2026 Coastal Resiliency Research Symposium

 
 

Conservation, Communities, and Coastal Futures

 
 

September 17th and 18th, 2026

 

Duke University Marine Lab - Beaufort, NC

 
 
 
 

Communities, Researchers, and practitioners strengthening the region’s coastal protected areas

The Coastal Resiliency Research Symposium is a one and a half day meeting of researchers, agency officials, adaptation specialists, and park managers working to strengthen the region’s coastal protected areas. Guided by this year's theme, Conservation, Community, and Coastal Futures, the symposium places community-centered work at its core, uplifting solutions developed for communities, by communities.

About the symposium
 
Click Here to Register

If you are coastal resilience professional, researcher, or agency official working with park and protected area managers, we invite you to attend this event. Register now to reserve your seat as participation is limited.

Topics

 

POLICY

How can we develop forward-looking legislation and regulatory frameworks that anticipate coastal protected area management challenges of 2030 and beyond?

SCIENCE

How can we use emerging technologies to capture and communicate knowledge that supports communities, institutions, and coastal resiliency frameworks?

OUTREACH

How can we increase both stakeholder engagement and community buy-in to build lasting support for coastal stewardship strategies?

Goals

Participants will spotlight new research, policy, outreach, and community engagement approaches to coastal resiliency being implemented locally that protected area managers in NC should know more about, as well as those approaches already working for the state’s National Seashores that could transfer to other coastal parks.

 
 
 

Participating Organizations

 

Government agencies

  • National Park Service

  • North Carolina Division of Coastal Management

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

University Faculty and Research Teams

  • Duke University

  • North Carolina State University

  • Eastern Carolina University

  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Regional Stakeholders

  • North Carolina 3rd US Congressional District

  • Town of Beaufort

  • North Carolina Coastal Federation

  • National Parks Conservation Association

  • North Carolina Coastal Reserve

  • Gullah Geechee Community Members and Organizations

Event Sponsors

 

Featured Discussion

 

Rooted: An Ecology of Gullah Geechee Memory Along the Coast

Following the launch of Rooted, we will be hosting a panel discussion titled “Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage as Coastal Resilience.” This panel discussion will highlight the interconnection between people and the natural environment, featuring Joshua Jenkins (one of the lead interviewers for Rooted), Tia Clark (one of the project’s interviewees), Joni “Osku” Backstrom (University of North Carolina Wilmington professor and researcher), and Tendaji Bailey (founder of the Gullah Geechee Futures Project). Together, they will explore how generations of ecological knowledge, cultural traditions, and community stewardship continue to shape more resilient coastal landscapes. The discussion will also examine how centering local voices and lived experience can strengthen conservation efforts and inform more equitable approaches to coastal resilience.

 

Tentative Agenda

Thursday, September 17th

  • 9:00am - Registration and coffee

  • 9:45am - Welcome address by Nicholas School Stanback Dean Lori Bennear

  • 10:15am - Coastal Protected Area Resiliency Challenges

  • 11:15am - Panel 1: Living Along the Coast

    • Tia Clark, David Gill, Dave Hallac

    • Moderated by Sofía Velázquez Sierra

  • 12:30pm - Lunch social

  • 1:30pm - Role of Nonprofit and Community-based Organizations in Coastal Park Resiliency

  • 3:00pm - Afternoon break

  • 3:15pm - Panel 2: Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage as Coastal Resilience

    • Joshua Jenkins, Tendaji Bailey, Tia Clark, Joni “Osku” Backstrom

    • Moderated by Ariel Kimberley

  • 4:15pm - Cultivating the Next Generation of Park Leaders

  • 4:45pm - Raffle

  • 5:00pm - Research facility tour

    • Shearwater RV

    • Wet lab facility

  • 6:30pm - Dinner social and oyster roast

  • 8:00pm - Informal pub gathering

Note - Agenda subject to change based on speaker availability.

 

friday, September 18th

  • 9:00am - Registration and coffee

  • 9:45am - Panel 3: Passing the Tide: Coastal Work for Future Generations

    • Elizabeth DeMattia, Grant Murray, TBD

    • Moderated by Eboni Preston Goddard

  • 10:45am - Closing remarks by Dr. Michelle Nowlin

  • 11:45am - Farewell and thank you

 

Attendance

 

Registration

Visit our event portal here to complete your registration.

 

Fee

The event fee of $150 provides each registrant with:

  • Reserved seating for all speaker and panel sessions

  • Full admission to all networking events

    • Oyster roast dinner social (Thursday, September 17th)

  • Conference meals

    • Mornings - coffee and pastry selection

    • Lunch - salad and sandwiches

  • On-site vehicle parking

  • Welcome packet

    • Program map and materials

    • Nametag

Speakers & panel guests - A discount code will be sent directly to you.

 

Accommodations

For speakers requiring lodging accommodations, we have coordinated a bundle room block at the Inlet Inn in downtown Beaufort. Simply reference the Coastal Symposium when reserving your room.

The Inlet Inn
601 Front St, Beaufort, NC 28516

inlet-inn.com | (252) 728-3600

 

Location

Duke University Marine Lab
135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516

 
 

Attire

No requirement; smart/business casual recommended. This event will include many outdoor social events and optional research vessel tours so we discourage overly formal attire.

Questions

 

Please direct any event inquires to Ariel Kimberley at the Park Institute of America.

email | (919) 229-9554