ESSP at Duke

In early 2012, I worked with the Nicholas School of the Environment and Durham Public Schools to create The Environmental Science Summer Program (ESSP) at Duke, a program that cultivates environmental leaders in our own community. 

Dr. Nicolette Cagle (center standing) and ESSP students in New Hope Creek

ESSP selects talented rising sophomores, junior, and seniors from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, to participate in a 1-week intensive environmental science program at Duke University. Students selected for our program have the opportunity to:

• Work with outstanding interdisciplinary faculty
• Explore local environmental issues
• Collect data in the field
• Interact with experts in a range of environmental fields
• Receive training with the Nicholas School’s own first-rate Career Services professionals

Students participating in the Environmental Science Summer Program (ESSP) at Duke are situated in the heart of main campus. During the program, students experience the Nicholas School of the Environment’s state-of-the-art facilities and Duke’s renowned outdoor laboratory: the Duke Forest. Since 1931, Duke University has managed the  7,000 acre reserve  as a hands-on outdoor teaching and research  facility.

ESSP students also investigate local water quality in New Hope Creek, which dissects Duke Forest and supplies a portion of the Triangle’s drinking water. The creek provides a perfect setting to explore aquatic biology, water chemistry, land use, and environmental justice. With the help of experts from Duke University, the City of Durham, and local conservation organizations, the students analyze water conservation issues, begin their own data collection, and communicate their findings to the public.

Dr. Cagle helps ESSP student analyze water chemistry in New Hope Creek.

With a strong emphasis on career development, the Environmental Science Summer Program at Duke positions students for success in college and careers in the environment.