Join us in Chapel Hill, November 17-18, 2026

Conference Experience

North Carolina Sea Grant’s biennial conference serves as a platform for engaging with like-minded participants and potential collaborators dedicated to the prosperity of our state’s coastal communities, environments, and economies. Join us for stimulating presentations and discussions featuring researchers, agency and business experts, community leaders, educators, students, and all individuals passionate about coastal topics. We look forward to your participation!

Keynote Speaker

Jamie Vernon is currently the Executive Director and CEO of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society and publisher of American Scientist, an illustrated bi-monthly publication about science, engineering, and technology—published by Sigma Xi since 1913. He has been on the staff of Sigma Xi since 2014 serving as director of science communications and editor-in-chief of the Society’s magazine. Prior to joining Sigma Xi, Dr. Vernon served in 2013-2014 as Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, DC where he designed and implemented evaluation programs to measure and communicate the impacts of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. He also co-founded a small-business incubator that supported a network of business experts and entrepreneurs to solve global energy challenges.

From 2011-2013, Dr. Vernon served as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow in EERE at DOE. Dr. Vernon was co-chair of the digital media team of the Interagency Communication and Education Team of the United States Global Change Research Program in Washington, DC in 2012-2013. He worked with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to coordinate communications among all federal agencies conducting climate research.

Dr. Vernon earned his bachelor’s in zoology at North Carolina State University, his master’s in molecular biology/ biotechnology at East Carolina University, and his doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas at Austin. He holds one patent and has seven publications.

Photo Gallery

Explore photos from past North Coastal Conferences!

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Thank you to our 2026 sponsors

Lightning Whelk Sponsors

Coquina Sponsors

Keyhole Sand Dollar Sponsors

• Bay Instruments
• McAdams
• Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)
• UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences (EMES)
• Eijkelkamp North America
• Xylem
• North Carolina State University Center For Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST)
• North Carolina State Climate Office
• Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
• NC Coastal Reserve & NERR
• NOAA Office for Coastal Management
• NC State Climate and Sustainability Academy (CaSA)
• Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership
• North Carolina Water Resources Association (NCWRA)

Nonprofit Partner Sponsors

• Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF)
• NC Land of Water (NCLOW)
• NC Coastal Federation
• Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment
• North Carolina Native Plant Society
• The North Carolina Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association (NCBIWA)
• Environmental Defense Fund

Ready to sponsor the 2026 NC Coastal Conference? 

Sponsorship form, payment, and advertisement or logo must be received by October 16, 2026 to guarantee inclusion in the printed program. If you have any questions or would like to discuss our sponsorship options further, please contact Aman Kohli at [email protected] or 919-515-8850.