By the numbers

Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences employs 63 core faculty members. The school has 286 Master of Environmental Management/Master of Forestry students (including 21 Duke Environmental Leadership program students), and 123 doctoral students. The school also serves more than 1,265 undergraduates.

Highlights

William H. Schlesinger announced he will step down as dean of the Nicholas School on June 1 to become president and director of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. Emily M. Klein, Lee Hill Snowdon Professor of Geology, was named interim dean.

More than 500 decision-makers joined the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions in activities launching its Washington, D.C., office in November. U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), was the featured speaker.

Director Tim Profeta at the Nicholas Institute’s DC launch with U.S. Sen. John McCain and industry executive Jeffry Sterba. Photo by Judy Rolfe.

The Nicholas School dedicated its new, “green” 5,600-square-foot Marguerite Kent Repass Ocean Conservation Center at the Duke Marine Lab in a festive outdoor ceremony. See a video about the center.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Duke a $7.74-million grant to establish a research center devoted to studying inequalities in birth weight and prematurity. Marie Lynn Miranda, Nicholas School associate research professor, is center director.

In May, Duke University dedicated the Stream and Wetland Assessment Management Park (SWAMP), 14 acres of restored wetland along a stretch of Sandy Creek in Duke Forest to serve as a research and teaching site and to help reduce nitrate pollution in the Triangle’s drinking water supply. The Nicholas School’s Curt Richardson heads the project.

Award and recognition

M. Susan Lozier, professor of physical oceanography and chair of the Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring from the Duke Graduate School.

Faculty and staff appointments

Robert B. Jackson, professor of biology and faculty director of the Duke Center on Global Change, was named Nicholas Professor of Global Environmental Change.

Joel N. Meyer was named assistant professor of environmental toxicology.

Richard G. Newell was named Gendell Associate Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics.

Jennifer J. Swenson was named assistant professor of the practice of geospatial analysis.

Cindy Lee Van Dover was named professor of marine biology and director, Duke University Marine Laboratory.

Major gifts

$1 million each was pledged from ConocoPhillips and MeadWestvaco to support the Climate Change Policy Partnership, a university-industry collaboration involving the Nicholas School, the Nicholas Institute, the Center on Global Change, and founding partner Duke Energy.

$930,000 was raised in contributions for the Nicholas School Annual Fund, representing a 13 percent growth in unrestricted support.

$1.2 million was raised for Duke’s Financial Aid Initiative (includes matching funds) to support Nicholas School students.

Pictured at top: The SWAMP in Duke Forest will help reduce nitrate pollution in the Triangle’s drinking water.