NC EcoTech - North Carolina EcoTech or NCET

Meet and Greet Monday! ?? ?? Meet D. Reide Corbett, a key leader in NC EcoTech’s mission to enhance coastal resilience! As the Executive Director of the Coastal Studies Institute and Dean of Integrated Coastal Programs at ECU, Dr. Corbett brings years of experience in coastal sustainability and ecosystem management. His work plays a crucial role in advancing our vision for a greener and more resilient Eastern North Carolina. Fun Fact: Dr. Corbett has conducted coastal research on every continent across the globe! His incredible global contributions to coastal research will keep NC EcoTech at the forefront of environmental innovation. ???? Stay tuned for more introductions to the amazing individuals behind NC EcoTech! #NCEcoTech #NSFEngine #EcoTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurs #ScienceTechnology #ClimateTechnology #BlueEconomy #Aquaculture #CoastalResilience?

NC EcoTech had the rewarding experience of sponsoring the 2024 Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium! ?? We are thrilled to have been a sponsor of the 2024 Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium, hosted by Coastal Carolina Riverwatch at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC this week. This event united experts, scientists, policymakers, and community members to tackle vital water quality issues impacting coastal fisheries in North Carolina. The symposium featured cutting-edge research, interactive sessions on water quality monitoring, and insightful discussions on policy. Special thanks to keynote speakers Veronica A. Carter and Chiara Klein for their important work on increasing access to information for communities affected by contaminants in wild-caught fish. ?? Additionally, NC EcoTech leader David Cerino shared strategies for the future with his presentation on Ecotechnologies, Aquaculture, and Water Quality, contributing to the session on enhancing resources for fisheries and aquaculture industries in Eastern North Carolina. We are proud to support efforts that protect and enhance our coastal ecosystems! Learn more about the event at https://lnkd.in/eaekapyy #NCEcoTech #NSFEngine #EcoTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurs #ScienceTechnology #Aquaculture #CoastalResilience?#WaterQuality #Fisheries #EnvironmentalStewardship #Collaboration

A Big Thank You to Our Leadership Team! We want to extend our gratitude to the dedicated leaders who attended last Friday’s NC EcoTech leadership meeting. It was an incredibly productive day, filled with insightful discussions about our next steps and the bright future ahead. Your hard work and vision are driving our mission forward! ???? #NCET #NCEcoTech #NSFEngine #EcoTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurs #ScienceTechnology #ClimateTechnology #BlueEconomy

Congratulations to NC EcoTech Leader, Heather McWhorter and the CIE team for this most deserved recognition! We are so proud of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and all of your amazing programs!

Meet and Greet Monday! ?? ?? We are excited to introduce William N. Ferris, Ph.D., NC EcoTech leader and Economic Modeler! In conjunction with his role at Duke University, Dr. Ferris leverages grant funding to engage in economic development and community engagement research. His lively energy, expertise, and work with grant funding are critical to advancing NC EcoTech’s mission of building a greener, more resilient future for Eastern North Carolina. ??? A fun fact about Dr. Ferris is that he has (unsuccessfully) trained his dog to locate shed deer antlers! ???? Stay tuned each week as we continue to showcase the incredible individuals powering NC EcoTech’s vision!

Meet and Greet Monday! ?? ?? We are excited to introduce Paige Andros O'Neill, MBA, CGBP, EDFP, our dedicated NC EcoTech Program Manager! Paige’s leadership is instrumental in guiding our initiatives, fostering collaboration, and building resilient communities across the region. Her diverse background and commitment to sustainability make her a vital part of our team! Paige’s extensive international experience, having lived overseas for 15 years in Jakarta, Tokyo, Singapore, Perth, and Vancouver, brings a unique global perspective to NC EcoTech’s mission of creating a sustainable future in Eastern North Carolina. ??? A fun fact about Paige is that she is married to a Kiwi from New Zealand, and her three children are proudly Aussie/American! ???? ???? ???? Stay tuned each week as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals powering NC EcoTech’s mission!

?? This week, our team had the privilege of attending the Ocean Innovation Conference hosted by UNCW's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship! We were inspired by keynote speakers mark huang and his discussion on North Carolina’s potential as a bluetech hub and Susan Casey and her insights on deep-sea innovations. The event also featured four dynamic panels on the role of universities in the blue economy, the importance of community engagement for coastal resilience, the experiences of bluetech entrepreneurs, and funding for ocean innovations. ?? The event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with leaders and innovators in the field and explore how we can contribute to protecting and harnessing our marine resources for a better tomorrow. Thank you UNCW CIE for putting on such an inspiring conference!

The Wilmington Chamber Middle School Program was a fantastic success! ?? Today, 40 enthusiastic 7th graders participated in an exciting Venture Challenge at the UNCW Center for Marine Science. We are proud to have sponsored the student challenge, which showcased their innovative spirit and creativity. Congratulations to Team 3 for their winning invention, the Trash Crab! ?? This underwater automated vehicle is designed to pick up garbage from the ocean floor. Their solution was not only imaginative and colorful but also demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking. Amazing job, Team 3! A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful judges: Lydia Thomas, Kalyn Saunders, Troy Alphin, Paige Andros O'Neill, MBA, CGBP, EDFP, Zack Shail, and Grace Fenwick for their support and guidance. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to Emily Mulvihill from the Plastic Ocean Project for framing the critical issue of plastic pollution for the students. Together, we are inspiring the next generation of environmental innovators! ???? #NCET #NCEcoTech #NSFEngine #EcoTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurs #ScienceTechnology #ClimateTechnology #BlueEconomy

Yesterday, we held our NC Coastal Resilience Visioning session, and it was a tremendous success! ?? A huge thank you to all our speakers and participants for engaging in meaningful conversations about coastal resilience and environmental sustainability. Your insights and commitment are essential as we work together to create a more resilient future for our coastal communities. From discussing innovative solutions to addressing the pressing challenges facing our coastline, your contributions have laid the groundwork for impactful action. We're excited to continue building on the momentum from this session and collaborate on projects that will protect and enhance our beautiful coastal regions. ?? Check out some highlights from the event below! We hope these photos capture the energy, collaboration, and inspiration that filled the room.

We are one week away from our NC Coastal Visioning Session! Don't forget to register if you haven't already. We can wait to hear your ideas and insights! ?? ??