Nov. 20 Science on the Sound, Coastal Changes As Seen By Satellites

Oct 28, 2025 | Coastal & Oceans Observing Lab, CSI Latest News

Words "Science on the Sound Lecture Series" Appear in front of a bird's eye view scene of green marshy wetlands.

Join us for the November 2025 installment of the “Science on the Sound” Lecture Series at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. This monthly, in-person lecture series brings perspectives from all over the state and highlights coastal topics in northeastern North Carolina. This month, Dr. David Lagomasino, Associate Professor in the Department of Coastal Studies at ECU will present “Watching the Tides Roll: How Satellites Inform the Future of Coastal Communities“. The program will take place at 6 PM on November 20, 2025, at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus.

From space, satellites capture the shifting shorelines, retreating beaches, and changing wetlands that define our coasts. In this talk, Dr. David Lagomasino will share stories of coastal change from around the world, from tropical mangroves to marshes and barrier islands, and connect those lessons to the challenges and opportunities facing communities on the Outer Banks. By connecting global perspectives with local insights, the seminar will explore how science can guide resilience planning and help coastal communities prepare for the future.

About the Speaker
A man with short dark hair and facial hair dressed in a light green button-down shirt smiles. The room is bright and their appears to be a large window behind him, but the background is blurred.
Dr. David Lagomasino
Dr. David Lagomasino is a coastal scientist whose passion for beaches and mangrove forests began in South Florida and has taken him around the world. He earned his M.S. in Geology from East Carolina University and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Florida International University, where he used satellite imagery and water chemistry to study coastal water flow. Before returning to CSI and ECU’s Department of Coastal Studies, he conducted research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, developing models to understand global shoreline change.
Lagomasino combines satellite, drone, and field data to assess coastal resilience and vulnerability, linking his findings directly with stakeholders to guide coastal management and ecosystem valuation. His work, supported by NASA and USDA programs, focuses on coastal blue carbon and has taken him to shorelines worldwide. Dedicated to mentoring students, he emphasizes hands-on research and community engagement to promote informed coastal stewardship.
The program is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. The program will also be live-streamed on the CSI YouTube Channel and archived for later viewing.
Watch "Watching the Tide Roll" on YouTube

Led by East Carolina University (ECU), The Coastal Studies Institute is a multi-institutional research and educational partnership of the UNC System including North Carolina State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Wilmington, and Elizabeth City State University.

MORE INFORMATION

CSI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

JENNETTE'S PIER WAVE ENERGY TEST CENTER

SMALL-SCALE WAVE TANK

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.

MORE INFORMATION

The faculty and staff at the Coastal Studies Institute come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, as well as departments and organizations including ECU Department of Biology, ECU Department of Coastal Studies, NC Sea Grant, the North Carolina Renewable Energy Program, and the UNC Institute for the Environment.

MEET THE TEAM

Tour the ECU Outer Banks Campus and learn about the research, education, and engagement projects of CSI and ECU Integrated Coastal Programs through our 360 virtual tour.

VIRTUAL TOUR

The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
Located on Roanoke Island along the banks of the second largest estuary
in the United States, this coastal campus spans 213 acres of marshes, scrub wetlands, forested wetlands, and estuarine ecosystems.

FACILITIES

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS