Duke Forest Holds Centennial Celebration of Annual Gathering

On Nov. 14, more than 200 new and longstanding community members came together to celebrate and explore the Forest’s deep-rooted connection with Duke University.

This year, we excitedly brought the event to campus as a Duke Centennial celebration.

Event Highlights: Welcome Remarks: Duke University President Vincent Price opened the event by sharing his personal connections to the Forest and emphasized that it is one of the many assets that are distinctly Duke.

Presentation: Duke Forest Executive Director Sara Childs shared a story of the Forest’s origins and its connections to the formation of Duke University and the School of Forestry. She described the myriad ways the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory remained an incredible resource for Duke and the greater community.

Panel Discussion: Following this historical journey, an esteemed panel that was moderated by Lori Bennear, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School, discussed the future of the Duke Forest. Together, the panelists shared their vision and insight regarding the role of Duke Forest in Duke's 2nd century, including its ongoing contributions to Duke's Climate Commitment, teaching and research, and regional partnerships. Attendees gained a better understanding and appreciation of how the Forest continued to serve as a critical asset to both the University and the surrounding community. The panelists included Toddi Steelman: Vice President/Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability, Office of Climate and Sustainability, Sara Childs: Duke Forest Executive Director, Office of the Duke Forest, and Nicolette Cagle: Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Policy, Nicholas School of the Environment.