Corbett's Corner
Building What Comes Next
Over the last several years, Integrated Coastal Programs and the Coastal Studies Institute have experienced tremendous growth. Together, we have expanded research programs, created new educational opportunities, strengthened community partnerships, and continued building ECU’s presence and impact along the North Carolina coast. None of this happened because of one person or one initiative. It happened because of an extraordinary team of faculty, staff, students, partners, and supporters who believed in what ECU’s coastal enterprise could become and worked together to move it forward. It has truly been an honor to lead this organization during such an exciting and transformative period. As with any successful organization, growth brings change and new opportunity. ECU’s coastal enterprise is continuing to evolve in ways that create new opportunities for collaboration, stronger academic connections across the university, and continued growth of the Coastal Studies Institute and ECU’s Outer Banks Campus. While organizational structures may change over time, our mission remains the same: advancing coastal science, education, outreach, and engagement in ways that serve both our students and the communities connected to our coast. This newsletter reflects that evolution. CoastLines was originally developed as a newsletter for Integrated Coastal Programs, but its purpose has always been broader than a single administrative unit. It was created to share the stories, people, research, and experiences that make ECU’s Outer Banks Campus such a unique and impactful place. That mission does not end with the dissolution of ICP. CoastLines will continue to highlight the exciting work taking place at the Coastal Studies Institute and across ECU’s coastal enterprise for years to come. This edition of CoastLines is also personally meaningful to me, as it will be my final Corbett’s Corner before stepping into a new leadership role at ECU. While my responsibilities will shift, I will remain deeply connected to ECU’s coastal community and incredibly proud of what this organization has accomplished. I am excited not only for what comes next for me professionally, but even more so for what lies ahead for CSI, our faculty and students, and the future of coastal research and education at ECU. I am especially grateful to the many people who continue to invest their time, energy, and support into this mission. That includes the Coastal Studies Institute Board of Directors, who recently gathered on the Outer Banks Campus for another productive meeting and discussion about the future of CSI. Their continued engagement, guidance, and advocacy reflect the growing network of supporters who believe deeply in the importance of ECU’s coastal mission and the opportunities that lie ahead. The coast teaches us something important: change is inevitable, but it also creates opportunity. Healthy coastlines are constantly evolving, adapting, and reshaping themselves over time. Strong organizations do the same. I leave this role confident that the foundation we have built together will continue supporting new ideas, new partnerships, and new generations of students and scientists who will help shape the future of our coast. Thank you for your friendship, support, and belief in this mission over the years. I look forward to continuing this journey together, just from a different vantage point within ECU. Warm regards, Reide Corbett Executive Director, Coastal Studies Institute
Student Section
From K to Gray
One need not be enrolled at East Carolina University® to take advantage of programs on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. While there are undergraduate and graduate students taking classes and conducting research onsite, the Coastal Studies Institute provides both free and fee-based opportunities for learners of all ages. Especially for young children, Family Programs provide a great way to first introduce science and the environment to youth. Topics for Family Programs have included birds, shipwrecks, oysters, native plants, estuaries, and more! These 1-to-2-hour programs are typically offered one to two times each month at CSI, always including a short lesson and hands-on activity for parents and kids to do together. Reflecting on the Maritime Mysteries family program (pictured) held in February 2026, one parent recently wrote, “The program was exceptionally well organized and thoughtfully designed… The combination of hands-on investigation, storytelling, and educational depth made for a truly memorable experience.”
As children age and gain more independence, they will likely enjoy the variety of day camps offered at CSI. Soundside Science Scouts are single day “mini camps” offered during the school year for students ages 7-9. A typical day as a “scout” includes short science lessons and an on or near-campus field trip, as well as games and activities. Soundside Science Scouts programs are built around the ecosystems of coastal North Carolina, and to date have focused on pocosins and estuaries. “Mini camps have been a great addition to the suite of programs hosted at CSI in the last couple years. It’s been lots of fun to plan programs for a new audience and engage some of our youngest future leaders and innovators. Inspiring a love for nature and the environment through inquiry-based learning and laughter is at the heart of our Soundside Science Scouts programming,” says camps director Parker Murphy.
Consequently, Soundside Science Scouts has become a sort of feeder program for the annual CSI Summer Camps, now entering its fourteenth season! The wide-ranging summer camps lineup has expanded over the years, and it now includes five different themes and serves students from ages 10-17. These week-long, day camps contain a fun mix of science and environmental education, guest lectures, hands-on activities and field trips. Topics for 2026 include marine and coastal biology and ecology, maritime archaeology and shipwrecks, the intersection of art and science, oceanography and ocean exploration, and remote sensing and marine technology. When older people learn of CSI Summer Camps, it’s not uncommon to hear them ask if there is also a camp for adults. And while CSI has not ventured into that just yet, there are plenty of ways for folks to stay engaged! ECU Outer Banks Campus Tours and the Science on the Sound lecture series are two offerings that people can attend almost every month, and both are also family friendly. Tours are currently held on the mornings of the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. They highlight ongoing research and education initiatives at CSI and are a great way to learn about the ECU Outer Banks Campus and all that happens there. For those looking for an evening outing, Science on the Sound typically takes place every third Thursday evening from September to May and is always free to the public. To increase access even further, recordings of each lecture can be found on the CSI YouTube Channel.
In addition to on-campus programs, the CSI Education and Outreach team began leading field-based excursions in late 2025, some in partnership with the ECU Lifelong Learners Program and other local organizations. To date, programs such as these have included kayaking at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (pictured) and birding at River Park North in Greenville and Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. Plans for future programs at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Arts are currently in the works! As if all the above were not enough, CSI also provides a range of opportunities for K-12 students visiting with their school, homeschooling cohort, scout group, or club. Visiting groups have come from as close as Manteo to as far away as California, and each group leader pre-selects the program that best fits their curriculum needs and group size. Some groups only stay for one class, while others participate in programs over the course of two or three days. During the past year, over 2700 students from schools all over North Carolina and beyond visited the Coastal Studies Institute and took part in hands-on, standards-based programs.
(Photo courtesy of Rod Fincannon, ECU Continuing & Professional Education)
“One of the things that makes the ECU Outer Banks Campus so special is that learning happens here at every stage of life. Whether someone is exploring a marsh for the first time as a child, attending a public lecture or lifelong learning program as an adult, or pursuing a university degree, we want everyone who visits campus to feel inspired, welcomed, and connected to the coast.”, states John McCord, Associate Director for Education and Outreach. Students on the ECU Outer Banks Campus are as varied as the programs CSI offers. Sure, there is some shared level of interest in coastal science, but past that, folks of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds come together to create a blended learning environment. When so much of the world seems to be at odds, it is certainly nice to take a breath of fresh, salty air together and appreciate the local coastal environments for all they offer.
NC Renewable Energy Challenge Inspired Future Innovators
Each Spring, with support from the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP), the Coastal Studies Institute hosts the NC Renewable Energy Challenge in conjunction with KidWind and Jennette’s Pier. The purpose of this day-long competition is to foster interest in renewable energy technologies, and those who compete in the event must engineer their own model renewable energy devices. The Challenge has many categories and components. Teams may choose to enter the Wind and/ or Ocean Energy divisions; and in addition to creating a turbine for either division, the students must also test their device onsite, appear before a panel of judges to discuss their design, and participate in a series of “Instant Challenges”- small, quick, hands-on activities that highlight specific energy principles. During the lunch-time keynote address, students also learn about different aspects of the renewable energy sector, including but not limited to research and development, marine energy prototypes, and environmental assessments.
CSI most recently held the 2026 NC Renewable Energy Challenge on March 28, drawing a crowd of nearly 60 students across 19 teams from 8 different counties, as well as almost 40 volunteers. During the event, the halls of the building buzzed with excitement as teams moved from station to station. Students thoughtfully completed the Solar Fountain, Wave Energy Converter, Sail Car, and MacGyver Instant Challenges; tinkered with their turbines and made last-minute tweaks before final testing in the wind tunnel or current tank; and interacted with field and industry experts during their assigned judging sessions. Near the end of the day, they settled into a large classroom to learn about a recently designed marine energy device called the FLOSS, a low-flow ocean current energy technology, from NCROEP researchers Dr. Andre Mazzoleni and Saurabh Agrawal. Then, finally, came the moment for which students waited with bated breath- the awards ceremony!
Organizers of the NC Renewable Energy Challenge are proud to recognize the following 2026 award-winning teams:
Grades 4-8 Wind 1st Place Geared Up; Water’s Edge Village School (WEVS), Currituck County Grades 4-8 Wind 2nd Place I am Jigglypuff; students in Dare County Grades 4-8 Ocean Currents Breakwater Converter; P.W. Moore Elementary School, Elizabeth City/ Pasquotank County High School Wind 1st Place Salty Wind Sailors; First Flight High School, Dare County High School Wind 2nd Place Pam Pack; Washington High School, Beaufort County High School Ocean Currents 1st Place Narwhals; First Flight High School, Dare County High School Ocean Currents 2nd Place Tidal Force; Pitt County Schools Early College High School
In addition to the prizes awarded at the local competition, Geared Up, I am Jigglypuff, and Salty Wind Sailors received invitations to attend the 2026 KidWind World Challenge in May at the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
“The 2026 NC Renewable Energy Challenge was a great success once again thanks to our great partners and many volunteers. As the event continues to grow, it’s so much fun to see old and new faces alike joining in for an engaging, renewable energy-focused day at CSI,” said event organizer Parker Murphy. Her sentiment was further echoed by WEVS coach Sylvia Wolff, who wrote organizers to say, “Know that when asked about the highlights of the school year, a visit to CSI, your hands-on teaching, and KidWind competitions are always in the top 5!” CSI extends its greatest thanks to each of the students, coaches, parents, and volunteers, who bring great energy to the event each and every year. Enthusiasm like that which surrounds the Challenge is what will help continue to inspire future innovators and sustainable energy solutions.
Reflections from the ECU Semester at the Coast Experience
A personal account from Maddie Dickens, an ECU freshman who interned with the CSI Education and Outreach team during the Spring 2026 Semester.
I have wanted to be a marine biologist for as long as I can remember, and this passion has shaped a lot of my choices. So, when I first started at ECU and found out about the Semester Experience at the Coast, I knew that I had to do it. Since I really wanted to immerse myself in the rich history of the Outer Banks and get experience doing work in the field, this program felt like the best opportunity for me to connect my academic passions with my environmental interests.
While studying at the ECU Outer Banks Campus this spring, I worked as an intern for the Education and Outreach team at the Coastal Studies Institute, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I helped with the K12 programs and prepared activities for them. Along with this, I was also able to develop some of my own research, which focused on the recruitment of fish in floating vs. on-bottom cages in areas of varying salinity. We collected water quality samples and conducted fish counts and measurements on a bi-weekly basis. While the internship timeline was too short for me to draw any conclusions, I still learned a lot about sampling in the field, effective data collection, and how environmental factors can influence marine ecosystems.
In addition to my research project, I stayed busy by helping to procure content for the CSI social media channels. When my classes would go on field trips around the Outer Banks, I would take photos of the other CSI students engaged in the experience. This gave me the chance to highlight some of the incredible things happening at CSI. Finally, when I was not working, I made the most of my time here by continuing to enjoy the outdoors. I really loved walking to downtown Manteo, exploring Roanoke Island Festival Park, and going to the beach whenever I got the chance. This helped deepen my appreciation for the environment and reinforced my passion for coastal ecosystems. Overall, my time in the Outer Banks has been something unforgettable. It has provided me with incredible, unique experiences I would not be able to have on main campus in Greenville, and I feel I have grown both personally and professionally. I know I am taking away a deeper understanding of my field and a wide range of skills that will aid me on my journey towards becoming a marine biologist.
Staff Highlight
Dylan Winstead: Cultivating Growth on the ECU Outer Banks Campus
As of late last summer, Dylan Winstead now calls the Outer Banks home. Some might call it a full circle moment- after all, his middle name is Banks, which was chosen by his parents to commemorate their first meeting. Others might find his choice to move to the beach intriguing given that he is not particularly fond of sand. But regardless of what anyone might think, Winstead is delighted by his new home and his role as Horticultural Specialist on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. Ever since he was young, Winstead has been drawn to the outdoors, and he made it his mission to find a career that would allow him to enjoy his natural surroundings every day. Early on he decided that the “requirements” for his future would include a career that was “creative, outdoors, and scientific” and would also allow him to listen to music regularly. While attending NC State, Winstead’s passion for cultivating plants and landscapes blossomed. For two and a half years, he even lived in a greenhouse behind the JC Raulston Arboretum, where he also interned and learned much of what he knows today about plants. He graduated in 2023 with a degree in Horticultural Science, focusing on landscape design and ecology. After graduation, Winstead spent two years in Pamlico County working as an environmental educator, teaching over thirty different programs, and volunteering with Sound Rivers, a non-profit organization that helps to protect the Neuse and Pamlico River basins. While he learned many lessons about teaching along the way, he realized even more he “just like[s] talking about plants” and wants others to be able to appreciate them just as much as he does. “If I can play a role in helping people reconnect with nature, I think I’ve done my job well,” says Winstead.
When a friend shared the employment opportunity at CSI with Winstead, he realized it might be an even better way to share his affinity for plants with other individuals. He also liked the challenge of being the only horticulturist for such a large piece of land. As Winstead arrived on campus, he soon realized he had his work cut out for him on the 230-acre property, fourteen acres of which is a “manicured” space. Flower beds demanded attention; trees required pruning; retention ponds begged to be cleared; invasive species were taking over; a section of trail needed maintenance; and that was just the beginning. Since last summer, Winstead has made note of all the plants growing on campus. Some have proven difficult to identify until they flower, but eventually, Winstead will update and install the plaques indicating each species. Care for the ECU Outer Banks Campus grounds could be more than a full-time job. While many coastal natives are used for landscaping, and thereby cut down on maintenance needs, there is always something to take care of. “Trying to do horticulture on the coast is one of the hardest things to do, especially because of the salt spray, sandy soils, and hot summer climate… on paper, there are a lot of things that can grow here, but in practice it’s much more difficult.”
That said, plants aren’t the only things growing. Winstead feels his role as Horticultural Specialist has also resulted in personal growth. The solitary nature of the job has challenged him to learn even more so he can make informed decisions about landscaping and for individual plant health. Winstead aspires to make the ECU Outer Banks Campus even more beautiful, enjoyable, and biodiverse. He hopes to do a little bit of his own experimenting to better understand which species might grow well given onsite conditions, and eventually he wants to incorporate other plants with year-round interest- or those which are visually appealing regardless of how they may change over the seasons. Also, on his to-do list is creating shady areas and additional natural footpaths for faculty and staff to enjoy while taking a much-needed break from their hard work. Overall, Winstead hopes the campus will be a place that anyone can walk through and leave feeling refreshed and invigorated, just as he does working outside all day, every day.
Research Focus
New BlueFlux Study Reveals Climate Benefits of Wetlands
Wetlands are found all over the world in a variety of forms. In addition to the various ecological benefits they offer, there are other less visible, but equally important, services they also provide. Whether they are mangroves, salt marshes, or nontidal environments such as swamps and peatlands, wetlands have great potential for storing carbon in their soils, thereby decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In a world that is increasingly modified by humans, ensuring that wetlands remain as carbon sinks requires understanding, protection, and potentially management of these valuable landscapes. Fortunately, a new publication, released earlier this year, lays the groundwork for gathering and interpreting data to better understand carbon fluxes in wetlands over time. While wetlands provide critical habitat and buffer coastlines from storms and flooding, some are also more prone to emitting methane, and all are becoming increasingly impacted by sea level rise and large storm events. Backed by NASA’s Carbon Monitoring System, the recent study, which began in 2021 and is known as the BlueFlux campaign, combines ground and airborne measurements taken in the Florida Everglades with long-term satellite imagery of the region to assess how greenhouse gas levels in the soils and atmosphere change with the landscape. Using data that spans 23 years, starting in 2000, the BlueFlux team- which included ECU faculty members Drs. Sean Charles and David Lagomasino- considers how variations in wetland vegetation and salinity, as well as environmental disturbances and restoration efforts, affect how greenhouse gases are stored or emitted across multiple scales.
The researchers found that wetlands in South Florida remove 14 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. For perspective, according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator, that amount of carbon sequestration offsets the annual emissions of 3,265,574 cars. Additionally, even though 6 million metric tons of methane are emitted each year in the same region, overall, the Everglades remain a carbon sink. In fact, between 2000 and 2024, net greenhouse gas removals from the atmosphere increased by approximately 18%. “Wetland plants and particularly mangroves are extremely effective carbon sinks, due to high rates of productivity and low rates of decomposition in wet soils,” explains Charles. “Furthermore, over the last two decades, the rate of carbon sequestration in the Everglades has increased due to the expansion of mangrove trees.” This growth, however, does not come without concern. Mangroves in South Florida have expanded inland due to sea level rise, and it is that same driver that also leaves coastal mangroves increasingly vulnerable to strong storms. Hurricanes, such as Irma which notoriously impacted the state in 2017, may cause permanent mangrove loss and other damage which can decrease carbon dioxide uptake for 4-5 years.
It is also worth noting that methane emissions in Everglades wetlands are growing and are especially concentrated in highly impacted or developed areas. However, the study also provides hope, since the rate of carbon storage outweighs the amount of methane produced. “Everglades restoration that increases freshwater flow to the coast enhances carbon storage, [thus] demonstrating the benefits of conservation management,” says Charles. "Our models suggest that hotspots of methane flux can be predicted, while the concentration in managed ecosystems suggests that altering management conditions may make improvements." Overall, the BlueFlux campaign highlights the climate benefits of wetlands and the need for their protection and/or restoration across temporal and spatial scales. Furthermore, the framework developed through this study provides information for future management decisions in the Everglades, and it also lays the groundwork for similar studies to be conducted in other wetland areas like those found in coastal North Carolina.
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The work mentioned above was carried out in collaboration with scientists from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Maryland’s Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), Yale University, East Carolina University, Florida International University, and the University of Alabama.
Subsurface Sounds
What’s that sound? A new student-designed exhibit being installed at Jennette’s Pier this summer will soon ask visitors the same question! While Jennette’s Pier, an NC Aquariums site, is most well-known for its fishing, sea bird watching, and educational programs, it is also home to the Wave Energy Test Center. The center, co-managed by the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP), is one of the open water test sites that are part of the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC), a US Department of Energy National Marine Renewable Energy Center. As a result of the test site partnership, AMEC researchers are studying the sound ecology and underwater soundscape at Jennette’s Pier to better understand what noise is occurring below the water’s surface. This work is important because many organisms rely on sound for biological cues and communication. Should these sounds be masked, or covered by other louder noises, natural animal behaviors could be disrupted- a fact which must be carefully considered when deploying marine energy devices nearby and adding additional human-sourced, or anthropogenic, noises to the typical soundscape. To learn what is happening below the surface, Amy Thompson, an AMEC Environmental Specialist based at the Coastal Studies Institute, regularly deploys a hydrophone at the pier to record underwater sounds. Upon return to the lab, she sifts through the recordings to identify the source of each noise. Thompson commonly observes sounds from marine mammals, soniferous fish (Atlantic croaker, oyster toadfish, and cusk eel), and snapping shrimp, as well as from nearby vessels and breaking waves. The cataloged recordings help establish baseline noise levels beneath the surface at Jennette’s Pier which is instrumental in assessing potential noise impacts from marine renewable energy device deployments at the wave energy test site.
To share this facet of AMEC research and its importance to the public, Anna Horton has diligently crafted a display for Jennette’s Pier over the last year. Horton is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and participated in the UNC Institute for the Environment’s 2025 Outer Banks Field Site (OBXFS) at CSI. As part of the fall program, Horton interned with AMEC and assisted Thompson with fieldwork. During her internship experience, Horton was surprised to learn about underwater noise pollution, which, in this case, is any excessive, loud sounds propagating through the water and negatively impacting marine wildlife. “If that wasn’t something on my radar as someone studying environmental science, I wondered how many others also were unaware,” she recalls. As a result of her new knowledge, she was inspired to create some educational content for Jennette’s Pier with assistance from her mentors there and at CSI. Horton’s “Sounds Beneath the Surface” is a touch-screen display scheduled to be installed later this summer. The interactive exhibit draws people to it by stating, “We know what our lives sound like on the surface, but have you ever considered what it sounds like beneath the waves?”. The landing page of the display also introduces the concept of an underwater soundscape and allows visitors to select different sound producers to learn more about each source.
Ultimately, Horton hopes that as people learn about underwater soundscapes, they will also begin to consider the risks associated with noise pollution. “While the exhibit, at this time, presents general information about the soundscape at Jennette’s Pier, in the future, I hope to continue similar work to bring additional awareness to the problems posed by anthropogenic noise pollution in this area and similar,” Horton shares.
In short, the Thompson’s soundscape research and Horton’s project are part of a larger effort to ensure that NCROEP, AMEC, and Jennette’s Pier are being responsible stewards of the marine resources while helping visitors understand the hidden sounds and ecological connections beneath the waves.
North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) News
New Sensing Platform Assists Local Oyster Farmers
Water currents are now affecting aquaculture operations in more than one way at a local Outer Banks oyster lease. While a balanced flow of water has always delivered essential nutrients to oysters and assisted with their shell growth, currents are now also powering a small marine renewable energy device to charge water quality sensors for the lease operators. Over the last several years, the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) has funded research and development at partner institution N.C. State of low-flow current harvesters, such as the FLOSS and the coaxial turbine. While neither technology has been optimized for grid-scale use, prototypes of both devices have demonstrated a level of readiness for small-scale applications. At the same time, starting in 2024, NCROEP also funded a project at CSI, led by Lindsay Wentzel and Trip Taylor, to build and deploy 16 CTDs to characterize wave energy in Outer Banks’ sounds. A CTD is an instrument with conductivity, temperature, and depth probes, which collect readings for salinity, temperature, and pressure at a given site. Wentzel and Taylor opted to create their proposed network using OpenCTDs, an open-source, low-cost, “do it yourself” CTD developed by Dr. Andrew Thaler of Oceanography for Everyone and composed of PVC and off-the-shelf parts. Over time, the team further tailored their OpenCTDs into moored, wave-sensing instruments by developing new code, adding to the existing battery capacity, and modifying the pressure sensor to rapidly collect wave height and period data.
Meanwhile, Herring Shoal Shellfish Co. owners James Clower and Aaron Hopkins were searching for a way to inform their operations in Blossie Creek near Oregon Inlet. Herring Shoal Shellfish Co. produces boutique oysters using adjustable longline gear to raise and lower their oyster cages to take advantage of optimal environmental conditions. Parameters such as salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen are critical for oyster growth, formation, and flavor profile, but monitoring such environmental conditions can often be challenging and costly. As fate would have it, Hopkins and Clower were connected with Wentzel and Taylor through a series of professional and personal introductions. One conversation led to another, and Wentzel and Taylor wondered if they could build a sensor platform to meet the oyster farm’s needs. They took the lessons learned from the CTD project and created a new sensing platform that could provide the needed water quality data and be powered by one of the NCROEP marine current devices. There was just one problem. Where would all the data collected then be stored so Herring Shoal Shellfish Co. could access it in real time?
Further leveraging partnerships made through CSI, the lab team contacted the ECU Water Resources Center (WRC), which maintains a cloud-based, environmental, telemetry data network with receivers at CSI. With partnerships forged and ideas streamlined, the collaborative work began to create a self-sustaining monitoring system designed for NC oyster farms. CSI developed the sensor platform based on the needs of Herring Shoal Oyster Co.; NC State handled the energy harvester; and ECU WRC would manage the data telemetry with their existing online dashboard. Wentzel and Taylor’s developed a new sensor platform, a watertight and modular system that included eight sensor wells. Six of the wells contained removable probes for oxidation-reduction potential, or ORP, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, pH, and pressure. The remaining two wells were for the data transmission and power input. Once the device was built and waterproofed, the team added a layer of biofouling spray and a copper cage around the protruding sensors to further protect the instrument from the elements. During initial testing of the new sensor platform prototype, the team discovered that Blossie Creek was slightly out of range, at almost nine miles away, for a reliable, strong connection to the WRC receiver at CSI. The solution was to install an additional solar-powered relay node halfway between the oyster farm and CSI to help bridge the network connection and thus efficiently supply the customized online dashboard with real-time data for Hopkins and Clower. The final step of the system construction was to integrate an energy harvester that could supply power to the sensor platform, thereby extending its battery life. After careful consideration of site characteristics, including the water flow rate in Blossie Creek, the team decided the coaxial turbine developed by the Intelligent Structures and Systems Research Lab and the Engineering Mechanics and Space Systems Lab at NC State would best suit their needs. The coaxial turbine utilizes water currents to rotate external blades which in turn spins a generator inside the device. Simply speaking, the power produced by the generator would charge the sensor platform.
Upon complete assembly, the sensor platform and its energy harvester were deployed in Blossie Creek in Spring 2026 and are set to sample and transmit data every ten minutes. Initial results indicate the prototype is not only viable but also helpful to oyster cultivators at Herring Shoal Shellfish Co. There are, however, tweaks that will need to be made. Ongoing adjustments include changes to the data dashboard, including a public-facing component, and turbine design optimization to reliably capture Blossie Creek’s current resource. “Ultimately, this [project] is about turning accessible technology into something that can deliver real, usable data in real time and support the people who rely on these environments every day,” says Wentzel. While the system’s hydrodynamic efficiency isn’t yet maximized, and it could certainly be more durable, it already works to meet the needs of a community partner. Because of its small-scale application, optimization is not required for the system to serve its purpose. Though there is still much to be done before the sensor platform setup is “perfect”, the project is a clear example of developing practical marine energy usage across NC working waterfronts.
Community Calendar
2026 Summer Camps
Space still available for 2026 Summer Camps!
Our summer camps focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts and utilize hands-on experiences and exploration of the great outdoor spaces of the Outer Banks. Each week of camp features a particular theme and runs Monday-Friday, 9 AM- 3:30 PM. We will accept up to 16 campers between the ages of 10-15 years old each week, June 6- August 7, excluding the week of July 4. We will also have one camp for teens ages 13-17 during the week of August 10-14. The registration fee for all camps is $425 per individual.
Evening in the Estuary
Celebrate summer with an evening on the water! The Coastal Studies Institute will once again offer Evening in the Estuary, an on-the-water educational experience for families. Evening in the Estuary programs include a boat ride through the Croatan Sound to a marsh island to wade the shallow waters, survey the sandy shores, and explore the grassy uplands. Participants will learn about estuarine ecology, investigate plant and animal adaptations, seine for critters, and more. Evening in the Estuary programs will be offered from 4-6 PM on June 23 (weather date June 24), July 21 (weather date July 22), and August 18 (weather date August 19). These programs are suitable for children, ages 5 and up, accompanied by their adult(s). The program fee is $20 per person, and preregistration is required.
ECU Outer Banks Campus Tours
Discover coastal science in action in the New Year! In 2026, the Coastal Studies Institute will continue offering guided tours of ECU’s Outer Banks Campus. Thoughtfully designed to engage curious visitors from school-aged children to lifelong learners, tours provide an inside look at the main Research, Education, & Administration Building, highlighting CSI’s distinctive academic programs, education and outreach initiatives, and research laboratories and ongoing projects. Tours are offered from 10- 11 AM on specified dates. The cost is $5/ person, and pre-registration is required. Upcoming tours will occur on June 10 & 24; July 8 & 22; August 12 & 26; and September 9 & 23.
Oyster Science & Art Workshop
A New and Exciting CSI x Pocosin Arts Collaborative Program Step into the intersection of science and art on October 10, 2026! Upon arriving at Pocosin Arts, participants will learn about oyster reefs from CSI staff in a short, interactive lesson highlighting their ecosystem benefits and the critters that call them home. The lesson will also include time to view live oysters under a microscope! Following a brief break for lunch, Pocosin Arts will take the lead, and participants will create their own oyster reef-inspired, metal cast sculptural objects or pendants as a tangible reminder of the day’s science lesson. The program will take place from 10 AM- 4 PM and is intended for adults, as well as youth 8- 17 years of age, accompanied by a registered, participating adult. Transportation to/ from Pocosin Arts will be provided with CSI serving as the start and end location. The cost is $55 per person, and preregistration is required.
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ADA Accommodation: 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu