Sea to Soil Symposium
The 2025 Sea to Soil Symposium at Stony Brook Southampton brought together a powerful convergence of scholars, practitioners and community leaders to explore the interface between marine environments and terrestrial food systems.
Framed by urgent environmental challenges and grounded in community-rooted solutions, the May 2, 2025 event drew students, scientists, Indigenous leaders and policymakers into one of the most forward-looking conversations on the future of coastal resilience and sustainable agriculture on Long Island.
The day began with a meaningful field trip for students from Bridgehampton, Shelter Island and Ross School, who spent the morning speaking with Paul Greenberg, acclaimed author of Four Fish. Greenberg’s student session was informal but potent. Students discussed the ecological and economic dimensions of aquaculture, the ethics of seafood consumption and how climate resilience must start with informed, engaged youth.
Simultaneously, a boat trip into Shinnecock Bay gave attendees a sensory immersion in the waterways under discussion. Participants aboard Stony Brook’s marine research vessel explored the estuarine landscape and observed its fragile ecology firsthand.
Following the field activities, Distinguished Professor Christopher Gobler and Associate Director for Bivalve RestorationMike Doall of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) delivered data-rich presentations on the role of kelp in nutrient reduction, focusing on how seaweed aquaculture can mitigate nitrogen pollution and restore estuarine ecosystems.
