Oceanographic & Coastal Processes
Research Focus AeaResearch Focus Area Overview
The coastal ocean, from the estuarine shoreline to the edge of the continental rise, is perhaps the most important and yet vulnerable areas of the world’s oceans. The chemical, physical, and biological processes that affect these coastal seas are intertwined and complex. Our researchers use interdisciplinary approaches, modeling and empirical, to obtain a quantitative understanding of these processes.
Research Labs
Marine Geochemistry & Coastal Dynamics
Lab
Oceanography & Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Ocean Lab
Coastal Engineering & Adaptation
Lab
Coastal Marine Processes & Geomorphology Lab
Ecology & Biogeochemistry
in Marine & Coastal
Systems Lab
Coasts & Oceans Observing
Lab
News
ECU, CSI and University of Puerto Rico Collaborate on Ciguatoxin Study
Ecologists and anthropologists from ECU and CSI, and the University of Puerto Rico- Ponceare are working on a Puerto Rico Sea Grant (PRSG) funded study entitled, “Ciguatoxin detection and model predictions for use in fisheries management in Puerto Rico,” to better...
CSI Professor Visits Philippines to Map Coastal Habitats
Coastal habitats, such as seagrass beds, coral reefs, mangroves, and marshes play a critical role in the overall health and resilience of coastal systems. David Lagomasino, assistant professor in the Department of Coastal Studies at ECU and J.P. Walsh, director of...
UNC Students Spend Semester Researching Outer Banks Septic
Twelve students from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment have spent the fall living and learning on the Outer Banks. During their semester at the Outer Banks Field Site (OBXFS) on ECU’s Outer Banks Campus, the students gained an understanding of the...
NC State Students Challenge Traditional Architecture Ideas With Storm Resilient Designs
Coastal hazards, including changing climate, increased storm activity, and rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and the infrastructure they contain. A group of architecture students from North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) School of Design are working...
CSI Partners with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences (NCCOS)
Coastal Studies Institute’s dive team recently partnered with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences (NCCOS) underwater habitat study off the coast of North Carolina in Onslow and Raleigh Bays. The study...
CSI-led Research Team Visits Gulf Stream to Study Sargassum for NCROEP
Whether you are a commercial fisherman or coastal scientist, the Gulf Stream is an expansive and versatile natural resource known to generations of Outer Banks residents and visitors for its historical, ecological, or economic significance. Within the last decade, the...
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Evaluation (SAVE) in the Currituck Sound
As the name implies, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) grows beneath the surface of the water, in shallow depths. Although these underwater grasses may seem to keep a low profile, they are incredible multitaskers, helping to sustain life within marine, estuarine, and...
Faculty Spotlight: George Bonner
As a young man, George Bonner listened with rapt attention as Coast Guardsmen and World War II veterans regaled him with stories of adventure and bravery on the high seas. Growing up on the water in Manteo (North Carolina) - swimming, boating, fishing, and crabbing -...
Faculty Spotlight: David Lagomasino
Dr. David Lagomasino, Assistant Professor in the ECU Department of Coastal Studies, does not have the superpower ability to fly, but when it comes to observing the geography and ecology of our coasts, he does have a bird’s-eye view. David is a remote sensing...
A Year to Hire
What does it take to create a department at a university? Well, a “unit code” that defines rules, regulations, and guidelines for committees, annual review, tenure, etc., and FACULTY! Yep, it’s hard to have a department without the faculty. SO, we spent the better...
Based at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) advances inter-disciplinary marine energy solutions across UNC System partner colleges of engineering at NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and NC A&T University. Click on the links below for more information.
ECU's Integrated Coastal Programs (ECU ICP) is a leader in coastal and marine research, education, and engagement. ECU ICP includes the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU's Department of Coastal Studies, and ECU Diving and Water Safety.
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
