Coast Day 2025
Learn about coastal, marine and environmental science at our annual flagship event on Oct. 5th!
Discover Our World: Save the date for Coast Day 2025!
Join University of Delaware scientists, staff and students as we showcase the important research we’re doing to protect our coasts, forests, cities and agricultural lands across the state! Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 5th, 2025 from 10am to 3pm.
Coast Day highlights the many ways that we’re working together to understand our rich environmental resources and better serve local communities through marine, coastal, and environmental education and outreach.
Attracting more than 5,000 visitors from across the region, Coast Day is the annual flagship event of UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Attendees enjoy hands-on activities, tour research vessels, explore campus laboratories, listen to lectures from local scientists, and interact with a wide range of exhibitors including UD student organizations, community partners, and state agencies that are all focused on various aspects of environmental work.
Volunteer at Coast Day
If you're interested in volunteering at Coast Day, or you're working at a registered CEOE exhibit or lab, complete our volunteer sign-up form.
Coast Day Bus Sign-Up
The College of Earth, Ocean and Environment offers free bus transportation from Newark to Lewes on Coast Day, Sunday, Oct. 5. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more and register for bus transportation here
DISCOVERY LECTURES
Cannon Lab, Rm 234 (Library)
10:30 am - Kimberly Oremus, Associate Professor, Marine Science and Policy - "Plastic bag bans and fees reduce harmful bag litter on shorelines"
12:00 pm - Saleem Ali, Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment - "100 years of Geography at UD - What's next?"
1:30 pm - Suzanne Thurman, Executive Director, MERR - "Marine mammals and sea turtles of the Delaware coast"
SPECIAL SCREENING: DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S EXPEDITION UNKNOWN FEATURING PROJECT RECOVER
Cannon Lab, Rm 203 | 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
CHEMICAL MAGIC SHOW
Cannon Lab, Rm 202 | 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
WEATHER STATION WALKING TOUR
Meet outside Smith Lab | 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
VOLCANO DEMONSTRATION
Parking lot | 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm
OYSTER HATCHERY TOURS
Shuttle stop at corner of College Dr. and Pilottown Rd. | 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm
ALL DAY
Research vessel tours
Touch tanks
Photo exhibition: "Our Knowledge is Power" (Cannon Lab, Rm 104)
Open labs including: Greenhouse, Global Visualization Lab, Robotics Discovery Lab and various faculty labs
Food trucks
Live music
...and more!
Sponsors play a vital role in the success of Coast Day. In addition to recognition opportunities in the weeks leading up to the event, sponsors enjoy marketing exposure to more than 5,000 attendees and exhibitors including University partners, local interest groups, industry leaders and state agencies.
Includes logo on social media and event website. No exhibit space included.
- Includes logo on social media and event website.
- Logo on sponsor board at event.
- Exhibit space (one table and two chairs) included.
- Includes logo on social media and event website.
- Logo on sponsor board at event.
- Exhibit space (one table and two chairs) included.
- Mention in event press release to local media.
- Includes logo on social media and event website.
- Logo on sponsor board at event.
- Exhibit space (one table and two chairs) included.
- Mention in event press release to local media.
- Named sponsorship of three well-attended science lectures on event day.
ESSAY CONTEST
Our annual Coast Day 5th grade essay contest returns. This year's theme is Discover Our World. Students are being asked to describe their favorite ecosystem or habitat in Delaware to visit and explore, what types of animals and plants live there, why that ecosystem or habitat is important and what people can do to protect that ecosystem or habitat.
Student essays must be postmarked or emailed by 5:00 pm on Friday, October 10, 2025.
