special and what critters call it home. Campers will travel by boat to a nearby marsh island in the Croatan Sound and learn about certain animal traits that make them well-suited to their environment. Along the way, participants will play games, make crafts, and create lasting memories with old and new friends alike.
Estuary Expedition programs will take place on November 11, 2025, and April 7, 2026. Pre-registration is required, and the cost to attend is $80 per student. Please contact Parker Murphy at kellama19@ecu.edu or 252-475-5452 for more information about the program.
Fantastic Flyers
A CSI x ECU Lifelong Learning Program Event on November 14 from 1- 3 PM
CSI is flocking to Greenville, and our feathered friends will be the focus! Sure, the Wright Brothers took flight from the Outer Banks, but did you know the area is also known as a major thoroughfare of the Atlantic Flyway? In this program, Lifelong Learners will interact with CSI staff in a program that highlights birds of the coastal plain, and specifically those that can be found both on the Outer Banks and in Greenville. The course will include novice tips and tricks for bird identification, bird-watching at Town Common, and a make-and-take project to build your own backyard bird feeder. Join us for a fun-filled, educational experience that spans birder interests from river to sea.
Science on the Sound
Science on the Sound is a free lecture series hosted monthly on ECU Outer Banks Campus. The public is encouraged to attend, and programs are also live-streamed on our YouTube channel. Upcoming Science on the Sound events include:
- November 20, 6 PM: Dr. David Lagomasino, Watching the Tides Roll: How Satellites Inform the Future of Coastal Communities
- December 11, 3 PM: The students of the Outer Banks Field Site will present their Capstone Research findings.
- January 15, 6 PM: Dr. Jim Morley
ECU Outer Banks Campus Tours
Guided tours of the ECU Outer Banks Campus and Coastal Studies Institute are now offered on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10:00- 11:00 AM. Visitors will be guided through the main Research Education & Administration building to get an overview of our unique academic programs, education and outreach initiatives, campus, and diverse research laboratories and their current projects. The cost of the tour is $5 per person and pre-registration is required.
NC Renewable Energy Challenge
With funding from the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program and in partnership with KidWind and Jennette’s Pier, CSI will host the annual, day-long North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge on March 28, 2026. Competing students must engineer an alternative energy device and compete against each other to create the most efficient design. The challenge strives to increase student interest in green technology and promote innovation, and it fosters 21st-century skills that better prepare students for the growing renewable energy industry.
The 2026 event will include wind and underwater turbine competitions with upper elementary & middle (grades 4-8), and high school (grades 9-12) divisions for each.
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ADA Accommodation: 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu