Few people have done more to help North Carolinians understand and appreciate our coast than Stanley R. Riggs, PhD. For over six decades, Dr. Riggs or Stan as he likes to be called, has studied barrier islands, estuaries, and shorelines, speaking not just to scientists but to policymakers, communities, and everyday people. The sum of his scientific work is now being compiled into a planned 10-part book series about North Carolina’s ever-changing coastal system—beginning with his new book, Paradigm for a Coastal System Ethic.

Stan’s core message has always been clear: barrier islands are not fixed. They are living systems in motion. A sustainable future for the barrier islands and how we live on them depends upon learning to live with that change.

Dr. Riggs earned a B.S. from Beloit College, an M.A. from Dartmouth, and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Montana. In 1967, he joined the faculty at East Carolina University, establishing ECU’s geology and marine science programs. He rose to become distinguished professor and later professor emeritus.

In addition to his foundational work at ECU, Stan has lectured and collaborated broadly in coastal science as an adjunct professor at NC State, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill. He is a noted co-author on numerous books and scientific papers in coastal dynamics and policy and has long worked in close collaboration with prominent North Carolinians such as naturalist Tom Earnhardt and fellow coastal scientist Orrin Pilkey.

The books are being published by R.A. Fountain in cooperation with NCLOW, this is the first book of the first volume, Cape Lookout National Seashore which part of the North Carolina Land of Water series. The book blends science, history, and culture to show why Cape Lookout is extraordinary and how it can guide our approach to resilience in the face of storms, sea-level rise, and development.

Beyond his scholarship, Stan is a conservation landowner and serves on the board of the Coastal Land Trust. His lifetime commitment to healing landscapes—through scientific rigor, public engagement, and personal stewardship—resonates deeply with our mission.

For the Coastal Land Trust, featured work is more than honoring one of our community’s own. It’s a reminder of why we do this work: to conserve North Carolina’s extraordinary lands and waters, and to share their stories in a way that inspires care, connection, and action.

Cape Lookout National Seashore: Paradigm for a Coastal System Ethic is now available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds supporting the Coastal Land Trust’s mission. Please email Harrison Marks at Harrison@CoastalLandTrust.org for more information on purchasing the book.

Pictures courtesy of R.A Fountain and NCLOW