A personal account from Maddie Dickens (above, right), an ECU freshman who interned with the CSI Education and Outreach team during the Spring 2026 Semester.
I have wanted to be a marine biologist for as long as I can remember, and this passion has shaped a lot of my choices. So, when I first started at ECU and found out about the Semester Experience at the Coast, I knew that I had to do it. Since I really wanted to immerse myself in the rich history of the Outer Banks and get experience doing work in the field, this program felt like the best opportunity for me to connect my academic passions with my environmental interests.
While studying at the ECU Outer Banks Campus this spring, I worked as an intern for the Education and Outreach team at the Coastal Studies Institute, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I helped with the K12 programs and prepared activities for them. Along with this, I was also able to develop some of my own research, which focused on the recruitment of fish in floating vs. on-bottom cages in areas of varying salinity.
This nearly 70-cm-long mummichog was collected during one of my routine checks of the oyster cages.
In addition to my research project, I stayed busy by helping to procure content for the CSI social media channels. When my classes would go on field trips around the Outer Banks, I would take photos of the other CSI students engaged in the experience. This gave me the chance to highlight some of the incredible things happening at CSI. Finally, when I was not working, I made the most of my time here by continuing to enjoy the outdoors. I really loved walking to downtown Manteo, exploring Roanoke Island Festival Park, and going to the beach whenever I got the chance. This helped deepen my appreciation for the environment and reinforced my passion for coastal ecosystems.
Overall, my time in the Outer Banks has been something unforgettable. It has provided me with incredible, unique experiences I would not be able to have on main campus in Greenville, and I feel I have grown both personally and professionally. I know I am taking away a deeper understanding of my field and a wide range of skills that will aid me on my journey towards becoming a marine biologist.
The preceding story first appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of CoastLines, published in June.
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.
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.
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
