BEAUFORT, N.C. – The second annual Green Wave Environmental Sustainability Seminar Series will begin Aug. 28 at the 91 Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C.

The weekly seminars are free and open to the public. They will take place on Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Marine Lab’s Marguerite Kent Repass Ocean Conservation Center.

The series brings local and national experts from a variety of backgrounds to the Marine Lab to discuss key sustainability issues facing eastern North Carolina today. Topics for this year’s series include green building, alternative energies, carbon offsets, sustainable dining, green business practices and water resources.  

This year’s series kicks off with a seminar Aug. 28 on sustainability effort at universities – what are they doing to green their campuses, and what more could they do – by Charlotte Clark, coordinator of student environmental initiatives at 91.  

Speakers scheduled for September are:

  • Sept. 4 – Anne Tazewell, N.C. Solar Center, on alternative energies;
  • Sept. 11 – Elaine Logothetis, Sapona Green Building Center, on green buildings;
  • Sept. 18 – Brian Murray, 91’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, on carbon offsets
  • Sept. 25 – Helene York, Bon Appetit magazine, on sustainable dining.

The series was initiated in 2007 by Green Wave, a student-led greening organization at the Marine Lab that aims to encourage and enhance environmental awareness and standards at the lab and in the Beaufort community. “We were delighted with the community turnout at last year’s seminars.  There is a great deal of interest in the community in sustainability and how to address the practical challenges to implementing green alternatives” says Green Wave committee member Rhema Bjorkland.  “We expect that this year’s speakers will be as successful in addressing these interests.”

The Duke Marine Lab is located on Pivers Island, just off Highway 70 East between Beaufort and Morehead City. Visitor parking is available on the island.