Highlights from
FY 2025: Annual Report
Oceans
Climate change, overfishing, pollution, and other human-created challenges are causing catastrophic damage to the world’s oceans—and also threatening the health and well-being of the hundreds of millions of people who depend on oceans’ resources. Nicholas Institute experts are advancing efforts to strengthen ocean health for shared prosperity.
Highlight
Research Quantifies Role of Small-Scale Fisheries in Sustainable Development
In January 2025, an international team of researchers—including John Virdin of the Nicholas Institute and several other Duke authors—published a study in Nature that rigorously quantifies how small-scale fisheries support sustainable development. The study features key findings from Illuminating Hidden Harvests, a global initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Duke University, WorldFish, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. The massive project has drawn on contributions from 800+ experts, including more than 25 Duke scholars.
Nature packaged the study with six other papers generated by the initiative into a collection launched in June 2025. In addition to the research, the collection includes an editorial, podcast episode, and interactive features highlighting each paper’s findings.
Duke and FAO recently renewed their shared commitment to advancing sustainable fisheries and food security. The partners agreed to establish a five-year framework for joint initiatives to support small-scale fisheries worldwide, extending a formal working relationship on the issue that began in 2021.
Through this renewed collaboration with FAO, we’re excited to build on [published] findings—using better data and research to support communities, inform policy, and shape a more equitable and climate-resilient future for small-scale fishers everywhere.
Blue Devils Dive Into First-Ever Oceans Week at Duke
Since 2020, Oceans@Duke has catalyzed interdisciplinary connections among Duke students and scholars—and now it’s doing even more to build momentum for ocean solutions. This year, the initiative—housed by the Nicholas Institute and advised by an interdisciplinary faculty committee—hired its inaugural managing director, Stephanie Rousso. Partnering with student organizations and other Duke colleagues, Rousso helped develop new programming, including Duke’s first-ever Oceans Week.
Held March 24–28, Oceans Week at Duke brought together students, faculty, and professionals to learn more about ocean conservation, marine science and policy, and how oceans and climate are linked. Attendees exchanged insights and networked at events exploring the role of artificial intelligence in marine science, plastic pollution in oceans, marine megafauna conservation, ocean-related careers, and more. The week concluded with a daylong Ocean Sustainability Summit focused on how institutions can advance local, regional, and sustainable seafood sourcing to reduce carbon footprints and support coastal community resilience.
Education Spotlight
Students Connect with Alumni and Innovative Institutions During Blue Tech Career Trek
In March 2025, Oceans@Duke worked with graduate student club leaders to organize a three-day visit to Boston, supported by the Nicholas Institute and numerous other Duke units. The 14 students on the trek learned about innovative ocean technologies and Boston-area employers, connected with Duke alumni at a networking event, and gained insights into the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
The trek included special tours of the New England Aquarium’s research labs, NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Students also visited several other Boston-based blue tech players, including SeaAhead, Nortek, and Aquatic Labs.
I’ve experienced firsthand how our university’s network enables technology transfer addressing urgent environmental and climate challenges. The connections and conversations made through communities like Oceans@Duke are not just valuable—they’re essential for accelerating collaborative climate solutions. It was wonderful connecting with everyone at this Boston event.