Oceans Week at Duke
March 23-27, 2026
Celebrating the Ocean That Connects Us All
Events
Throughout the week, campus groups, research centers, and community partners host an array of events celebrating ocean innovation, policy, art, and advocacy. From student-led panels to poster sessions and interactive workshops, these events highlight the diversity of ocean engagement at Duke and beyond.
Monday, March 23
4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
School of Nursing Auditorium (Room 1014)
A Plastic Ocean: Documentary and Discussion
The rapidly declining state of our oceans directly and indirectly affects human health. Join as we watch a documentary about plastic in our ocean followed by a discussion. This event is co-hosted by Planetary Health and the Duke School of Nursing and aligns with the Duke Climate Commitment by empowering climate action from an individual perspective.
Tuesday, March 24
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Field Auditorium, Grainger Hall
Duke RESTORE—Ocean Ecosystem Showcase
Join us for an inspiring session with Duke RESTORE, a Nicholas School initiative advancing ecosystem restoration from coral reefs to seagrass meadows and living shorelines. Student teams will share updates from three projects—Coral Reefs, Seagrass Farm, and Living Shorelines—showcasing how Duke research is turning restoration science into real‑world impact for coastal communities.
Coral Reef Team
Provides technical and capacity‑building support to reef restoration efforts globally and pilots new coral research along North Carolina’s coast.
Seagrass Farm Team
Builds a seagrass “farm” to produce seeds and transplants for regional restoration projects while testing innovative, cost‑effective techniques.
Living Shorelines Team
Develops science‑based, ecosystem‑friendly alternatives to hard coastal infrastructure that enhance shoreline protection and resilience.
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Fuqua School of Business
Scaling Blue: Hosted by Okhtapus
Details coming soon.7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location TBD
Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Duke Hub
Details coming soon.
Wednesday, March 25
12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Kirby Reading Room
Fuqua School of Business
Blue Economy Summit
Join global leaders, innovators, and Duke experts for a dynamic half‑day program bridging science, business, and policy to accelerate a regenerative blue economy. Registration is required.
Thursday, March 26
Request for proposals now open!
Ocean Research Exchange
As part of Oceans Week at Duke 2026 (March 23–28), the Ocean Research Exchange invites students, faculty, and alumni to share their ocean‑focused research, projects, and ideas. Planned for Thursday, March 26, this session showcases the breadth of innovation and creativity across the Duke Oceans community—spanning science, policy, business, and community practice. Participants may present through lightning talks or poster sessions, highlighting work from early concepts to completed projects.8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Brodhead Center
Tide Talk
Join us Thursday, March 26 at 8pm in the Broadhead center for an exciting edition of Duke Tide Talks, a series of TED‑style presentations where marine scholars share fresh insights and inspiring stories about ocean, coastal, and marine topics that are shaping our blue future. Speaker and Topic coming soon
All times ET
More events to be added soon!
Contact Us
Reach out to us for inquiries about Duke Oceans Week and ocean sustainability events and collaborations.
Email: dukeoceans@duke.edu
