The Nicholas School of the Environment will honor 26 graduates during a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, in Love Auditorium, within the Levine Science Research Center at Duke. Graduate student research spanned earth and climate sciences, environment, ecology, marine science and conservation, and environmental policy.

A woman wearing a red winter hat smiling at the camera, holding binoculars
Liang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Environment program and is set to graduate this spring.

糖心传媒s elected Siqi Liang to address graduates during the ceremony. For her dissertation research, Liang investigated ways to integrate biodiversity conservation techniques into tea cultivation in the Eastern Himalayas.

In March, Liang published findings from her research in the journal  with her advisors, Binbin Li, an associate professor of environmental science at Duke Kunshan University and the Nicholas School, and Stuart Pimm, the Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at the Nicholas School. 

Liang also holds a Geospatial Analysis Certificate from the Nicholas School, as well as a master鈥檚 degree from the International Master of Environmental Policy (iMEP) program, offered at Duke Kunshan University in China, is a collaboration between the Nicholas School and the Sanford School of Public Policy.

鈥淪iqi鈥檚 enthusiasm for connecting with her peers, supporting fellow students, and engaging in the life of the school goes beyond what is required. She shows up, she contributes, and she cares,鈥 peer nominators noted. 鈥淭hat kind of authentic investment in a community is rare, and it is precisely the voice that a graduation ceremony deserves to hear.鈥

The recognition ceremony for Ph.D. and M.S. students will be  for those who cannot attend in person. Nicholas School recognition ceremonies also include an event for graduates from the iMEP program at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, in the Field Auditorium of Grainger Hall at Duke; an event for professional students at 4 p.m. Friday, May 8, in Duke鈥檚 Wilson Recreation Center; and an event for undergraduates at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 9, also in the Wilson Recreation Center. 

For more information on Duke鈥檚 commencement activities, visit .