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Students gather field date for their capstone project at the Outer Banks field site.

Institute for the Environment

Welcome to the UNC Institute for the Environment (IE).

IE fosters and conducts collaborations with faculty, students and staff across the university to identify and solve the world’s environmental challenges and sustain and improve the environment.

Latest News

Andrew George

Well water test history must now be shared with home buyers (Environmental Factor | July 1, 2024)

Members of IE’s CPES made recommendations to require sellers to disclose well testing results.

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Students in front of solar panels.

Energy LEAP engages N.C. high school students in latest energy science 

Students participated in a range of hands-on STEM activities throughout the week.

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Students present in front of classroom.

Capstone students propose hypothetical small modular reactors to replace fossil fuel power plants in N.C., including one for UNC-Chapel Hill 

Students spent the semester researching different small modular reactors.

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Our vision is to become a global leader in catalyzing innovative environmental research and harnessing the research output to educate tomorrow’s leaders, engage communities and meet environmental, energy and development challenges.
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Inclusive Excellence

The UNC Institute for the Environment is committed to inclusive excellence within our organization and our disciplines. We recognize that diverse perspectives strengthen groups and know that environmental challenges and solutions do not affect people equally. We value the knowledge and resources that all communities bring to understanding and sustaining the environment. 

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Geo Science interns in the creek.

Multimedia

River and bridge.

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braided river

Measuring Water from Space

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Students with environmental monitors.

Creating Climate-Resilient Communities

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