DURHAM, N.C. – Fun, friends and a heaping helping of great local North Carolina barbeque will on be on tap when the Nicholas School of the Environment hosts its second annual Reunion Weekend on April 15 and 16.

This year’s event will feature a Friday evening alumni social; a Saturday afternoon picnic; the 7th annual Duke Forest Pine Cone Pacer 5k run/walk; tours of our LEED Platinum-certified Environment Hall; updates by faculty members on new programs and progress being made on the school’s strategic plan; and a lab crawl through some of our world-renowned toxicology labs.

Reunion Weekend events are open to all Duke alumni and their families but registration is required.

To register, or more details about the full calendar of planned events, go here.

“Reunion Weekend is a great chance to reconnect with friends and faculty, and learn about all the exciting new things that are happening at the Nicholas School,” says Dean Alan Townsend. “I look forward to welcoming our alums back.”

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Reunion Weekend, this year’s lineup of activities features a mix of structured events and informal networking opportunities. Scheduled events include:

* Nicholas School Update and Alumni Social, 4 p.m. Friday, at Field Auditorium in Environment Hall. Join faculty members as they present brief overviews of noteworthy recent developments at the school and discuss what the future may hold as the school continues work on its new strategic plan. An informal social hour will follow.

* 7th Annual Duke Forest 5k Pine Cone Pacer, 8 a.m. Saturday, at Gate 12 of Duke Forest along N.C. 751. This morning run/walk is open to runners and walkers of all levels. Proceeds support Duke Forest restoration projects. Pre-registration through April 7 is $25; day-of-race registration is $35.

* Nicholas School Lab Crawl, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, 2nd floor, Environment Hall. Nicholas Professor of Environmental Quality Dave Hinton and associate professor of environmental toxicology Joel Meyer will lead us on a tour of their world-renowned environmental toxicology labs and answer questions about their research.

* Nicholas School 2nd Annual Reunion Picnic, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Environment Hall patio and orchard. This relaxed event provides a chance to catch up with fellow alums, students, faculty and friends, and take part in a group photo and tour of the LEED Platinum-certified Environment Hall. Lunch will include some great local barbeque favorites. Cost is $25 per person, but children under 12 are free.

“It’s always amazing to reconnect with friends and former classmates and share what’s new in our lives and careers,” says Alumni Council President Courtney Lorenz, MEM ’06. “Alumni are truly the heart and soul of the Nicholas School.”

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