Climate Pathfinder: Weaving Together Conservation, Energy and Climate Tech
From research to entrepreneurship, Aaron Siegle looks at climate as a story of opportunity
“I begrudgingly got out of the car and walked around and fell in love. The campus was alive. I was sold from that moment on,” Siegle said.
Now he is on track to graduate in 2027 with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Nicholas School of the Environment — one of the first students to pursue this accelerated pathway to earn both degrees in five years. He’s tackled the climate crisis from nearly every angle: policy, research, clean energy, marine science and tech entrepreneurship.
His journey began with an internship at the Maryland Environmental Trust, where he explored the role of land conservation in protecting biodiversity. That led to his major in environmental sciences and policy and a focused interest in energy systems. Through the FOCUS Energy Policy course, he met professors Brian Murray and Tom Cinq-Mars.
Working to conserve marshes
“Aaron is one of those extraordinary students who reminds me why I love being at Duke and doing what I do,” said Murray.
“He brings a rare and inspiring blend of intelligence and passion, grounded principles and practical thinking to his work in energy and the environment. He’s not just determined to make the world better—he has the mindset, the tools and the drive to actually do it.”
Cinq-Mars added: “Aaron possesses the kind of intellectual curiosity all professors hope to cultivate in their students – the kind that drives the search for not only novelty, but also nuance.”
A recipient of the prestigious Udall Scholarship, Siegle’s work spans both research and implementation. One of his most ambitious projects, marsh migration modeling in Eastern North Carolina, examines how sea level rise displaces coastal wetlands and how development patterns can either obstruct or enable their natural movement. Among the findings: a projected loss of 300,000 acres of marshland across six Atlantic states without intervention. Siegle is eager to share the research with policymakers and land trusts.
“I’m hoping the work will help conserve marshes while also ensuring equitable outcomes for disadvantaged rural communities who are at the most risk of flooding and saltwater intrusion in Eastern North Carolina,” Siegle said.
Siegle’s research experience has included local and national projects. At the Duke Marine Lab and through the Rachel Carson Scholars Program, he worked on wetland ecosystems and developed policy tools that merge ecological science with community planning. He contributed to a 420-page technical roadmap on nature-based solutions for the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Hands-on internship experiences
Internships have deepened his impact. At the Southern Environmental Law Center, he analyzed data center growth and its energy demands. At Longleaf Studios, a climate-tech venture studio, he supported early-stage N.C. startups working in energy, oceans, food and textiles.
Duke’s alumni network has played a pivotal role in his path, connecting him with mentors and initiatives. He is involved in the Climate Commitment Advisory Council, contributing to sustainable operations. This year, he is also serving as Energy Week co-chair.
Siegle’s north star remains clear: finding the seams between sectors where integrated solutions can thrive.
“When I feel climate despair, I can look to some of those innovations [learned in Duke classes] for inspiration,” Siegle said.
His long-term goal is to launch his own climate-tech startup to turn research into action, to scale solutions, and to reframe climate not as a story of sacrifice, but one of opportunity.
“We often frame climate as giving up something, but really it can give us more if we can think of it as a climate economy,” Siegle said.
For more stories about Climate Pathfinders, go to the series page.