In the News

Carolina maintains ranking as leading U.S. research institution (UNC Research | Dec. 19, 2022)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released its 2021 fiscal year Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) data, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has once again ranked 10th for federal funding and 13th overall in the … Read more

UNC scientist plays key role in upcoming NASA mission to measure Earth’s water levels (The News & Observer | Dec. 14, 2022)

When a Falcon 9 rocket takes off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force base Thursday, it will carry a satellite that represents almost two decades of UNC-Chapel Hill hydrologist Tamlin Pavelsky’s work. The satellite will measure the height of water’s surface … Read more

Hydrologist leads science behind SWOT satellite (The Well | Dec. 8, 2022)

Ten days out from the long-awaited launch of a satellite to track the planet’s water resources, professor Tamlin Pavelsky couldn’t stop smiling. “I hope you will be as excited about the launch as I am, if that’s possible,” Pavelsky told … Read more

Rooted: Mike Piehler (UNC Research News | Dec. 6, 2022)

Mike Piehler has worked for UNC-Chapel Hill for 25 years in a variety of roles, most recently as the director of the Institute for the Environment and the university’s Chief Sustainability Officer. He holds a joint professorship in the Department … Read more

The For’Em On The Hill: Community Conversations (For ‘Em (Forum) On The Hill featuring Mike Piehler | Chapelboro.com, Dec. 5, 2022)

The annual community forum on 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com is taking place next week from Monday, December 5 through Friday, December 9. Sponsored by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Grubb Properties, Industrious, Innovate Carolina, Orange County Arts Commission, Orange County … Read more

UNC Student Details Experience at International Climate Summit (Chapelboro.com | Dec. 2, 2022)

Since UNC is an accredited NGO, or a non-governmental organization, they were granted the opportunity to send students and faculty to the conference. One of those people was junior Max Poteat. Poteat said one UNC professor runs a lab that … Read more

UNC Students to present Buxton Woods research at Dec. 5 presentation (Island Free Press | Nov. 29, 2022)

Students from the UNC Institute for the Environment, who have been studying Buxton Woods vegetation for the past several years, will present their findings at a Buxton-based event scheduled for Monday evening, December 5. Each fall, students from UNC spend … Read more

Paerl and Pless win best critical review of the year from Environmental Science + Technology for their work “Toxic Cyanobacteria: A Growing Threat to Water and Air Quality.”

Congratulations to our colleagues Hans Paerl + Haley Plass for winning best critical review of the year from Environmental Science + Technology for their work “Toxic Cyanobacteria: A Growing Threat to Water and Air Quality.”

UNC-Chapel Hill surpasses $5 billion for the Campaign for Carolina (UNC | Nov. 19, 2022)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Campaign for Carolina has surpassed $5 billion with more than one month remaining in the comprehensive fundraising campaign. More than 215,000 donors made gifts to support students, initiatives and the research and … Read more

Thriving on sustainability (UNC | Nov. 18, 2022)

At Meantime Coffee Company on Carolina’s campus, the students behind the counter are not only baristas but also CEOs, sustainability officers and marketing directors. The coffee bar, located in the lobby of the Campus Y, is a nonprofit business, operated … Read more

Surveying the Smalls (Endeavors | Nov. 18, 2022)

Vy Pham picks up a foot-long metal box and holds it to her ear. “I’m not sure if anything is in it,” the UNC-Chapel Hill senior says warily. She holds it out in front of her, her headlamp illuminating its … Read more

UNC Ranks 11th Among US Universities for Study Abroad in 2022 ‘Open Doors’ Report (UNC Global | Nov. 17, 2022)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked 11th for the number of students earning credit for study abroad in the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) 2022 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. The report presents comprehensive data on … Read more

Algal Rhythms (Endeavors | Nov. 17, 2022)

As Isabel Silva-Romero collects data for her research, the only sound she hears is her own breathing. Today, her lab is located six meters underwater, in a cove off the coast of San Cristóbal in the Galápagos Archipelago. She uses a metal … Read more

Professor Rachel Noble Develops Interdisciplinary Project to Protect NC Coastal Ecosystems (Collaboratory | Nov. 15, 2022)

Rachel Noble, a professor and researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has engaged in cutting-edge research on North Carolina’s water and marine systems for 20 years. However, Noble’s career plans didn’t initially involve molecular biology research—she … Read more

Empowering youth to seek climate solutions in their communities (University of Washington School of Public Health | Nov. 9, 2022)

A new $2.3 million program funded by the US National Science Foundation will educate and equip young scientists to cultivate resilience to climate impacts such as flooding and extreme heat. Partners include the University of Washington Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, … Read more

Carolina expert explains lead in water (The Well | Nov. 3, 2022)

Carolina Environment, Health and Safety has kept faculty, staff and students updated on lead in campus drinking water since the discovery of detectable lead in three drinking fountains in Wilson Library earlier this semester. Since then, the University has taken a phased … Read more

Paerl recieves Lifetime Achievement Award from U.S. Harmful Bloom Committee at 11th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae

Dr. Hans Paerl has recently been selected to receive the National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee Lifetime Research and Service Award! This award will be presented at the upcoming HAB Symposium to formally recognize and honor his research achievements, leadership, and extensive … Read more

Rada Petric: Finding refuge from the Yugoslav wars (UNCG Magazine | Oct. 4, 2022)

When war broke out in Bosnia, UNCG alumna Rada Petric ’08, ’10 MS, ’20 PHD was just a little girl living in Sarajevo. Every day, her parents and two siblings packed their bags and headed to the airport, hoping their … Read more

Rooted: David Peden (UNC Research | Oct. 17, 2022)

David Peden is the senior associate dean for translational research at the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). In addition to his extensive research on the effects of allergens, the professor of pediatrics, microbiology & immunology, and medicine aided in the creation … Read more

Water, water everywhere at University Day (UNC | Oct. 14, 2022)

At a University Day celebration that occurred in the middle of University Research Week, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz called attention to Carolina’s research mission. “When Carolina’s researchers see the problems of this world, and particularly the challenges in our state, … Read more

Water, water everywhere at University Day (The Well | Oct. 14, 2022)

At a University Day celebration that occurred in the middle of University Research Week, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz called attention to Carolina’s research mission. “When Carolina’s researchers see the problems of this world, and particularly the challenges in our state, … Read more

RUNC: Christian Chung (Endeavors | Oct. 12, 2022)

Christian Chung is a junior double-majoring in biology and public policy within the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. He uses hydrologic and chemical analyses to study how water absorbs PFAS and to evaluate the policy implications PFAS have on … Read more

Endeavors 2022-23 (UNC Research | Oct. 2022)

About Endeavors: Endeavors is the online magazine of research and creative activity at UNC-Chapel Hill. Endeavors (ISSN 1933-4338) is published by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Nepal round three (UNC College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 10, 2022)

What do you do when a gastrointestinal illness takes out half of your research team that traveled nearly 8,000 miles to Nepal to study the effects of climate change on Buddhist holy lakes? You press on. An interdisciplinary group of … Read more

UNC Kenan-Flagler celebrates groundbreaking for Steven D. Bell Hall (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Sept. 30, 2022)

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School continues its tradition of educational innovation with a transformative $150-million project. With a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Steven D. Bell Hall, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School entered a new era. Steven D. Bell ’67, the building’s … Read more

Kryston receives inaugural environmental justice graduate research award from UNC Institute for the Environment (Gillings School News | Sept. 29, 2022)

Amy Kryston, a graduate student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has been named the inaugural recipient of the environmental justice graduate research award from the UNC Institute for the Environment (IE). This $50,000 annual stipend is … Read more

Studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands (UNC News | Sept. 28, 2022)

A group of Tar Heels studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands this summer had the chance to hike up volcanic craters, snorkel in the ocean, fly drones over the landscape, join a beach cleanup and learn about the unique islands. … Read more

How can communities adapt to climate hazards? (The Well | Sept. 15, 2022)

Recent floods kill 38 people in Kentucky. Wildfires destroy houses, businesses and lives in California. A flooded river leaves the 180,000 people of Jackson, Mississippi, with no water for drinking or flushing toilets. Heavy rains shut down I-95 in Rhode … Read more

Environmental Risks on the Rise: UNC and the Town of Chapel Hill are studying how to deal with weather extremes amid heat waves and episodic rainfall (Triangle Business Journal | Sept. 8, 2022)

The Triangle is an oasis compared with the weather extremes occurring around the country due to climate change, but Chapel Hill and UNC researchers aren’t waiting for a 100-year flood or oppressive heat wave to prepare for action. The Triangle … Read more

Warren County PCB landfill protests focus of new library exhibition (The Well | Sept. 12, 2022)

Forty years after activism in Warren County, North Carolina, launched the environmental justice movement, a new exhibition at Wilson Special Collections Library tells the story through the perspectives of those who lived it. “We Birthed the Movement: The Warren County PCB Landfill … Read more

Lincoln County slow to respond to extremely high levels of cancer-causing arsenic in residents’ drinking water (NC Policy Watch | Sept. 9, 2022)

Before Abby and Jason Hollis bought their 1,200-square-foot house on Laboratory Road in rural Lincolnton, the inspector required them to test their drinking water well, a routine step when purchasing a home. Good news: Test results from 2007 showed no … Read more

Freezer Challenge encourages energy-saving practices (The Well | Sept. 9, 2022)

Here’s a little-known fact: A single ultra-low temperature lab freezer uses about as much energy as an entire house. As a top-tier research university, Carolina operates thousands of these across campus. There’s a movement afoot, led by a San Diego-based … Read more

Mucking in the Marshes (Endeavors | Aug. 24, 2022)

Josh Himmelstein and Tony Rodriguez hitch a boat trailer to a truck behind the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS). Checkered boards sit in the bottom of the boat, but otherwise it is fairly empty. Despite the chaos of organizing a … Read more

The Sediment Scientist ( Endeavors | Aug. 19, 2022)

When 9-year-old Anne Smiley returned home to Pensacola, Florida, after Hurricane Ivan, one of the first things she noticed was the harsh sunlight. Her childhood neighborhood, Heron’s Forest, had served as a shady playground providing trails to run and trees … Read more

Electric school buses are taking students back to school – bringing cleaner air and lower maintenance costs to school districts across the country (The Conversation | Aug. 17, 2022)

Each weekday, more than half of the K-12 students in the U.S. – over 25 million pupils – ride a school bus. Until very recently, nearly all of these 500,000 buses ran on diesel fuel. Nationwide, diesel-powered school buses produce more than 5 million tons of … Read more

Experts explain how water quality is impacted on North Carolina coast (WITN | Aug. 16, 2022)

N.C. (WITN) – The summer season is still in full swing and many people are headed to the coast to cool off in the water. However, before people dive in, just how clean is that water? Experts say there are … Read more

Celebrities: The Climate Consequences Of Their Private Jet Use (Newsy | Aug. 14, 2022)

Taylor Swift isn’t the only celebrity facing backlash for private jet usage. There may be bad blood between environmentalists and pop princess Taylor Swift. Yard, a sustainability marketing agency based out of the United Kingdom, found Swift to be the … Read more

Crucial Research at Highlands Biological Station (The Laurel Magazine | Aug. 2022)

Exciting things are happening at the Highlands Biological Research Station. A team of student researchers is delving into myriad ways that we’re affecting the Plateau’s ecology.

In the field with Carolina researchers (UNC News | July 2022)

Carolina researchers conduct groundbreaking research around the world. One of our most significant research footprints abroad is the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island. The 20,000-square-foot facility is a partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill’s Center for Galapagos Studies and the … Read more

UNC-Chapel Hill research funding tops $1.2 billion (UNC News | July 27, 2022)

Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continues to grow, bringing in more than $1.2 billion in funding awards during the 2022 fiscal year. This is the third year in a row that research awards have topped … Read more

The Galapagos Science Center hosts the World Summit on Island Sustainability to ensure healthy island ecosystems for future generations (UNC News | July 26, 2022)

The World Summit on Island Sustainability was held from June 26 to 30 in San Cristobal, Galapagos to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Galapagos Science Center, a collaboration between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad … Read more

waterloop #149: Flooding On A Sunny Day with Miyuki Hino (waterloop | July 18, 2022)

Some coastal communities experience flooding of low-lying areas on sunny days due to exceptional high tides. The frequency and severity of these events, also called blue sky flooding or nuisance flooding, are increasing due to sea level rise and are … Read more

Marine scientists reveal how sharks have changed over 50 years (Today | July 20, 2022)

Researchers from UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences are sharing the results of their one-of-a-kind shark survey which charts everything from size, species and population. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports with a rare look at how sharks in the U.S. have changed … Read more

Thousands of North Carolina wells are spiked with toxic metals (WUNC | July 20, 2022)

Contamination of private water wells by toxic metals is alarmingly common statewide, according to a recent analysis. Contaminants include lead, arsenic, and unhealthy levels of manganese. Lauren Eaves, a PhD candidate in environmental sciences and engineering at UNC and the … Read more

Faculty Fellow Pete Andrews weighs in on regulatory challenges for EPA after West Virginia v. EPA Decision in Scholars’ Circle (Scholars’ Circle | July 17, 2022)

The Supreme Court has weakened executive agencies and their ability to regulate and make policy. No agency has been more affected than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What is next for environmental protection? [ dur: 58mins. ] Traditionally, the US … Read more

Understanding What People Think and Do About Well Water Contamination (Partnerships for Environmental Public Health | July 2022)

Measuring community members’ understanding of environmental health topics and self-efficacy to act on that knowledge can help researchers and educators better tailor interventions to meet the needs of communities. A team of NIEHS-funded researchers at the University of North Carolina … Read more

Carolina Discoveries: recent research and why it matters (The Well | June 30, 2022)

A study led by Adam Gold, a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute for the Environment, looks at the relationship between the inundation of urban stormwater infrastructure and high tide flooding in East Coast communities. The study found that it … Read more

#GDTBATH: Mollie Yacano (UNC News | June 22, 2022)

Mollie Yacano can’t remember a time when she wasn’t fascinated by the North Carolina coast. She’s always wanted to be a marine scientist, even when she didn’t know the word for studying the ocean. “My entire life, every time someone … Read more

Study links timing of blue-green blooms, airborne particles (Coastal Review Online | June 21, 2022)

As spring gives way to summer and temperatures rise, the rivers and streams that are part of the Albemarle Sound Basin in northeastern North Carolina are home to an increasing number of algal blooms. New research draws a connection between … Read more

Institute of Marine Sciences Celebrates 75 Years (UNC News | June 2022)

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences, faculty, students and staff have been conducting research on our coast for 75 years to keep our state’s citizens and resources safe. Keep reading to learn about … Read more

Peace Boat Hibakusha Project and “Flashes of Hope” Film Screening with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – EcoStudio program (Peace Boat US | June 17, 2022)

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Peace Boat US and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EcoStudio partnered to stream “Flashes of Hope: Hibakusha Traveling the World.” Peace Boat is an international non-profit NGO based in Japan, that works to … Read more

Stacy Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | June 17, 2022)

A boy, 11, crosses two miles of open water on his own for the first time. His sun-bleached hair swirls as he steers a 14-foot skiff toward the Shackleford Banks. But he’s not truly alone. The eyes of his father, … Read more

King tides offer peek into coastal future (The Well | June 9, 2022)

A few times each year, Mother Nature gives us a look at the future of flooding in North Carolina’s coastal towns, sounds and ocean-fed waterways by focusing her crystal ball on king tides. King tides are the predicted highest and … Read more

How would electric school bus charging benefit the power grid and environment? (Gillings School News | May 25, 2022)

In fall 2020, Melanie Elliott, a senior on her way to a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and astronomy, had a keen interest in applying what she knew about physics to a renewable energy project. She landed in the … Read more

Big storms are coming. Are we ready? (Marketplace | June 1, 2022)

Today is the first day of hurricane season. And between global warming and an ongoing La Niña, this year’s forecast is not looking great. For the seventh year in a row, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts above-average hurricane … Read more

Mountain State Spotlight adds reporter Ellie Heffernan (Mountain State Spotlight News | June 1, 2022)

Ellie joins Mountain State Spotlight as a Report for America corps member starting June 1. A recent graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, she previously wrote for several publications including INDY Week, The Local … Read more

Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | May 31, 2022)

A boy, 11, crosses two miles of open water on his own for the first time. His sun-bleached hair swirls as he steers a 14-foot skiff toward the Shackleford Banks. But he’s not truly alone. The eyes of his father, … Read more

Stacy Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | May 31, 2022)

More than 100 Massey Award nominators described how vital the practical knowledge and can-do spirit of this Outer Banks native is to the success of the Institute for Marine Sciences

James W.C. White will be College of Arts & Sciences dean (The Well | May 17, 2022)

James W.C. White, acting dean and professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and a highly cited and internationally recognized researcher in climate science, has been appointed dean of the College of Arts … Read more

Kathleen Gray, Ph.D. – Improving Environmental Risk Communication Through Interdisciplinary Collaborations (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences | May 6, 2022)

Kathleen Gray, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC) has long held a passion for increasing understanding of environmental exposures in communities affected by contamination. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked with community-based organizations in southern Louisiana … Read more

Educator Spotlight: Megan Rodgers Lane (NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs)

Megan Rodgers Lane recently completed her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. Megan is the public science and internship coordinator for the UNC Institute for the Environment’s (IE) Center forPublic Engagement with Science. “I work on many different projects all with … Read more

Air pollution reduction policies bring significant health benefits (The Well | May 3, 2022)

New research from the UNC Institute for the Environment demonstrates how reduced emissions in New York City can save lives and money.

Carolina researchers find significant health benefits to air pollution reduction policies in NYC (UNC-Chapel Hill | April 29, 2022)

Researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment modeled five sustainability policy scenarios in New York City and found a significant reduction in health risks associated with a decrease in air pollution based on the policies.

Sustainability at Kenan-Flagler supported by $11 million estate gift (The Well | Apr. 29, 2022)

The late Charles S. Ackerman ’55, who had a successful career in real estate, wanted to help the business school address critical sustainability challenges.

The Persistent Effort to Address Climate Change with Dr. Pete Andrews (Management Matters Podcast | Apr. 25, 2022)

On this episode, we welcome Dr. Pete Andrews, Faculty Fellow at the Institute for the Environment at the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill and Academy Fellow to discuss overcoming political barriers to address climate change, environmental challenges and solutions in … Read more

Sustainable Carolina releases Water Plan on #EarthDay2022

This Earth Day marks the release of the Water Plan, telling the story of the University’s accomplishments, current goals, and visions for a future of water sustainability. As we face challenges related to water quality and quantity, including growing demands … Read more

Jointly led UNC and USFQ research team receives $1m grant from National Science Foundation to conduct research in Galapagos and help determine how temperature influences marine ecosystems (UNC Center for Galapagos Studies | Apr. 22, 2022)

UNC researcher Dr. John Bruno and Dr. Margarita Brandt of USFQ are partnering on a three year, one million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to untangle the interactive roles of temperature, nutrient flux, and predation in structuring the … Read more

What is Sustainable Carolina? (The Well | Apr. 22, 2022)

Annabel Grocott sloshes her rain boots through Chapel Hill’s Battle Branch Creek while checking sensors that log water level and temperature. Downstream a bit, Ashlynne Hobcroft swings a sledgehammer to stake another sensor, and Gabriela Martinez stretches a measuring tape … Read more

Student-led sustainability at Carolina (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2022)

A new fully-electric Chapel Hill Transit bus and a rooftop full of solar panels are just two ways Carolina students are working to make our campus more sustainable.

How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint with oyster shells and marsh grass (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2022)

A project at the UNC Institute for Marine Sciences is serving as a carbon offset for Carolina by burying carbon deposits into the sediment of a saltmarsh created by researchers.

#GDTBATH: Dylan Morgan (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2022)

Carolina senior Dylan Morgan has always had a strong connection with nature and he turned to UNC Institute for the Environment and the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory as a Tar Heel to gain the skills and experience to turn that … Read more

Tar Heels in the field (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2022)

Through the UNC Institute for the Environment’s semester-long Sustainable Triangle Field Site, Carolina students are researching Chapel Hill’s creeks to help the town develop stronger flood mitigation plans.

On the Origin of Sculptures (Endeavors | Apr. 19, 2022)

It’s an early Friday morning on the front lawn of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium, and artists Nyssa Collins and Carson Whitmore are piecing together the rebar skeleton of their 10-foot iguana. The sculpture is one of five pieces created to celebrate the 10th anniversary … Read more

Carolina Green

Carolina is making strides toward becoming a more sustainable university. Our commitment to excellence in sustainability and environmental work is led by Sustainable Carolina. The Carolina Sustainability Council guides this initiative and turns ideas into action by connecting with campus … Read more

From Manteo to Wilmington, could the ‘kudzu of the coast’ help fight climate change? (Star News | Apr. 18, 2022)

Mention phragmites and you’re likely to hear an agonized groan from a long list of people, including biologists and coastal landowners.

Breaking the barrier to composting (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 18, 2022

Founded by Carolina students, CompostMates is making composting accessible to all Tar Heels through free, curbside food scrap collection service.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro host Earth Day events throughout weekend (The Daily Tar Heel | Apr. 17, 2022)

With Earth Day quickly approaching this month, organizations across Carrboro and Chapel Hill are planning environmentally friendly events for community members of all ages. Here is a guide to Earth Day events happening on April 22 and 23.

Logging into the Deep History of Climate, with Erika Wise (Resources Radio | Apr. 12, 2022)

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Erika Wise, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wise discusses some of her research, which combines tree ring data with historical climate data drawn from artifacts … Read more

Battle Grove: soothing sounds and scenery (The Well | Apr. 6, 2022)

A 2017 restoration has made this water-centric outdoor space an environmentally friendly place to see spring in bloom and maybe glimpse an otter or “KP” the turtle.

Arrival will make its first electric delivery van at a Charlotte factory n late 2022 (MSN | Mar. 30, 2022)

Electric buses and vans can do more to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities than upscale electric cars and SUVs, the CEO of a company that will make those electric utility vehicles in the Carolinas said Tuesday.

In UNC address, Shell executive outlines path from oil and gas to renewable energy (The News & Observer | Mar. 30, 2022)

Shell, the multinational energy company that is one of the world’s leading suppliers of oil and gas products, doesn’t want to go the way of Kodak — a once-dominant company that lost its market share because it failed to anticipate … Read more

UNC-Chapel Hill graduate programs ranked among best in nation (UNC-Chapel Hill | Mar. 29, 2022)

Numerous University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate programs received high rankings — 19 were among the top 10 in the nation in their respective categories — as part of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” list.

Stephanie Caddell (endeavors | Mar. 9, 2022)

Stephanie Caddell is an intern with the Institute’s Center for Public Engagement with Science. She also participated in the Morehead City Field Site. She is a sophomore studying environmental science in the Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Science within … Read more

#GiveUNC Hype Video featuring Mike Piehler + Susan Cohen

Join us on Mar. 29 for #GiveUNC, Carolina’s 24-hour giving challenge. Please enjoy our take of the #dronetrend #tiktokchallenge. We have a drone! Actually, we have a whole drone lab! Follow along Mar. 29 to see all of the innovative … Read more

How Can Students Lead Change? Caitlin Flanagan’s Story (Planet Now | Mar. 19, 2022)

Not many teenagers get to meet members of the U.S. Congress. Before she even began college, Caitlin Flanagan used her voice to encourage federal policymakers to fight climate change. Some of the policymakers included Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), former Rep. … Read more

Can Entrepreneurs Save the Planet? (Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise | Mar. 16, 2022)

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our planet and our way of life. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released its 2022 Climate Report, which features a stern warning that human-induced climate change is already … Read more

Inundation of Stormwater Infrastructure Is Common and Increases Risk of Flooding in Coastal Urban Areas Along the US Atlantic Coast (Advancing Earth and Space Science | Mar. 15 2022)

Urban areas are often drained by underground pipes that convey stormwater runoff downstream when it rains, but coastal urban areas can experience recurrent “high-tide” flooding (HTF) that may block stormwater pipes from draining. We estimated where stormwater pipes may be … Read more

Riveros-Iregui receives a Fulbright Scholar Award (Department of Geography | Mar. 14, 2022)

Diego Riveros-Iregui has been awarded a 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Ecuador to investigate the coupling of greenhouse gas emissions, hydrologic dynamics, and the ecology of tropical alpine environments of the Northern Andes. The award will allow Riveros-Iregui to … Read more

Instagram Takeover (unc_gradschool | Mar. 10, 2022)

Follow graduate students Meredith Meyer and Melanie Cohn for the day.

Wastewater unlocks new possibilities in COVID-19 surveillance (Carolina Public Press | Mar. 10, 2022)

Monitoring data from wastewater allows better tracking of COVID-19 and new variants in communities.

The Past, Present And Future Of Utah Lake: Part II (Radiowest | Mar. 10, 2022)

Utah Lake is in dire straits. At least, that’s the opinion of the company behind a massive engineering plan proposed for the lake. To save it, they say, we need to dredge it and build dozens of islands on it. … Read more

New research from NC State suggests many more may be at risk for flooding than FEMA says (WNCT9 | Mar. 9, 2022)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A new study is showing many more homeowners may be at risk for flooding.

Stephanie Caddell (Endeavors | Mar. 9 2022)

Stephanie Caddell is a sophomore studying environmental science in the Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Science within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. She studies how to connect the needs of humans with the needs of the environment … Read more

Coronavirus wastewater data, CDC guidelines can give mixed signals on whether to mask (CNN Health | Mar. 10, 2022)

The federal government has taken clear steps toward a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks: The Biden administration released the National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan, and new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped … Read more

Nonnative phragmites may help with climate resilience (Coastal Review Online | Mar. 8, 2022)

A tall and looming reed grass, nonnative phragmites now extends pervasively into North Carolina’s marshes and shorelines. Likely introduced to North America in the 18th or 19th century, it hasn’t taken long for Phragmites australis — more commonly known as … Read more

Nonnative phragmites may help with climate resilience (Coastal Review | Mar. 08 2022)

A tall and looming reed grass, nonnative phragmites now extends pervasively into North Carolina’s marshes and shorelines.

Educational tool highlights COVID-19 and arsenic research (Environmental Factor NIEHS | Mar. 2022)

A new online educational resource invites high school students to examine ways that humans are exposed to arsenic and how exposure might influence susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. The tool was developed by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center at … Read more

NC Sea Grant Announces Winners of the Coastal Resilience Team Competition (Sea Grant North Carolina News | Mar. 1, 2022)

Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected to receive funding in North Carolina Sea Grant’s first Coastal Resilience Team Competition.

Eastern Carolina environmentalists weigh in on climate change report (WITN | Feb. 28, 2022)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released an updated climate report Monday. The climate report shows that the world has warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. If the world reaches two degrees it could mean a loss of coral … Read more

UNC Institute of Marine Sciences celebrates its 75th anniversary (The Daily Tarheel | Feb. 27, 2022)

This year, the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences is celebrating 75 years of conducting research in the coastal town of Morehead City, North Carolina.

UNC researchers develop mapping tool to protect populations from environmental chemicals (Gillings School News | Feb. 15, 2022)

NC ENVIROSCAN, a new online interactive mapping tool, helps North Carolina communities increase awareness of key environmental and societal factors that can impact health. Developed through a collaboration between the UNC Superfund Research Program (UNC SRP) and the Institute for … Read more

Sea-level predictions raise concerns (WITN | Feb. 17, 2022)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationpredicts the sea level will increase by a foot by 2050. Marine science experts say this increase will likely cause more erosion on the shoreline of coastal communities. “That’s the equivalent of what we’ve seen over the … Read more

NC Collaboratory puts UNC System expertise to work (The Well | Feb. 16, 2022)

Jeff Warren remembers the moment the North Carolina Collaboratory turned the corner, when he thought, Yes, this is going to work. It was the summer of 2018, and the North Carolina General Assembly had just appropriated $5 million for a … Read more

Study: Sharks off North Carolina’s coast have gotten smaller (WUNC 91.5 | Feb. 14, 2022)

A 50-year study of sharks off the coast of North Carolina found that many species have decreased in size over time. Researchers started collecting data on 12 species of sharks in 1972 in Onslow Bay, just east of Jacksonville. A recently … Read more

2022 EFRP + My Green Lab Freezer Challenge Opens (UNC Green Labs | Feb. 10, 2022)

The spring 2022 Efficient Freezer Rebate Program (EFRP) and My Green Lab Freezer Challenge are now open! Eligible labs have the chance to receive a rebate of 35% of the cost (up to $5,000) of a new ultra low freezer. … Read more

Water contamination a possibility near fertilizer plant fire. Runoff could hit creeks, streams, expert says (Winston-Salem Journal | Feb. 3, 2022)

Chemicals being carried into Winston-Salem’s drainage system in runoff from the site of a fertilizer plant fire have the potential to produce sometimes-toxic algae if large enough amounts reach downstream creeks that ultimately feed the Yadkin River, an expert in … Read more

What wastewater can tell us about COVID-19 spread (CBS17 | Feb. 3, 2022)

When you flush, your stuff ends up at your local water treatment plant. It’s not pretty to look at or even think about, but your stool can be a valuable tool in the fight against COVID-19. “Whenever you do your … Read more

Chapel Hill storm drain mural project aims to highlight waterways under threat (Daily Tar Heel | Jan. 26, 2022)

UNC Institute for the Environment Director Mike Piehler spoke to The Daily Tar Heel about stormwater drains in Chapel Hill. A new mural project aims to highlight waterways under threat. Storm drains in Chapel Hill will soon have a new … Read more

Morehead City Field Site students study ponds created by Hurricane Dorian (AccuWeather | Jan. 26, 2022)

A team of professors and students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Morehead City Field Site are studying the newest issue impacting the Outer Banks.

Milestone anniversary: UNC Institute of Marine Sciences celebrates 75 years of coastal studies in 2022 (Cateret County Times | Jan. 24, 2022)

For 75 years, students and marine scientists have been coming to Carteret County learn about the oceanic environment, its flora, fauna and the natural systems that govern the waves, at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. Located in Morehead City, UNC-IMS … Read more

A classroom on the Core Sound (UNC News | Jan. 18, 2022)

More than a dozen Tar Heels spent last semester on the coast taking classes and conducting real-world research on a new issue impacting the barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Teaching Awards honor 25 educators (The Well | Jan. 14, 2022)

Selected from more than 800 nominations, the winners of the 2022 University Teaching Awards will receive special recognition at the Jan. 15 men’s basketball game.

As rainwater sits days after storm, expert explains the risk of prolonged flooding (WITN | Jan. 5, 2021)

Days after Monday’s storm, parts of Bay Street in Morehead City were still underwater Wednesday.

Student study finds Buxton Woods a healthy, valued reserve (Coastal Review | Dec. 17, 2021)

That is one of the conclusions of a study of the state coastal reserve and dedicated nature preserve conducted by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill undergraduate students and presented Dec. 2 to the Hatteras Island community at the Fessenden … Read more

‘Geology of the Carolinas’ explores uniqueness of N.C.’s Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions (Chatham News + Record | Dec. 15, 2021)

North Carolina’s mountains, Piedmont and coast provide more than just gorgeous landscapes and vacation destinations — they contain geological features that have played an important role in the human history of the state and region, as well as fascinating places … Read more

Call for Proposals: Institute of Marine Sciences Mural (Artist Call | Dec. 10, 2021)

IMS is kicking off a Mural Project, a nine month-long endeavor to take advantage of our building’s premium location on Hwy. 70/Arendell Street, where 26,000 cars per day transit. UNC-CH IMS is seeking proposals from artists with experience in arts … Read more

Sea grass research at N.C. coast gives heads up on climate change (Spectrum News 1 | Dec. 8, 2021)

Researchers are looking at the ecosystem of sea grass on North Carolina’s coast as a way to track climate change.

Ask Dr. Bogus | Sheepshead (The Talk Station | Dec. 6, 2021)

Lewis Naisbett-Jones joins Dr. Bogus to talk about Sheepshead on this week’s episode of Ask Dr. Bog

Carolina at the Coast: A Semester at the Morehead City Field Site (UNC Institute for the Environment | Dec. 1, 2021)

Stephanie Caddell is a sophomore Environmental Studies major from Charlotte, NC.

Outdoor access for all (The Well | Dec. 1, 2021)

UNC-Chapel Hill archaeologists are working with a diverse coalition to develop an accessible trail network, uncover the region’s history and spur equitable economic growth in the small western North Carolina town of Old Fort.

Electric Vehicles Expected to Play Huge Role in Environment and Daily Lives Around the World (Cheddar News | Nov. 30, 2021)

Sarav Arunachalam, air pollution scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joins Cheddar Climate, where he discusses what he needs to happen when it comes to EV production on a global level to help reduce the effects … Read more

Carolina’s Research Perseveres through the Pandemic — and Beyond (UNC Research | Dec. 1, 2021)

As 2021 comes to an end, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Joyce Tan and I want to reflect on progress of Initiative 4: Discover, the research framework for the University’s strategic plan Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good.Discover is one … Read more

Carteret County to receive millions from state budget for flood mitigation (WCNT 9 | Nov. 29, 2021)

Carteret County will receive millions in funding from the state budget. The money will go towards various community projects, and much of the money will focus on flood mitigation efforts.

How science is helping to mitigate flood damage (Spectrum News’ In Focus | Nov. 21, 2021)

Scientists that study climate change and water quality are advising on how best to mitigate the worst damage from flooding events. Loretta Boniti talks with Dr. Amanda Martin, chief resiliency officer with the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, Dr. Stephen … Read more

Storm drain sensors show more frequent nuisance flooding (Coastal Review | Nov. 17, 2021)

Relatively small, short-lived flooding events – just enough to be a nuisance – are occurring more often along the coast.

BWF Announces First Round Of Climate Change And Human Health Seed Grants (Burroughs Wellcome Fund | Nov. 17, 2021)

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded the first four grants from the Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program. The mechanism aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields whose collaboration has … Read more

Cleantech Cluster names finalists for its innovation awards – here’s the list (WRAL TechWire | Nov. 17, 2021)

A host of individuals and companies are in the running for the top honors to be handed out by the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster at its third Cleantech Innovation Awards event set for Dec. 8.

Alternate jet fuels reduce deaths (The Well | Nov. 16, 2021)

A new study by researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that sustainable alternative jet fuels decrease premature death rates.

Recognize China’s climate efforts, says US scientist (KHMER Times | Nov. 12, 2021)

China “deserves recognition for its climate efforts so far,” The New York Times has reported, citing a US climate scientist.

Why climate-shaming China at COP26 likely won’t work (CBC | Nov. 10, 2021)

For a country that pollutes more than any other, China, with its 1.4 billion people, has an unusually small footprint at the COP26 climate summit underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

In hot water (The Well | Nov. 10, 2021)

Janet Nye, a Carolina marine scientist, wants to understand how warmer oceans affect fish migration to help fisheries prepare for the future.

Planting for the future: Chapel Hill mayor hosts Tree of the Year contest (The Daily Tar Heel | Nov. 10, 2021)

The Mayor’s Tree of the Year contest, a contest run by the Town of Chapel Hill to highlight important and meaningful trees in the community, is returning for a second year.

Planes, trains and automobiles: It’s transport day at COP26. Here’s what you need to know. (Washington Post | Nov. 9, 2021)

UNC Institute for the Environment Deputy Director and Research Professor Sarav Arunachalam talks to the Washington Post about transportation emissions ahead of transport day at #COP26. The COP26 climate summit has entered its thornier, more difficult stages — when scores … Read more

NC Attorney General awards ENC hundreds of thousands in environmental grant money (WITN | Nov. 9, 2021)

Attorney General Josh Stein was in New Bern Tuesday awarding ENC hundreds of thousands of dollars in environmental grant money.

NC Energy Literacy Fellow, Denise Renfro, featured on Soledad O’Brien’s Matter of Fact (Matter of Fact | Nov. 7, 2021)

NC Energy Literacy Fellow, Denise Renfro, is using renewable energy to engage her students in Fayetteville, NC. Learn more about her efforts that were recently featured on Soledad O’Brien’s Matter of Fact.

NC Scientist Says Climate Action Needed Now to Protect Human Health (Public News Service | Nov. 8, 2021)

Higher temperatures driven by climate change will likely make air pollution worse, and one North Carolina scientist says action is needed now to mitigate human health consequences

King Tides Project using citizen photos to predict environmental future, particularly for this weekend (WNCT 9 | Nov. 5, 2021)

The King Tides Project is seeking to learn more about what the future could look like for coastal towns. Scientists with the project are asking people to take photos of flooding in communities and submit them for research.

New research detects hurricane history hidden in tree rings (Coastal Review | Nov. 4, 2021)

Dr. Justin T. Maxwell is an associate professor of geography at Indiana University, where he researches paleoclimatology, the study of the Earth’s past climates. Most recently, he explored the historical relationship between longleaf pines and tropical cyclone precipitation. Maxwell reconstructed … Read more

King Tides Project needs your photos of extreme tides (Coastal Review | Nov. 4, 2021)

North Carolina King Tides Project organizers are asking residents and visitors to photograph this week’s king tide — extreme high and low tides events of the year — through Tuesday and share their images on the Coastal Observer app.

Coastal residents can take part in citizen-science project documenting “king tides” (Public Radio Serving Eastern North Carolina | Nov. 2, 2021)

“King tides” is a non-scientific name for the highest or the lowest tide events in a year.  Christine Voss, a research associate at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City explains.

Are offshore wind farms coming to North Carolina? (The Well | Nov. 2, 2021)

After the Biden administration announced plans to develop coastal wind farms, The Well checked in with marine sciences professor Harvey Seim about what that could mean for North Carolina.

Lingering dry weather slows flow in Neuse River (Coastal Review | Nov. 01, 2021)

River flows remained low in the Neuse River as of last week. Low flows are indications of long stretches of dry weather, where there’s little to no rain contributing to the river.

UNC students pair with Coastal Federation to repair eroded Pamlico County peninsula (WCNT | Nov. 1, 2021)

Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill paired with the Coastal Federation to help build a living shoreline at Whitaker Point in Pamlico County, where 15 acres of the peninsula are eroded.

Is your well water safe to drink? (The Well | Nov. 1, 2021)

A group of UNC School of Law students is working on a multiyear, multifaceted effort to provide North Carolinians the tools they need to self-assess the safety of their well water.

Researchers study how climate change impacts North Carolina (WITN | Oct. 28, 2021)

Fighting climate change and the devastating impacts global warming will have on us has been a major talking point for many ahead of the COP26 Climate Change Conference meeting in Scotland at the end of October.

Sampling study shows little water contamination in and around Atlantic Beach (Carteret County News-Times | Oct. 27, 2021)

After sampling water quality several times this spring and summer, local researchers haven’t seen any significant fecal water contamination problem in bodies around Atlantic Beach.

Regional RISA Teams competition for the Northeast, MidAtlantic, Intermountain West, Carolinas, Great Lakes, Alaska, Pacific Islands, South Central, and Pacific Northwest (Climate Program Office | Oct. 2021)

CPO’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program is announcing 9 new 5-year RISA teams in Fiscal Year 2021 that aim to conduct research and engagement in each of the regions mentioned above. RISA teams focus on multiple societal issues … Read more

A merger of land and sea (Carolina Arts and Science | Oct. 2021)

Rivers flow from a continent’s heart into the vast oceans, pumping weathered bits of rock and clay onto broad beds of sediment that form our continental shelves. Oceans change the shape of our coastlines in a relentless wave-driven dance of … Read more

Coastal development boom endangers salt marshes, a resource vital to the Southeast economy (The News & Observer | Oct. 25, 2021)

Thousands of acres of salt marshes that buffer the South Atlantic coast from hurricanes, sustain the seafood industry and bolster the tourism economy are in danger of washing away, victims of booming development and limited government oversight that have made … Read more

Carolina Tree Heritage program brings new life to downed tree (UNC Chapel Hill | Oct. 25, 2021)

South Building, which opened in 1814, just gained a new detail that has been in Chapel Hill longer than the historic building itself: A 5-foot wide, 400-pound table made from a 251-year-old post oak tree that stood behind Old West … Read more

A merger of land and sea (The Well | Oct. 25, 2021)

The union of disciplines in the new department of earth, marine and environmental sciences erases artificial boundaries and reflects natural connections.

Scientists weigh in on latest United Nations climate report (WITN | Oct. 21, 2021)

This week, the United Nations released a new report showing many governments remain out of sync with the warning of climate scientists.

The sky’s the limit for the Carolina Drone Lab (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 18, 2021)

CARDNL — the first of its kind at the University — facilitates drone and sensor use for solving societal and environmental challenges, according to its website. The lab is located within the UNC Institute for the Environment.

The science behind fall foliage (The Well | Oct. 18, 2021)

Why do leaves change color in the fall, and when is the best time to go “leaf-peeping”? The North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Johnny Randall, who says conditions this year are near perfect, answers your fall color questions.

‘Hard-headed little guy’: Sea turtle gets an autopsy (WRAL | Oct. 16, 2021)

A few feet away from the turquoise water, about 17 UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduates form a loose semicircle, with the breeze fluttering their T-shirts and shorts. They’re at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences, standing on a loading dock that hoists wooden … Read more

Searching for sheepshead (The Well | Oct. 15, 2021)

Commercial and recreational fishing are important contributors to the North Carolina economy, but there are still unknowns about many species. Doctoral student Lewis Naisbett-Jones is trying to unravel some of that mystery by tracking the migration of sheepshead.

Scientists say rising sea levels could impact Eastern North Carolina (WITN | Oct. 13, 2021)

Data surrounding climate changes continues to come to light, and many are painting a bleak outlook for our world if action isn’t taken soon.

FEMA ranks Charlotte among one of the nation’s top for flood mitigation (Fox 46 Charlotte | Oct. 13, 2021)

“Little sugar creek definitely fills up a good bit,” and sometimes….it overflows. Arthur Noll’s neighbors had to kayak through floodwaters last November, “the water got up into his basement…some of the houses, garages got flooded,” he reminisces.

Summit spurs action on flooding: Experts, political leaders gather in Greenville for first WATERS conference (Reflector | Oct. 13, 2021)

With flooding, storms and rising sea levels spelling potentially serious changes for North Carolina, experts and politicians on both sides of the political spectrum gathered in Greenville to discuss how cooperation and communication can help stem the coming tide.

Congressman Murphy hosts first WATERS Summit to address waterway challenges (WNCT | Oct. 13, 2021)

Congressman Greg Murphy held the Water Adaptation to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit Wednesday in Greenville. Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and David Rouzer helped facilitate the event. The summit brought political leaders from all areas of the state to Eastern North … Read more

First Annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success Summit (Oct. 13, 2021)

First Annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit hosted by Congressmen Murphy, Rouzer, and Butterfield

In Hot Water (Endeavors | Oct. 12, 2021)

Warming ocean waters are one of many climate change consequences, and scientists have observed fish migrating to stay within their preferred temperature range. Janet Nye, a UNC-Chapel Hill marine scientist, wants to understand how a warmer environment will affect these … Read more

A creek runs through it (The Well | Oct. 8, 2021)

Water springing from a granite ridge millions of years in the making is a main reason for Carolina’s location. Here’s a look at how that water flowing under and through campus becomes the University’s Meeting of the Waters Creek.

UNC researchers study why sea turtles die (Media Hub | Oct. 2021)

North Carolina’s estuaries – the place where freshwater and saltwater meet – are home to things like shellfish, plants, fish and turtles. Researchers in Morehead City are studying the human impacts from climate change which is leading to warmer waters … Read more

Perseverance in the Páramo (Endeavors | Sept. 28, 2021)

This summer, UNC-Chapel Hill research technicians Liz Farquhar and Tessa Davis traveled to the Andes Mountains in Ecuador for a project in the páramo, a beautiful but challenging ecosystem. While the high altitude and unpredictable weather took time to adjust … Read more

Empowering the next generation (The Well | Sept. 27, 2021)

An abnormal heat wave in the Pacific Northwest so hot it melts powerlines. Record-breaking hurricane seasons that bring more severe storms each year. Excessive flooding that forces entire families in Eastern North Carolina to relocate. As climate disasters make headlines … Read more

Carolina names 68 distinguished professors (The Well | Sept. 27, 2021)

Martin Brinkley and Gregory Characklis are named Kenan Distinguished Professors. Chris Clemens is named a Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Coast Lines (ECU Integrated Coastal Programs Newsletter | Fall 2021)

Wow, what a difference a year makes! I state this, not dwelling on the challenges we face associated with COVID and the Delta variant but thinking about all the effort from our staff and faculty to keep our organization moving … Read more

Levees improved by Carolina researcher succeed against Hurricane Ida (UNC | Sept. 23, 2021)

Thanks to the work of Carolina’s Rick Luettich, New Orleans’ levees held and water damage was greatly minimized from the Category 4 hurricane.

Carolina 3rd top public university in Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education Rankings (UNC | Sept. 22, 2021)

he list also has UNC-Chapel Hill 33rd among all private and public universities in the United States.

NC Seafood Threatened By Toxins And Mislabeling (WFAE | Sept. 22, 2021)

Willy Phillips operates Full Circle Crab Co. and Seafood Market in Columbia in Tyrrell County, a wholesale and retail operation. He’s observed a decline in water quality impacting the blue crab fishery.

Testing storm modeling in real time (The Well | Sept. 20, 2021)

Tropical Storm Henri gave researchers at the Coastal Resilience Center a chance to test the ADCIRC Prediction System, which calculates the consequences of extreme weather and how it will impact critical infrastructure.

Sustainable Carolina debuts podcast featuring Mike Piehler (Sustainable Carolina | May 28, 2021)

This week on the Sustainable Carolina podcast Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, Mike Piehler goes in depth on the flurry of sustainability news that happened in April and unpacking the transition to sustainable … Read more

Inspired To Give: Fund provides financial assistance to students to gain hands-on experiences (Campaign for Carolina | Sept. 2021)

The Betsy Steele and Geo. Watts Carr Environmental Support Fund provides financial assistance to students to gain hands-on experiences at the various field sites of the UNC Institute for the Environment. “Our hope is that this generation of students will … Read more

Why New Orleans’ $15 billion levee held and what experts worry about next (NBC News | Sep. 2, 2021)

“We need to invest now for the future. That’s the lesson we’ve learned from the investment in the levees,” said Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Algae blooms cause problems for parts of the Chowan River (WITN | Sep. 1, 2021)

The summer heat is causing problems for parts of the Chowan River in Edenton. Algae blooms have popped up in several of the river’s tributaries and ponds. Algae blooms are a cause for concern because blue-green algae can produce toxins that … Read more

Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters carried E. coli, other bacteria across Eastern NC (The News and Observer | Sept. 1, 2021)

Scientists found several species of bacteria in floodwaters left behind by September 2018’s Hurricane Florence, according to a new study from researchers at N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Carolina Beekeeping Club buzzes with education and care of UNC’s pollinators (The Daily Tar Heel | Aug. 30, 2021)

Garrett Tucker started beekeeping from a young age with his dad, who is also a beekeeper. “I love bees because I really love their role in the environment, and I think that they’re essential,” Tucker, a UNC junior, said. “Beekeeping kind … Read more

Fires and floods sweep the globe (The Well | Aug. 26, 2021)

In the aftermath of extreme weather events, considering the long-term well-being of affected people and places is critical, says Director of the Carolina Population Center Elizabeth Frankenberg.

Tropical Storm Henri provides opportunity to test ADCIRC Prediction System™ real-time storm modeling capabilities (Costal Resilience Center | Aug. 24, 2021)

As the weekend of August 21, 2021 drew near, it became increasingly evident that Tropical Storm Henri would not only impact Southern New England, but could become a hurricane before making landfall. This was the perfect opportunity for researchers at … Read more

NC at a crossroads in dealing with water quality challenges (Coastal Review | Aug. 24, 2021)

It’s a windy day in October, warm enough for just a T-shirt, and the Neuse River shimmers in the sunlight. As Katy Hunt approaches the bank, however, a foul smell hits her nostrils. And from the dock, she can see … Read more

Passion for the Galapagos Brings Universidad San Francisco de Quito Alumni to Chapel Hill as Graduate Students (Carolina Graduate School Magazine | Aug. 23, 2021)

Two incoming Ph.D. students share a love for South America and for the intricate ecosystems and wildlife that support it. Isabel Silva Romero and Diego Urquía are joining the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as international students thanks … Read more

Storm surge could be an even greater concern in future hurricanes (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 20, 2021)

“You just stood here. You just stood here. It was so devastating. We didn’t even know what to do. Everything was gone.” That’s how Toni Titone described the scene around Ocean Isle Beach last year following Hurricane Isaias. She owns two … Read more

Wetter hurricanes are a concern for N.C. farmers (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 19, 2021)

Hurricanes are having big impacts on many different ways of life in North Carolina. That’s especially the case for our state’s farmers.

What I did this summer (The Well | Aug. 19, 2021)

Carolina faculty and staff mentored students, reconnected with colleagues and pursued research on campus, across the state and far away.

Hurricanes pose several threats to North Carolina’s seafood industry (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 18, 2021)

Hurricanes can have impacts on many different parts of life in North Carolina. One part that you may not have thought about is that fresh local seafood dinner you enjoy from time to time.

Stronger storms mean tough decisions for N.C. Highway 12 (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 17, 2021)

There seems to be a yearly battle between North Carolina Highway 12 and storms. Highway 12 is the only road in and out of Hatteras Island and other Outer Banks communities like Rodanthe and Avon, and storms have had major effects … Read more

Denise Renfro, a High School Teacher in Fayetteville NC Wins Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Education (Teachable Moments | Aug. 16, 2021)

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced its 2021 President’s Student and Teacher Environmental Awards winners. Among the winners was Denise Renfro, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher and director of the Academy of Green Technology at Douglas Byrd … Read more

Into the backcountry (UNC-Chapel Hill | Aug. 16, 2021)

This summer, Andrew Buchanan and Owen Ryerson made the arduous trek to the Arrigetch Peaks in remote Alaska to collect rock samples for an independent research project that aims to answer big questions about the mountains.

Activity picks up in the tropics as we near peak hurricane season (WITN | Aug. 16, 2021)

The triple threat in the tropics is a sign that we are now in the very beginning of peak hurricane season, when the conditions become the most favorable for storms. Stacia Strong spoke with experts who say now is the … Read more

Sustainable Carolina debuts podcast (Sustainable Carolina | Aug. 13, 2021)

Sustainable Carolina added a new tool to its messaging kit this summer as the team published its debut podcast episode. The Sustainable Carolina Podcast will feature episode themes including news discussions and insights, guest interviews with members of the campus community … Read more

Empowering Youth for a Resilient Future (Endeavors | Aug. 11, 2021)

As climate change continues to impact daily life, researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment want to discover the best way to teach the next generation to build a more equitable, resilient society. To do this, they are studying … Read more

NC Climatologist says latest climate report signals a call to action (WITN | Aug. 9, 2021)

An alarming report from the United Nations panel on Climate Change came out Monday, outlining the latest information on global warming.

Will climate change and a rising ocean mean the end of the road for NC Highway 12? (The News & Observer | Aug. 9, 2021)

The highway runs the length of the Outer Banks, supporting the economy, welcoming tourists and often providing a lifeline for residents. But as sands shift and the sea rises, can N.C. 12 survive?

Bringing classroom learning to life (UNC News | Aug. 6, 2021)

Teachers from eastern North Carolina stepped out of their classrooms and into nature this summer to learn more about geoscience so they can bring that knowledge back to their students. The experience was part of a new UNC Institute for … Read more

Will climate change and a rising ocean mean the end of the road for NC Highway 12? (The News & Observer | Aug. 5, 2021)

The highway runs the length of the Outer Banks, supporting the economy, welcoming tourists and often providing a lifeline for residents. But as sands shift and the sea rises, can N.C. 12 survive?

Carolina to Host 2021 AAD Sisco Memorial Forum: ‘Preserving Life: Climate Change, Water and Diplomacy’ (UNC Global | Aug. 3, 2021)

The American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will host its annual Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum in person in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium on … Read more

Algae Blooms found in Chowan River (WITN | Aug. 3, 2021)

This week the State’s Department of Environmental Quality sent out an alert about an algal bloom that could be dangerous to the health of children and pets. Now scientists say this week’s heavy rains could mean we’ll see more of … Read more

Digging In: U.S. Coastal Dredging Policy (UNC Institute for the Environment | Aug. 1, 2021)

I have lived in North Carolina and been near the coast my entire life, but I’ve never given much thought to dredging. I imagine that’s true for most people, but that may be changing.

Cyanobacteria in some Cape Cod waters can make you sick. What you need to know. (Cape Cod Times | July 30, 2021)

Dr. Hans Paerl (IMS, EMES, ESE) is quoted in a story from the Cape Cod Times about harmful algal blooms.

UNC drone lab takes environmental research to new heights (Accuweather | July 26, 2021)

A newly established drone lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has begun research on natural disasters. From characterizing floodplains and mapping invasive species, to forest management, Carolina’s Drone Lab, or CARDNL, works with interdisciplinary teams to … Read more

Meet an Intern: Jenna Hynes at the Piedmont Conservation Council (UNC News | July 26, 2021)

As an environmental science and chemistry major, Jenna Hynes spends a lot of time thinking about water and the challenges communities face with the fragile resource. “You don’t think about it when you’re swimming in a lake, but there can … Read more

New variants now better detected in wastewater sampling (Coastal Review | July 23, 2021)

Researchers here participating in a newly expanded program now have the capability through sampling and analysis of public wastewater to quickly see the emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern in specific municipalities, a potentially valuable early warning system for outbreaks … Read more

New variants now better detected in wastewater sampling (Coastal Review

Researchers here participating in a newly expanded program now have the capability through sampling and analysis of public wastewater to quickly see the emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern in specific municipalities, a potentially valuable early warning system for outbreaks … Read more

Well-researched investment in renewable energy can improve global equity (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | July 20, 2021)

In many low- and lower-middle-income countries, great natural wealth contrasts with a desire for economic development. Noah Kittner is an assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he examines the … Read more

Using Tech To Understand the Lives of Sharks (PBS NC | July 16, 2021)

If you’re a scientist studying the health of the population, it’s one thing to know how many creatures of that species there are. It’s even better to know where those creatures are living and what they are eating. So it is with … Read more

ENC shark survey celebrates 50 years of research (WITN | July 14, 2021)

This week millions will tune in to watch Shark Week, but a team of researchers here in Eastern North Carolina are celebrating their own type of shark week as they mark 50 years of their shark survey which is one … Read more

UNC institute’s shark survey a trove of 50 years of data (Coastal Review | July 14, 2021)

Before “Jaws” with its depiction of a giant, vengeful, man-eating creature of the deep; before Shark Week, Discovery Channels’ eight-day ode to all things sharks; and well before the over-the-top gratuitous sci-fi series “Sharknado” films, there was, just off the … Read more

Shark Week 2021: IMS shark survey enters 50th consecutive year (Carteret County News-Times | July 13, 2021)

Shark enthusiasts may be enjoying the spectacle of the 33rd annual Shark Week airing on Discovery Channel this week, but researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences are celebrating a separate milestone — … Read more

The 50-Year Shark Search: UNC’s Institute Of Marine Sciences Celebrates Shark Research Anniversary (WUNC 91.5 | July 13, 2021)

Two years ago, Jeff Plumlee watched as his fellow crew members reeled a four-foot long blacknose shark onto the research vessel Capricorn. As they prepared to take the shark’s measurements, they saw something unexpected sticking out of her birth canal: a … Read more

Every week is Shark Week for researchers in Morehead City (WNCT | July 12, 2021)

It’s Shark Week and with it brings fresh curiosity about sharks and other ocean creatures. For one group of coastal researchers, Shark Week is every week. “If you’ve spent any time in the water at all, you’ve probably been near … Read more

Hatteras residents invited to storm readiness project meeting (Coastal Review | July 12, 2021)

Hatteras Island residents are invited to a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to learn more about a statewide project that seeks to collect data to help communities prepare for and recover from future storms. The meeting, which will be … Read more

UNC shark tagging research program celebrates 50 years of work (News Channel ABC 12 | July 12, 2021)

The annual Shark Week began on Sunday, highlighting the apex predators that call the North Carolina coastal waters their home for much of the year. Pivotal research on these big fish began right here in eastern North Carolina. 50 years … Read more

Carolina Public Health (Gillings School of Global Public Health The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Spring 2021)

The year 2020 was unlike any other. COVID-19 touched every corner of our lives, forcing us all to make pivots both large and small. For the first time, Carolina Public Health magazine is digital first, although we did do a … Read more

Well-researched investment in renewable energy can improve global equity (UNC GILLINGS SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH | July 6, 2021)

In many low- and lower middle-income countries, great natural wealth contrasts with a desire for economic development. Noah Kittner, PhD, is an assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he … Read more

Carolina’s drone lab takes off (UNC News | June 28, 2021)

Recently launched to provide a hub for innovative drone and sensing technologies at Carolina, CARDNL serves as a collaborative resource for faculty and student researchers to use for a host of research endeavors.

Researchers work to improve flooding issues related to Hurricanes (WITN | June 24, 2021)

In recent years hurricanes have wreaked havoc on North Carolina, including storms like Florence, Matthew, and Dorian. The massive destruction these hurricanes left behind has spurred a team of researchers to look into ways to improve the region’s resistance to … Read more

Leave it to beavers (Endeavors | June 17, 2021)

UNC senior Elizabeth Farquhar carefully climbs down the muddy bank and into the stream below with a strange circular device, about 2 feet around, in tow. The flowing water comes up to her knees, and the mud makes walking in … Read more

What researchers are learning about air pollution and the pandemic shutdown (WHYY News | June 16, 2021)

When the pandemic shutdown began in spring 2020, causing a sharp reduction in traffic — and with it, a decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions worldwide — researchers like Sally Ng saw a unique opportunity. A recent study published in Environmental Research … Read more

Reusing Downed Branches and Leaves to Beautify Carolina (Tar Heels Together | June 15, 2021)

When trees, limbs and leaves come down at Carolina, they never actually leave campus. They are transformed to beautify the landscaping in a new way and keep 360 tons of material out of landfills each year.

Scientists Show How Electric Big Rigs and Buses Will Save Thousands of Lives (Inverse | June 13, 2021)

It makes sense that big trucks would pollute more than little cars. A larger engine, hauling more weight equals more pollution. But how much pollution and how many people does that pollution affect? And, ultimately, where should elected officials focus … Read more

waterloop #102: Picking Up The Pace On Beach Testing with Rachel Noble (waterloop | June 13, 2021)

Dr. Noble (IMS, MASC, IE, ESE) was a guest on a recent episode of the national podcast, the Waterloop, chatting all things beach water quality. Rachel explains that most states have not adopted the rapid testing for beach water quality … Read more

Vehicle Pollution Caused an Estimated 2,000 New Yorkers’ Deaths in One Year: Study (City Limits | June 10, 2021)

More than 2,000 New Yorkers are estimated to have died prematurely in a single year from the effects of pollution from vehicle emissions—even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published Tuesday. At least 1,400 of those deaths were in … Read more

Study: Hundreds in Maryland die prematurely from vehicle emissions (WTOP | June 10, 2021)

An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, … Read more

State Roundup: Cardin Says U.S. Must Improve Equity with Investments into Small Business (Maryland Reporter | June 10, 2021)

STUDY: VEHICLE EMISSIONS CAUSE PREMATURE DEATHS: An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland, Josh Kurtz reports … Read more

Study: Hundreds in Md. Die Prematurely From Vehicle Emissions (Maryland Matters | June 10, 2021)

An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, … Read more

New study estimates 485 Virginians died prematurely in 2016 as a result of transportation emissions (Virginia Mercury | June 10, 2021)

A study by researchers from the University of North Carolina and Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health released this week calculated that 485 premature deaths in Virginia in 2016 were due to ozone and fine particulate matter emitted … Read more

Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (Berkshire Eagle | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more

McCarthy acknowledges political limits on climate (Politico | June 9, 2021)

Morning Energy examines the latest news in energy and environmental politics and policy. Tailpipe-related pollution caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in 2016 in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, with much of that pollution crossing state lines, according to a new study … Read more

Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (Daily Hampshire Gazette | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more

Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (WHDH | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more

Vehicle Pollution Leads to Thousands of Early Deaths and Costs Billions in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, Study Says (The Weather Channel | June 9, 2021)

Pollution from vehicle emissions caused thousands of premature deaths and led to billions of dollars in health care costs in a single year in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, even affecting those who don’t live near the source, according to a … Read more

Car pollution killed hundreds in Mass. and thousands across 12 states, researchers say (Boston Globe | June 8, 2021)

Ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions claimed approximately 7,100 lives in 12 states and Washington, D.C., in 2016, including about 620 in Massachusetts, a new study from Harvard and the University of North Carolina found.

Study demonstrates premature deaths and healthcare costs of vehicle emissions in RI (Uprise RI | June 8, 2021)

A new study finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 119 premature deaths and inflated health care costs by over $1.2 billion in Rhode Island. Researchers at the University of North … Read more

Vehicle emissions led to more than 1,000 NJ deaths in one year, study finds (New Jersey 101.5 | June 8, 2021)

Vehicle pollution contributed to 1,175 premature deaths in New Jersey in the span of just one year, according to a study published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters. Researchers noted that vehicle emissions in New Jersey were also responsible for hundreds of … Read more

N.J. ranks high in number of pollution-related deaths, study says (NJ.com | June 8, 2021)

A study published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters found that motor vehicle emissions caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in 2016, with New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania the three states with the highest death tolls.

Report Estimates 2016 Tailpipe Emissions Led to 620 Deaths in Mass. (State House News Service | June 8, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more

On the edge of discovery (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 8, 2021)

Carolina alumna Stacy Zhang first got her feet wet in marine ecology as an undergrad. Now a postdoctoral researcher with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, she is on the frontlines of helping navigate challenges facing North Carolina’s coast.

Tailpipe Emissions Led to 620 Mass. Deaths in 1 Year, Study Finds (NBC 10 Boston | June 8, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more

Study warns of danger by wind-carried car emissions (E&E News | June 8, 2021)

Vehicle tailpipe emissions are traveling across state lines and killing thousands of people in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, according to new research published today.

Harvard Study: Car Pollution in NYC Claims 1,400 Lives, Billions in Costs (StreetsBlog NYC | June 8, 2021)

Researchers say that the New York City metro area suffers roughly 1,400 premature deaths every year, and loses billions in health costs, strictly because of pollution caused by tens of thousands of trucks, cars and buses that traverse the area … Read more

The Ripple Effect of Water Power Changemakers (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy | June 8, 2021)

Longstanding maritime industries like shipping, commercial fishing, and offshore drilling have provided a solid foundation for global economies and coastal communities over many decades. However, potential opportunities for new marine energy markets are as vast as the ocean itself.

Study suggests heavy-duty trucks not primary source of vehicle pollution deaths (Land Line Media | June 8, 2021)

There is a vehicle pollution problem in the Northeast, and trucks are not the main culprit. A study published on Tuesday, June 8, looked into deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions caused by ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle … Read more

Study: Vehicle emissions claimed 2,000 lives in NY in 2016, cost state billions (Staten Island Advance | June 8, 2021)

New research suggests that New York suffers thousands of yearly deaths and spends billions in health care costs because of air pollution started by vehicles that move through the state. The Harvard University and University of North Carolina study, which … Read more

Reusing downed branches and leaves to beautify Carolina (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 7, 2021)

When trees, limbs and leaves come down at Carolina, they never actually leave campus. They are transformed to beautify the landscaping in a new way and keep 360 tons of material out of landfills each year.

Experts Worry About Hurricanes’ Effect In Coastal Areas (Goldsboro Daily News | June 7, 2021)

Hurricane season is here, and experts are already predicting above-average storm activity. But it’s not the increasing frequency of storms that are causing environmentalists to be concerned. Dr. Paerl’s (IMS, MASC, ESE) interview on the start of hurricane season was … Read more

UNC professor, state track COVID-19 trends in wastewater (NC Health News | June 5, 2021)

Researchers at University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences began more than a year ago tracking in wastewater the virus that causes COVID-19, just as the pandemic was beginning to sweep across the globe.

Drought Conditions Helping The Neuse River Return To Normal (Public Radio East | June 4, 2021)

Dr. Nathan Hall (IMS, MASC) makes an appearance on Public Radio East talking about recent drought conditions & how that impacts the Neuse. Until this week, Eastern North Carolina has gone months without a significant amount of rainfall.  In fact, 55 … Read more

UNC professor, state track COVID-19 trends in wastewater (Coastal Review | June 4, 2021)

Researchers at University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences began more than a year ago tracking in wastewater the virus that causes COVID-19, just as the pandemic was beginning to sweep across the globe. That research led to the … Read more

AI Accelerated Solar Energy Research Team Selected for Creativity Hubs Award (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 4, 2021)

New award will support a team from the 2020-2021 competitive funding round seeking to revolutionize solar energy research and solar fuel production. A Creativity Hubs award has been presented to the AI Accelerated Discovery of Solar Energy Materials Hub — … Read more

Great Lakes algae threatens air quality (Great Lakes Echo | June 4, 2021)

Paerl lab Ph.D. student Haley Plaas (ESE) spoke with the Great Lakes Echo about the aerosolization of harmful algal blooms. Toxins from harmful algal blooms are known to pollute water, but now researchers are looking at how they harm Great … Read more

North Carolina’s shoreline estuaries are transforming into “ghost forests,” but why? (WHQR | June 3, 2021)

Dr. Chris Voss (IMS) spoke with WHQR Public Radio in Wilmington about ghost forests. Along the coastal barrier islands of the Atlantic coast, maritime forests are home to mammals, reptiles, insects, plants, and migrating birds. They’re vital to coastal and storm … Read more

One of a kind Oyster Reef installed in Beaufort (WITN | June 3, 2021)

WITN story about the collaborative project between Dr. Lindquist (IMS, MASC), a sculptor, and a local fisherman involving a 50-foot octopus oyster reef sculpture. You don’t want to miss this for the visuals alone!

North Carolina launches wastewater monitoring network in collaboration with Noble lab, others (Carteret County News-Times | June 2, 2021)

North Carolina has launched a statewide wastewater monitoring network that is tracking COVID-19 trends through the use of wastewater sampling, and a local research lab is playing a key role in the effort. Dr. Noble (IMS, ESE, MASC, IE) speaks … Read more

ENC experts concerned over environmentally-damaging hurricane trend (WITN | June 1, 2021)

Environmentalists have been noticing a trend of more frequent storms that have brought more rain farther inland, which washes environmental concerns back to our coasts. Dr. Paerl (IMS, ESE, MASC) discusses the upcoming hurricane season and what wetter hurricanes mean for … Read more

Spring 2021 Sustainability News with Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler (The Sustainable Carolina Podcast | May 28, 2021)

I’m Vik Agabekov, the Program Manager for Sustainable Carolina and this week I am joined by our Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, Mike Piehler. We are going in depth on the flurry of … Read more

Clear Skies Ahead Podcast: Conversations about Careers in Meteorology and Beyond (The American Meteorological Society | May 26, 2021)

We talk to Sarav Arunachalam, Deputy Director at the Institute for the Environment and Acting Director for the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about about his early work in … Read more

Scientist behind forecast tool warns of rip current dangers (Coastal Review | May 27, 2021)

Rip currents are the No. 1 public safety risk at the beach in the U.S. and worldwide, Dr. Greg Dusek, senior scientist for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained to Coastal … Read more

UNC Institute of Marine Science pioneering rapid water testing in ENC (NewsChannel 12 | May 27, 2021)

The UNC Institute of Marine Science is in Morehead City, pioneering a technique to test water quality more quickly and accurately. Dr. Rachel Noble says the rapid water testing is the same technology used for rapid COVID-19 testing and provides … Read more

College launches new earth, marine and environmental sciences department (College News | May 26, 2021)

The departments of geological sciences and marine sciences, together with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, will merge into a single academic unit within the College of Arts & Sciences on July 1, becoming the new Department of Earth, Marine … Read more

Back to the Beach: Using oysters instead of sea walls to combat coastal erosion and sea-level rise (Fox 46 Charlotte | May 26, 2021)

Jana Haddad is a coastal and physical oceanography PhD student at UNC studying how waves crash along our coast. “It might look like nothing out there but there’s actually a lot of energy. It doesn’t show up until the waves … Read more

Back to the Beach: Nearly 3 years later, Florence survivors still aren’t home (Climate Central & FOX 46 Charlotte | May 26, 2021)

Three years later, some survivors of Hurricane Florence still aren’t home, but the damage was not evenly distributed. Flooding highlighted disparities, and today the most vulnerable of us continue to be at the highest risk of rising seas that increasingly … Read more

Rising Oceans Part 1: Sea-level rise is already reshaping North Carolina’s coast (Spectrum News | May 26, 2021)

Signs of rising sea levels can be dramatic on the North Carolina coast. Stronger storms push storm surge up into oceanfront communities like Ocracoke, breaking records as the sea washes through the dunes, through homes and businesses, making the barrier … Read more

Back to the Beach: NC scientists use 2-hour rapid tests, self-driving boats to keep local waters clean (Fox 46 Charlotte | May 25, 2021)

Waves crashing, we can hear the welcoming sounds of summer and scientists in North Carolina are hard at work to keep our coastal waters clean.Waves crashing, we can hear the welcoming sounds of summer and scientists in North Carolina are … Read more

Seventh year in a row for early start to hurricane season (WITN | May 24, 2021)

For the seventh year in a row, hurricane season in the Atlantic has begun before the official start date on June First, after subtropical storm Ana formed over the weekend. WITN Meteorologist Phillip Williams explained, “Ana formed over the weekend, … Read more

Study focuses on beach nourishment’s impact on organisms; long-term implications still unknown (Carteret County News-Times | May 24, 2021)

Decades of beach nourishment have significantly altered the habitat, numbers and distribution of large and small animals on Bogue Banks, but it’s too soon to determine whether the long-term impacts will be positive, negative or neutral.

Clams Can Boost Seagrass Restoration: Study (Coastal Review Online | May 7, 2021)

Coastal seagrass beds are critical parts of ecosystem function. Seagrasses are a foundation species, providing essential habitat for fish and birds, protecting against erosion and improving water quality.

How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint (The Well | May 6, 2021)

When it comes to helping in the fight against climate change, reducing your carbon footprint is a regularly suggested tactic — both for individuals and organizations. Researchers at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences are helping the University do just that with … Read more

UNC Kickstarts New Sustainability Efforts with Champion Sustainability Fund (Chapelboro | Apr. 28, 2021)

UNC has received a $1 million investment from the Champion Athleticwear brand to kickstart a series of efforts aimed at creating a more sustainable campus and facilitating the continued innovation of new strategies by the university community. The brand, as … Read more

UNC Revised Climate Action Plan Aims For Net-Zero Emissions by 2040 (Chapelboro | Apr. 26, 2021)

UNC recently announced its new Climate Action Plan detailing new initiatives to accelerate the university’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The original plan from 2009 contained 15 strategies whereas the 2021 draft plan identifies 25 – divided into eight categories. Categories in the 2021 … Read more

UNC moves carbon-neutral deadline up a decade, to 2040 (The Daily Tar Heel | Apr. 25, 2021)

UNC is pledging to be carbon neutral by 2040 — a decade earlier than its last goal — with its new Climate Action Plan. The plan, announced by Sustainable Carolina on April 16, comprises 25 different strategies to lower the University’s … Read more

Carolina launches innovative sustainability programs thanks to new Champion Sustainability Fund (UNC News | Apr. 22, 2021)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will soon get a big boost as it works to create a more sustainable campus. A $1 million investment from the Champion Athleticwear brand, part of the North Carolina-based HanesBrands’ portfolio, will … Read more

How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint with oyster shells and marsh grass (Discover UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2021)

Researchers at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences are helping the University do just that with a blue carbon habitat in Morehead City. This human-made habitat collects and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and serves as a carbon emission offset for … Read more

Of the people, for the planet (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2021)

At Carolina, environmentalism and sustainability are priorities every day, and in honor of Earth Day this Thursday, we’re celebrating the Tar Heels who are making our University greener, conducting research, launching programs and leading change to protect habitats across our … Read more

Carolina announces new Climate Action Plan, seeks public input (UNC News | Apr. 16, 2021)

Today the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the University’s new Climate Action Plan, detailing strategic new initiatives to accelerate the University’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan, which can be found on the Sustainable Carolina website, also … Read more

Scientists urge caution around algae blooms ( WITN | Apr. 15, 2021)

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) -As the weather warms up it’s time for pet owners to once again pay attention to the water in which their dogs are playing. Every year around this time conditions become favorable for harmful algae to … Read more

Earth Day Feature! April 22 | LIVE: Life After the Storm: Building Resilience in North Carolina

How do we address extreme environmental events from all perspectives to build resilience in North Carolina? Join Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment Mike Piehler for a conversation with Carolina experts Elizabeth Frankenberg, Diamond Holloman and Greg Characklis. … Read more

Chancellor’s Spotlight: Sustainable Carolina

In my time as chief sustainability officer, I have quickly come to appreciate the deep and broad expertise and commitment around sustainability at Carolina. Our operational experts are effectively running a small city and working to do so as efficiently … Read more

Celebrate Earth Month at Carolina!

From energy shortages to water scarcity, Carolina is tackling environmental problems with expertise from every discipline. Building on the collaborative spirit of UNC-Chapel Hill, we offer multidisciplinary programs in research, education and service while integrating environmental studies and outreach opportunities … Read more

Lindsay Dubbs to discuss clean energy education and empowerment for LWV’s ‘Hot Topic’ (The Coastland Times | Apr. 11, 2021)

Dr. Lindsay Dubbs will discuss clean energy education and empowerment on April 19 via Zoom from 1-2 p.m. for the Dare County League of Women Voters’ Hot Topic session. This program is free and open to the public. Register at https://lwvdarenc.org by … Read more

April Webinars: IE Cleantech Corner

IE Cleantech Corner has exciting events taking place this month! April Webinars: Career Development Series Pt 2: Post-graduate Opportunities in Europe – Wednesday, April 7th at 2:00 – 3:30 pm A Day in the Life of a General Motors EV … Read more

Paying Tribute to Female Trailblazers in Waterpower (National Hydropower Association | March 2021)

Meet Lindsay Dubbs, PhD, who was honored in late 2020 by the U.S. Department of Energy with a U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Initiative (C3E) Award. Dr. Dubbs is the associate director of the Coastal Studies Institute’s North Carolina Renewable … Read more

National Weather prediction models get major upgrade (WITN | Mar. 29, 2021)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Hurricane Season is approaching, and ahead of the season, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration upgraded its Global Forecasting System called GFS. The upgrades to the GFS model mean the forecast will better track and predict … Read more

Case closed on decades old mystery of American bald eagle deaths (Chemistry World | Mar. 26, 2021)

Chemical forensic work has solved the decades-old mystery of why bald eagles and other US wildlife have been dying of a severe neurodegenerative disease. The scientists have determined that the culprit is a neurotoxin produce by cynanobacteria that grow on … Read more

Clean Energy Plan Target Attainable: Study (Coastal Review Online | Mar. 23, 2021)

The electric power sector is changing, and North Carolina is in the position to shift to cleaner, cost-effective energy production that can reduce pollution, according to a report released earlier this month. Prompted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan, the … Read more

Piehler to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on flooding and resiliency in NC

Tune in at 11 a.m. Mar. 23, 2021 to watch Michael Piehler, UNC Institute for the Environment Director + University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chief Sustainability Officer, testify on flooding and resiliency in North Carolina before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on … Read more

ELEVATING RESILIENCE PLANNING TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Mar. 12, 2021)

The Coastal Resilience Center, in partnership with UNC’s Department of City and Regional Planning, recently hosted American Planning Association’s (APA) Joe DeAngelis and Texas A&M’s Jaimie Masterson for a presentation on “Using Local Planning Tools to Build Community Resilience.” The first … Read more

Gillings School graduate receives leadership award in clean energy field (The Daily Tar Heel | Mar. 7, 2021)

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health graduate Lindsay Dubbs was one of eight women recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for their leadership in the field of clean energy. The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative … Read more

Lianna Koberoski, A Nonformal Educator in Haywood County Completes Her Environmental Education Certification (Teachable Moments NC | Mar. 1, 2021)

Lianna Koberoski, a nonformal educators in Haywood County completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Lianna has been teaching youth informally for the last few years and recently transitioned to a landscaping and garden maintenance position where she says the plant … Read more

National Leaders in Clean Energy Education Convene Virtually to Kick Off Efforts to Foster an Equitable Clean Energy Economy (eSchool News | Feb. 5, 2021)

Leaders in clean energy education– the KidWind Project, REpowering Schools, and CE – Clean Energy. Bright Futures – are hosting the first virtual national Renewable Energy Education Summit today, February 4, 2021, from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm ET. During … Read more

Dubbs to use prestigious award from U.S. Department of Energy to promote women in clean energy

Research associate professor and Outer Banks Field Site director Lindsay Dubbs recently received a prestigious award from the United States Department of Energy. The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Initiative (C3E) honored nine women from a range of clean … Read more

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Endeavors | Feb. 12, 2021)

What comes to mind when you think of air pollution? Long lines of cars pumping out grisly, grey exhaust? Dark plumes of smoke from a manufacturing facility? What about the trees in your neighborhood park, or the pristine blue waters … Read more

Simple Tips to Go Green During the Pandemic (Coulture | Feb. 25, 2021)

We heard it numerous times growing up — “We need to go green.” It was for a significant reason, as taking care of the place we live is essential. The modern-day Green Movement gained prominence in the ‘50s due to the pollution-related … Read more

Characklis speaks to waterloop podcast on managing financial risks from environmental variability

In this episode Greg Characklis explains the financial risk to society from variability in the environment, including rainfall, water levels, and temperature, as well as extreme weather events. He discusses the increased attention on the risk from lenders, investors, insurance … Read more

Building Resilience for Storm-Battered N.C. (Endeavors | Jan. 21, 2021)

The record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season included 30 storms, and while North Carolina managed to dodge the 12 hurricanes that made landfall, that won’t always be the case in the future. A team of interdisciplinary researchers at UNC is combining … Read more

Hobby turns into something for Carteret County woman to help neighbors during pandemic (WNCT | Jan. 24, 2021)

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) — A Carteret County woman is helping neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic with something she started as a hobby. Megan Hunter of Atlantic Beach began crocheting blankets a year ago to get over the post-holiday blues. … Read more

Noble lab studying spread of COVID-19 through wastewater (Carteret County News Times | Jan. 20, 2021)

MOREHEAD CITY — A local researcher is at the forefront of studying how wastewater can be used to detect and track the novel coronavirus, helping public health officials in North Carolina better understand COVID-19 and how it spreads throughout communities. Dr. … Read more

Mask pollution threatens waterways and marine life (WITN | Jan. 4, 2021)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – More than 1.5 billion masks may pollute our oceans, according to a report from OceanAsia. Mayor Rett Newton of the town of Beaufort says masks are already washing up on the waterways. “This is unsustainable. We … Read more

COVID-19 face masks, to-go containers could impact marine life (WCTI | Jan. 4, 2021)

MOREHEAD CITY, Carteret County — Efforts to stay safe from COVID-19 may be putting marine life at risk. Researchers say lifestyle changes such as restaurant takeout are generating more plastic than before in the form of to-go containers and wrappings. Reusable … Read more

Exploring the Impact of Septic Systems on a Coastal Community (Pumper | Jan. 2021)

The Outer Banks region of coastal North Carolina has seen increased flooding and more intense storms in recent years. A related concern is that septic systems in unsewered areas are leaking pathogens and other pollutants into a rising groundwater table. … Read more

A dirty job: NC researchers use wastewater to detect COVID-19 and understand it (The News & Observer | Dec. 28, 2020)

Next year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will analyze what North Carolinians and residents of a handful of other states flush down their toilets in an effort to detect the coronavirus. With the help of government funding, North … Read more

Institute Teams With ASU to Track COVID-19 (Coastal Review Online | Dec. 18, 2020)

Think of it as a link in a chain. This one starts below the streets of a college campus, where people wrapped in personal protective equipment collect human waste from pipes snaking from student dormitories. Just 24 hours after those … Read more

Looking for COVID-19 in college sewage (Carolina Public Press | Dec. 18, 2020)

Think of it as a link in a chain. This one starts below the streets of a college campus, where people wrapped in personal protective equipment collect human waste from pipes snaking from student dormitories. Just 24 hours after those … Read more

Dubbs recognized by U.S. Dept. of Energy for leadership in clean energy (Energy.gov | Dec. 1, 2020)

Congratulations to our own Lindsay Dubbs, co-director of our Outer Banks Field Site! Dubbs is 1 of 9 women to be recognized by U.S. Department of Energy for her achievements and leadership in clean energy as part of the U.S Clean … Read more

UNC Marine Scientists examine our record breaking hurricane season (WITN | Nov. 13, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WITN) – There’s still a bit of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season left, and it’s already been one for the record books. The season is marked with an unprecedented amount of storms and several major hurricanes. Experts … Read more

Use An Instant Pot To Clean Your Face Masks (simplemost | Nov. 10, 2020)

It’s clear that wearing face masks during the pandemic could save countless lives and that caring for reusable masks properly is essential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing cloth face masks anytime they get dirty, and every day at the least. Nobody wants to put … Read more

Focus Carolina: Mike Piehler (The Well | Nov. 9, 2020)

An environmental scientist and noted researcher, Mike Piehler is Carolina’s chief sustainability officer. Piehler oversees the University’s sustainability enterprise, which is distributed throughout operations and academic units, and brings them together to provide maximum value to the University in this … Read more

Leading Coastal Ecologist, UNC Professor, and 1994 Pew Marine Fellow Dies (Pew | Nov. 9, 2020)

Thanks to Charles H. “Pete” Peterson, a generation of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in North Carolina—along with untold numbers of citizens around the U.S.—have a better understanding of coastal science and how it relates to the broader field of … Read more

UNC Researchers Receive NSF Grant to Study Extreme Weather Events with Interdisciplinary Approach (UNC Research | Nov. 2, 2020)

There’s still one month left of the 2020 hurricane season, and meteorologists are well into the Greek alphabet, with Hurricane Zeta making landfall as a Category 1 storm on October 26 in the Yucatán Peninsula north of Tulum, Mexico. Zeta … Read more

Giving new life to historic trees (UNC News | Nov. 2, 2020)

When poor health led to the demise and felling of a giant post oak near Old West two years ago, it would have been easy to think that the tree’s 240-year tenure on Carolina’s campus was over.  But thanks to … Read more

Marine sciences community mourns the loss of Pete Peterson (College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 29, 2020)

Charles H. “Pete” Peterson, Ph.D., 74, distinguished professor emeritus at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, passed away Oct. 24 surrounded by family in his Pine Knoll Shores home. “Pete will be greatly missed at IMS and throughout the … Read more

Research at the coast (UNC Chapel Hill | Oct. 23, 2020)

Not all Carolina researchers spend their days in Chapel Hill labs. For some, like associate professor Johanna Rosman, research means heading out to the Outer Banks and getting your feet wet. Rosman, a physical oceanographer at the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more

A Terrific Trio (College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 19, 2020)

Undergraduate researchers Chloe Schneider, Maribel Herrera and Megan Raisle, under the leadership of UNC-Chapel Hill geographer Diego Riveros-Iregui, spent two months in Ecuador’s northern Andes Mountains exploring climate change. They came back to Chapel Hill, wrote a paper that was … Read more

UPDATE: IE researchers release preliminary results on TRECH project

The Transportation, Equity, Climate and Health (TRECH) study is a multi-institution ongoing study at IE, in partnership with 3 other schools of Public Health at Harvard, Boston University and Columbia.  This study, funded by the Barr Foundation is in support … Read more

Interviewers to seek islanders’ thoughts on extreme weather (Ocracoke Observer | Oct. 10, 2020)

Eastern North Carolina has experienced many storms in recent decades.

Study Finds Regional Pact To Reduce Transportation Pollution Could Yield Major Health Benefits (WBUR | Oct. 6, 2020)

A preliminary analysis of the health impacts of the regional Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) found that the plan that would reduce greenhouse gases the most would also yield the biggest health benefits, helping to avoid about 1,100 deaths and nearly 5,000 asthma cases, and … Read more

Study: N’East Pollution Pact Will Save Black and Brown New Yorkers and Cut Health Costs (StreetsBlog NYC | Oct. 6, 2020)

New Yorkers know in their lungs that getting out of polluting cars and onto bikes and mass transit will promote public health and help save the climate and lives in our region — especially in communities of color, which suffer … Read more

New TRECH Project Research Update on Health Benefits of TCI Policy Scenarios (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE | Oct. 6, 2020)

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States and in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions at about 28% and 30%, respectively (EPA 2020, TCI 2010). Cars, trucks, and buses also emit tons of conventional … Read more

Doing COVID-19 Dirty Work (Endeavors | Sept. 8, 2020)

Employing wastewater epidemiology — proven useful in outbreaks of polio and opioid use — UNC microbiologist Rachel Noble is leading a state-wide collaboration tracking novel coronavirus outbreaks across North Carolina, gaining insight that testing individuals does not offer. Preliminary results … Read more

Addressing Pandemic Problems (Endeavors | Sept. 17, 2020)

Sarav Arunachalam is quantifying how reduced vehicular air emissions due to stay-at-home orders have affected air quality and public health. “At the end of the day, I think there’s a lot more to be done. There’s so much information coming … Read more

Storm Surge expert explains danger of slow-moving storms with heavy rain (WBTV | Sep. 17, 2020)

Storm Surge expert explains danger of slow-moving storms with heavy rain

Landing the Best Fish Consumption Advisory Signs for Sport and Subsistence Anglers (Applied Ecology News | Sep.9, 2020)

New research finds that simpler is better when it comes to letting people know which fish are contaminated with harmful pollutants and unsafe to eat. Where and how to communicate fish consumption advisories is complicated. Advisories can be specific to … Read more

Doing COVID-19 Dirty Work (UNC Endeavors | Sep. 8, 2020)

UNC research technician Tom Clerkin and graduate student Mark Ciesielski turn off a gravel road and into the Beaufort Wastewater Treatment Plant. They jump out of their truck, greeted by the scorching sun and an aroma that is so unique … Read more

Michael Piehler named chief sustainability officer (The Well | Sep. 3, 2020)

Longtime faculty member Michael Piehler (BS ’90, MSPH ’94, Ph.D. ’97) is Carolina’s chief sustainability officer and special assistant to the chancellor for sustainability, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced in a campus email sent Wednesday.

Piehler named Carolina’s chief sustainability officer (UNC News | Sept. 2, 2020)

In his new role, Mike Piehler will provide leadership and coordination of broad sustainability efforts on campus, develop a consistent plan to reach short- and long-term goals and serve as chair of the University’s Sustainability Council.

A way to make a difference:’ UNC junior opens dialogue for environmental change in new book (The Daily Tarheel | Sep. 1, 2020)

Growing up in Apex, UNC junior Jessica Reid witnessed the destruction of forests in her community — and she felt compelled to do something about it. At the age of 19, she started writing a book about how to discuss … Read more

IDEA 2020 Summer Research Summary: Emily Robinson (UNC College of Arts and Sciences | Aug. 26, 2020)

Sampson County, NC, is pretty high up on the hog leaderboard- it’s one of the top counties in a state that already leads the nation in hog production (North Carolina is second only to Iowa). This wasn’t a claim to … Read more

Coffee with MC and Dr. Rachel Noble, Microbiologist at UNC Institute of Marine Sciences (Facebook, Aug. 21, 2020)

Tuned in Friday morning at 9:30am for tangible tips and tricks to navigate cleanliness and stay healthy during this unique back-to-school season with a local, distinguished professor and microbiologist, Dr. Rachel Noble (who was recently a guest on Good Morning … Read more

Big cities track COVID-19 in the sewers. A UNC professor helps small towns do it, too. (The News & Observer | Aug. 15, 2020)

Many cities are now testing their sewage for signs of the coronavirus, to track and hopefully stop outbreaks of COVID-19 before they get out of control. A UNC professor is working to ensure these techniques can reach all communities. Rachel … Read more

Algal blooms pose possible respiratory threat (The Well |Aug. 14, 2020)

Haley Plaas hits the road before sunrise to get an early start on the drive from Morehead City to Edenton, North Carolina. After two hours of farmland views along country backroads, she finally arrives at her destination — a small … Read more

Strengthening flood resilience (The Well | Aug. 13, 2020)

Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian caused billions of dollars in economic losses over the past four years. Six of the seven largest rainfall events over the last 120 years in North Carolina have occurred in the last 20 years. These … Read more

Researchers working to protect shark population, food sources in North Carolina (WITN | Aug. 13, 2020)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – With 50 species of sharks that can be found right in North Carolina waters, researchers are working hard to protect the ocean’s top predators and their food sources. And early morning surveys out in the Back … Read more

Strengthening flood resilience (The Well | Aug. 13, 2020)

Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian caused billions of dollars in economic losses over the past four years. Six of the seven largest rainfall events over the last 120 years in North Carolina have occurred in the last 20 years. These … Read more

Does ocean water kill germs? You can get some infections from contaminated ocean water (Business Insider Australia | Aug. 8, 2020)

There are some germs that can survive in the ocean and cause infection. Some of the infections that you could contract from swallowing contaminated ocean water include cryptosporidiosis, shigellosis, and E. Coli. If you swim with an open wound, you … Read more

Shark Week: Carteret County scientists research, educate year-round (Carteret County News-Times | Aug. 8,2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — While shark enthusiasts get ready for the Discovery Channel’s 32nd annual Shark Week to begin Sunday, for some researchers based in Carteret County, every week is shark week. Sharks are the research focus of several scientists and graduate … Read more

The past, present and future of shark research (The Well | Aug. 7, 2020)

The survey methods may be the same, but the science has evolved — and so have the stakes. Since 1972, researchers from the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) have used baited longlines to capture and release sharks in order to gather … Read more

‘Spontaneous de-doping’ for 17.8%-efficient perovskite mini-module (PV Magazine | Aug. 6, 2020)

Perovskite solar cell technology has come a long way in a relatively short time, but there are still plenty of issues that need to be ironed out to support large-scale production. Scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) say that one of … Read more

Sewage Sampling May Preview Virus Trends (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 6, 2020)

We see the numbers every day. New cases. Percentage of the population that’s been tested. Presumed recoveries. Hospitalizations. Deaths. This is how the nation is keeping its finger on the pulse of a pandemic with no definitive end in sight. … Read more

Coastal researchers studying hurricane impacts on North Carolina shorelines (WITN | Aug. 6, 2020)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -Marine Scientists in Eastern North Carolina study many different aspects of our coast and the creatures that inhabit it. When a hurricane is approaching, they work ahead of the storm taking measurements and collecting data on how … Read more

Experts Warn Hurricane Season Is Just Beginning (WHQR | Aug. 6, 2020)

Hurricane Isaias barreled through the Cape Fear Region earlier this week and crews and residents are continuing their cleanup efforts. But as WHQR reports, forecasters are saying it’s likely another storm might be heading our way. At a Tuesday press … Read more

Sewage Sampling May Preview Virus Trends (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 6, 2020)

We see the numbers every day. New cases. Percentage of the population that’s been tested. Presumed recoveries. Hospitalizations. Deaths. This is how the nation is keeping its finger on the pulse of a pandemic with no definitive end in sight. … Read more

Beachgoers face increased rip current risk following Isaias (WITN | Aug. 5, 2020)

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) – While many across the east are picking up the pieces left from Hurricane Isaias, leaders in at least one beach community along the largely-spared coast now face concerns about increased rip currents after the storm. … Read more

The Hurricane Questions (The Carolina Mercury | Aug. 2, 2020)

Good morning, veteran hurricane reporter here. Of course you shouldn’t lose track of how powerful a storm is. That said, please don’t concentrate on categories and windspeed. North Carolina has been devastated by repeat disasters, major storms, but almost none … Read more

A Smarter American Grid: What is Stopping Us? (Energy Central | July 29, 2020)

Terms like “smart grid” and “modern grid” are unavoidable in conversations about the future of the American electrical grid; but what do these umbrella words mean for the future of utility companies and energy consumers? Jonas Monast, Assistant Professor at … Read more

Scientists explain how Hurricanes are tracked (WITN | Jul 31, 2020)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -While we continue to track Hurricane Isaias and any potential impact to Eastern Carolina, experts are giving us insight into the data that is collected to help produce the models that show us what the storm is … Read more

Local Scientists Explore New Way To Test For COVID-19 (PRE | Jul. 31, 2020)

Scientists at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City are conducting research that may change the way Covid-19 infection rates are measured. PRE’s Jamie Rodriguez has more.

Department of Energy funds milestone North Carolina-led initiative to advance solar energy research (UNC: University Communications | Jul. 31, 2020)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide $100 million in funding to new artificial photosynthesis research projects, including a $40 million award to the North Carolina-based Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE) to accelerate fundamental research of the production of fuels from sunlight.    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads the CHASE … Read more

Algal Blooms Pose Possible Respiratory Threat (UNC Research | Jul. 29, 2020)

Haley Plaas hits the road before sunrise to get an early start on the drive from Morehead City to Edenton, North Carolina. After two hours of farmland views along country backroads, she finally arrives at her destination — a small … Read more

Two Universities make face shields for local teachers (WITN | Jul. 28, 2020)

UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences in partnership with the Duke University Marine Lab are using their 3-D printers to create face shields. Since April the two Carteret County-based schools have been working overtime to make as many shields as possible, … Read more

Record Year for Research at UNC-Chapel Hill as New Grant Awards Top $1 Billion (UNC Research | July 21, 2020)

For the first time in the University’s history, annual new awards for research conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have exceeded the $1 billion mark. The record amount in new grants, contracts, and awards received in … Read more

From livestock to nanoparticles: COVID-19 research runs the gamut at NC universities (Jul. 21, 2020)

Can food animals, like cows and pigs, harbor the coronavirus? Could nanoparticles protect surfaces from COVID-19 contamination? What social factors determine who is willing to wear a mask, and who is not? These are among the questions N.C. researchers are … Read more

Researchers, town leaders working to improve water quality concerns (WITN | Jul. 20, 2020)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – Even with the common afternoon showers during the mid-summer months, it’s been a relatively dry period across the east. But despite the lack of rain, a number of water quality advisories have been issued, leaving researchers … Read more

Lab continues water sampling amid pandemic, reports ‘excellent’ quality at beaches (Carteret County News-Times | Jul. 20, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — As people take to Carteret County’s beaches and waterways in near record numbers this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic, they should rest assured it is generally safe to do so, both in terms of water quality and risk … Read more

Carolina launches “Carolina Together: The Roadmap for Fall 2020”

This roadmap places the safety and well-being of our campus community paramount to all other considerations, and was created with this perspective and these guiding principles and goals in mind. During this time, we must adopt community standards and behaviors that will help promote a healthy campus and be prepared for some … Read more

The climate change impact on hurricanes (WTVD-TV | Jun. 18, 2020)

This story is part of our 2020 hurricane special Storm Ready 2020: Preparing in a Pandemic The climate change impact on hurricanes We’ve had our share of extreme weather events here in North Carolina, especially when it comes to hurricanes. … Read more

In Shutdown, Less Traffic Doesn’t Mean Cleaner Air (UNC Research | June 10, 2020)

As the U.S. economy slowed this spring due to the novel coronavirus, an avenue of inquiry is how air emissions changed. One finding is that while passenger vehicle use decreased dramatically, freight traffic increased in some large cities. “The demand … Read more

A Resilient North Carolina: Preparing Our State For Hurricanes (UNC News | Jun. 3, 2020)

North Carolina is one of the states most susceptible to hurricanes. With a coastline that juts out into the Atlantic, the state is like a catcher’s mitt, catching the storms as they move north. And as climate change transforms the … Read more

ENC braces for active season in the tropics (WITN | Jun. 3, 2020)

EASTERN CAROLINA, NC (WITN) With the third named tropical system of the year it is expected to be an active season in the tropics and experts are talking about what that means for us here in the east.

Protecting North Carolina’s seagrass (UNC News | Jun. 1, 2020)

North Carolina possesses extensive seagrass meadows, creating a dynamic habitat that supports vibrant wildlife like flounder, grouper, snapper, blue crabs and shrimp. “It’s a really important habitat for many of the little fish and crabs that people care about when … Read more

Area marine labs host summer courses online (Carolina Coast Online | May 29, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY/BEAUFORT — While state officials have been easing restrictions put in place due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, local university-led marine research labs aren’t going to have in-person classes this summer. Since May 8, state officials have been relaxing restrictions … Read more

FROM THE BLOG: How Will We Feel the Effects of Global Warming?

Our climate is rapidly changing, so what repercussions will our local economy face? Haywood County relies on a unique blend of agriculture and tourism to financially support the region. This support is being threatened by the national scientific consensus between … Read more

Where Storms Are Lore, Folks See Change (Coastal Review Online | May 28, 2020)

While hurricanes are woven through the history of Down East Carteret County, a remote string of communities on the central North Carolina coast known for its fishing and boatbuilding traditions, Hurricane Florence was a turning point.

Signs Of Change Are Clear, If Language Is Not (Coastal Review Online | May 27, 2020)

A series of record-breaking hurricanes over the past four years has led to changes in how coastal North Carolina residents and state and elected officials talk about climate change and sea level rise.

Carbon emissions down 17 percent during COVID-19 pandemic (ABC 11 WTVD | May 20, 2020)

Another dramatic number is coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world’s carbon emissions decreased by 17 percent at the beginning of April. “It was somewhat expected given that the global economy has come to a grinding halt,” said Dr. … Read more

IE’s Gray served on panel releasing recommendations to guide North Carolina’s response to suspected cancer clusters (News from Lineberger | May 19, 2020)

An advisory panel established by the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the mandate of the North Carolina General Assembly to develop strategies for assessing cancer incidence and mortality rates and patterns over time and geography, has released a report with … Read more

Do’s and don’ts for wearing and cleaning masks (ABC News | May 14, 2020)

The CDC advises all masks should allow for breathing without restriction, fit snugly but comfortable and include multiple layers of fabric.

How Counting Caterpillars Can Help Scientists Understand Climate Change (Discover | May 12, 2020)

Kids and adults both coo at the sight of a crawling caterpillar. We imagine that this hungry caterpillar may flutter past someday as a beautiful butterfly. Caterpillars and other insects with segmented bodies are called arthropods. And scientists need your … Read more

American Planning Association adopts Scorecard tool developed by CRC researchers (Coastal Resilience Center | May 4, 2020)

Past years have brought an increase in intense, landfalling hurricanes, loss of property from expansive wildfires and coastal flooding on days both rainy and sunny. These events have put greater emphasis on community resilience – and on making adjustments to … Read more

Tiny Particles, Big Discoveries (Campaign for Carolina | May 3, 2020)

Whether Will Vizuete is investigating pollution caused by wildfires in the southeastern U.S.; marijuana cultivation facilities in Denver, Colorado; diesel combustion facilities in the Galápagos Islands; or wood-burning cookstoves in low- and middle-income countries — he works to improve our … Read more

New community website helps build digital relationships (The Well | Apr. 27, 2020)

Residents of Chapel Hill and beyond now have a source for hyperlocal University information directed to the community. The University launched communityrelations.unc.edu today. The site connects neighbors and community members with information relevant to them, including news about public events, how to … Read more

Carolina ranks second in the US, 22nd in the world in 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (UNC Campus News | April 23, 2020)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks second in the United States in the 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure sustainability among institutions of higher education. The 2020 rankings, released April 22, placed Carolina at 22nd overall … Read more

UNC Researchers Successfully Remove PFAS Chemicals from Water (UNC Research | Apr. 22, 2020)

Working across disciplines, UNC-Chapel Hill environmental engineer Orlando Coronell and chemist Frank Leibfarth have developed a filtration resin that has thus far been successful in removing most PFAS from water. PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of over 5,000 chemicals. They are … Read more

Guskiewicz establishes University Sustainability Commission (The Well | Apr. 22, 2020)

The commission, led by Mike Piehler, will align sustainability efforts across the University and support the work of the Three Zeros Environmental Initiative. A new University-wide commission will oversee and advise on Carolina’s sustainability efforts, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced … Read more

Protecting the Galapagos Islands (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2020)

For generations, the islands’ ecosystems lived in isolation, preserving the environment and its ecosystem. But now, the islands are also home to 35,000 Ecuadorian residents and the destination of hundreds of thousands of travelers, creating a human-environment system that alters … Read more

How to make sure your mask fits properly (WRAL | Apr. 20, 2020)

How to make sure your mask fits properly as you use them to protect yourself from germs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Coastal fish populations didn’t crash after the Deepwater Horizon spill – why not? ( The Conversation | Apr. 16, 2020)

When the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released 4 to 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, some early projections estimated that the toll on fisheries could reach US$5-10 billion by 2020. Chemicals in crude oil may affect fish and … Read more

Marine science students continue studies amid outbreak (Carteret County News Times | Apr. 15, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — While marine science students’ fieldwork has been put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, their learning continues with data analysis, writing and online courses. In Carteret County, there are three marine research facilities dedicated to teaching and … Read more

What to clean, how to clean, UNC professor explains (WRAL | Apr. 14, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Rachel Noble is a UNC professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. She has a PhD in marine biology and studies how viruses interact with the world. When the coronavirus outbreak started, she created … Read more

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MOBILIZE US TO CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS? (Well + Good | Apr. 13, 2020)

Nearly a month after President Trump declared a national state of emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic, many of us remain sheltering in place to slow the virus’ spread. COVID-19 has threatened our livelihood and, accordingly, triggered a wordwide crisis-mode … Read more

UNC/Duke Marine Lab 3-D print face shields (WNCT | Apr. 13, 2020)

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) – Schools on the Crystal Coast are helping emergency personnel stay protected as they serve coronavirus patients. Duke and UNC Marine Lab are working with a Beaufort Middle School teacher to make face shields with a … Read more

Fewer cars, cleaner air? Scientists study this byproduct of COVID-19 (ABC11 | Apr. 10, 2020)

If all you’ve done lately is get some fresh air in your backyard or take short jaunts for essentials, you may not realize traffic in the Triangle is virtually non-existent even at rush hour. And for that kind of scene … Read more

Natural Hazards Resilience Speakers Series: Phil Berke, UNC-Chapel Hill (Coastal Resilience Center | Apr. 9, 2020)

Dr. Philip Berke’s work focuses on the relationship between community resilience and urban planning with specific focus on methods, theory and metrics of local planning and outcomes. He is the lead co-author of an internationally recognized book, Urban Land Use Planning (University … Read more

The best ways to clean fabric face masks (Popular Science | Apr. 9,2020)

The Centers for Disease Control and Protection has encouraged people to wear cloth masks at all times while outside. Research shows that although they’re not great protection against airborne COVID-19 particles, they’re better than nothing.

How to disinfect to kill a virus (UNC Research | Apr. 9, 2020)

Disinfecting your home is a critical part of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and a University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences professor has created an infographic to help get the word out. Rachel Noble, a professor of public … Read more

Professor’s Graphic Simplifies Disinfecting (Coastal Review Online | Apr. 9, 2020)

Disinfecting your home is a critical part of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and a University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences professor has created an infographic to help get the word out. Rachel Noble, a professor of public … Read more

Dos and dont’s: How to wear a mask properly (WRAL | Apr. 7, 2020)

The CDC now recommends a mask or face covering for everyone who goes out, but it won’t work if it’s not put on properly.

Tips from remote field researchers on life in isolation, tough environments (UNC News | Apr. 6, 2020)

Marine science researchers in Carolina’s College of Arts & Sciences have worked in many of the world’s most remote spaces: Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys, Alaskan glaciers and Arctic icebreaker research vessels. The lessons researchers learned while working in cramped quarters and without … Read more

Three Zeros Roadmap Will Chart the Way Forward For a More Sustainable Carolina (Three Zeros | Apr. 6, 2020)

How does Carolina set sustainability goals for campus? The University will publish the Three Zeros Roadmap later this spring, which will serve as a guide for faculty, staff and students to help identify high-potential projects and programs, evaluate and report … Read more

Mayor Newton speaks with Dr. Rachel Noble about Covid-19 (Apr. 5, 2020 | Facebook: Town of Beaufort, NC))

Mayor Rett newton updated residents regarding recent effects of COVID-19, adjustments and future plans.

Taking a seat with Carolina’s researchers (UNC News | Mar. 27, 2020)

Behind Carolina’s research mission and its dedication to serving all North Carolinians are the University’s graduate students. From Morehead City to Burlington and beyond, graduate students are delving deep into major issues impacting our state and are coming up with … Read more

Focus Carolina: Greg Characklis (The Well | Mar. 16)

“The purpose of the center is to help a lot of groups and businesses that experience financial risk as a result of extreme environmental events.” Dr. Greg Characklis is the Philip C. Singer Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental … Read more

Dana Haine – Mixing Research with Creativity to Appeal to Learners (NIH News | Mar. 12)

Dana Haine works with researchers, K-12 teachers, and students to make the newest scientific research digestible for classrooms and communities. As the K-12 science education manager for the Center for Public Engagement with Science within the University of North Carolina … Read more

UNC Clean Tech Summit ignited conversations about the future of sustainability (The Daily Tar Heel | Feb. 23, 2020)

Campus community members interested in the future of sustainability gathered at the UNC Clean Tech Summit, which took place on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.

Air pollution kills thousands of Americans every year – here’s a low-cost strategy to reduce the toll (The Conversation | Feb. 21, 2020)

About 1 of every 25 deaths in the U.S. occurs prematurely because of exposure to air pollution. Dirty air kills roughly 110,000 Americans yearly, which is more than all transportation accidents and shootings combined. When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency … Read more

Duke Energy testing alternative batteries as storage uncouples from wind and solar (Charlotte Business Journal | Feb. 21, 2020)

Some details about the technology were shared at the UNC Clean Tech Summit in Chapel Hill

UNC Clean Tech Summit spotlights trends shaping clean energy economy (WRAL TechWire | Feb. 18, 2020)

CHAPEL HILL – This week, UNC-Chapel Hill’s seventh annual Clean Tech Summit will convene hundreds of students, faculty and staff members, professionals, executives and government representatives—all passionate about the future of the clean energy industry. The event features two days … Read more

Taking Research to New Heights (Endeavors | Feb. 11, 2020)

From surveying glacial melt to managing wildfires, there are endless ways drones can be used in research. Over winter break, UNC faculty and students completed a drone workshop ­— the first of its kind at the university — developing aeronautic … Read more

UNC: Extreme Heat & Air Quality: Implications for Human Health (Train Learning Network | Feb. 6, 2020)

This module was developed to inform public health professionals like community health workers, case managers, nurses and other professionals in the public health sector about how extreme heat can exacerbate air pollution. This module was developed by the Community Engagement … Read more

ECL Professor Bland Simpson Coteaches Seminar on Coastal Ecology (UNC College of Arts and Sciences)

Last semester, Bland Simpson, a professor in the Department of English & Comparative Literature, and Brent McKee, a professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, offered a new interdisciplinary class last semester entitled “The Changing Coasts of Carolina.” The course … Read more

Decades of U.S. air quality improvements may be slowing, and these areas have it the worst (Popular Science | Feb. 4, 2020)

For decades, America has made progress on air quality. With emission regulations and advances in clean air technologies, the days of smog so thick it burned your eyes and lungs are virtually over. But even with our gains, air pollution … Read more

Vaping research uncovers new dangers (WPSD | Feb. 3, 2020)

RALEIGH, N.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to investigate the outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarettes, surveys show a record number of teens continue to … Read more

Europe’s Rivers Are the Most Obstructed on Earth (Eos | Jan. 31, 2020)

Dams and locks dot many of the world’s waterways, effectively fragmenting river systems. Researchers now have conducted a global survey of large rivers and found over 35,000 of these obstructions. This inventory can be used to better understand a landscape’s … Read more

There are 20 to 30 species of shark off the NC coast (WRAL | Jan. 30, 2020)

According to Ocearch, a non-profit organization that tracks great white sharks and other large predators and keystone marine species, there are many different types of sharks off the North Carolina coast. Researchers think the warmer weather is a factor.

TAR HEELS, BALL CORPORATION INTRODUCE RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CUP AT SPORTING EVENTS (ACCN | Jan. 30, 2020)

CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina Department of Athletics and Ball Corporation announced today a partnership to bring Ball’s infinitely recyclable aluminum cup to fans at Tar Heel sporting events, beginning with Saturday’s men’s basketball game at the … Read more

Focus Carolina: John Bruno (Focus Carolina | Jan. 27, 2020)

John Bruno is a marine ecologist and professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research is focused on the impact of climate change on the ocean and marine ecosystems. His lab … Read more

New-Age Nicotine (UNC Endeavors | Jan. 22, 2020)

Dana Haine, a science educator for the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and  K-12 science education manager for the Center for Public Engagement with Science within the UNC Institute for the … Read more

Carolina Ranks No. 3 among U.S. Schools in 2019 GreenMetric Sustainable Campus Survey (UNC Three Zeros | Jan. 21, 2020)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked No. 21 globally and No. 3 nationally in the 2019 Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric World University Rankings. The annual GreenMetric Ranking ranks campus sustainability worldwide. The 2019 survey was the largest … Read more

Unseen Science (UNC Endeavors | Jan. 21, 2020)

Sometimes the most powerful things in life are those we can’t see. Atoms. Oxygen. Love. Radio waves. Faith. And the internet. What appears in your web browser is just the top layer of the sprawling, invisible tangle of pathways and protocols that makes a worldwide network of electronic … Read more

The Timber Chronicles ( UNC Endeavors | Jan. 16, 2020)

On a shelf in Erika Wise’s office sits a foot-long specimen, only about half a centimeter in width. Marked by alternating shades of rich amber and sepia, this unassuming sample is a tree core and contains about 300 years-worth of … Read more

Blue-Green Algae Produce Methane (The Scientist | Jan. 15, 2020)

ABOVE: A colony of cyanobacteria from Lake Stechlin PROF HANS-PETER GROSSART. Cyanobacteria are found in almost all aquatic and terrestrial environments on Earth and, through photosynthesis, supply a large portion of the planet’s oxygen. According to a study published in … Read more

Sandbar Oyster Company promotes ecological balance in the face of climate change (WRAL TechWire | Jan. 13, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY – Sandbar Oyster Company has learned to embrace climate change while also working to fight it to help the living shorelines off the coast of North Carolina. Dr. Niels Lindquist, a researcher at the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more

Exploring the changing coast of North Carolina (UNC News | Jan. 10, 2020)

There is a very big gap in the hard sciences between learning those sciences and communicating them well with people,” said Sydney Thomas, a junior biologymajor. A College of Arts & Sciences course called the Changing Coasts of Carolina aims … Read more

Coastal Research: Would You Swim Here? (Coastal Review | Jan. 9, 2020)

University of North Carolina undergraduates at coastal campuses spent the fall semester undertaking projects to answer pressing environmental questions, making their capstone presentations in December. This is the second of two reports stemming from presentations on water quality. Read the … Read more

Earth Is Losing Its River Ice Cover And Obviously, Global Warming Is To Blame (Mashable India | Jan. 3, 2020)

More than half of Earth’s rivers freeze over every year. These frozen rivers support important transportation networks for communities and industries located at high altitudes. Ice cover also help to regulate the amount of greenhouse gasses released from rivers into … Read more

New study estimates the global extent of river ice loss as Earth warms (UNC News | Jan. 2, 2020)

More than half of Earth’s rivers freeze over every year. These frozen rivers support important transportation networks for communities and industries located at high latitudes. Ice cover also regulates the amount of greenhouse gasses released from rivers into Earth’s atmosphere. … Read more

Study measures river ice loss caused by global warming (United Press International | Jan. 1, 2020)

Many communities and industries utilize frozen rivers for transportation purposes during the heart of the winter, but new research suggests the planet’s rivers are likely to spend fewer and fewer days frozen solid each year as temperatures continue to rise.

Wake towns that drink from Jordan Lake should help pay to clean it, UNC report says (News + Observer | Dec. 23, 2019)

Towns in Wake County that take drinking water from Jordan Lake should help shoulder the costs of cleaning it up, says a new report from UNC-Chapel Hill. The recommendation to spread the costs of Jordan Lake’s clean-up was included in a … Read more

As coral die, protected areas aren’t enough (Knowable Magazine | Dec. 17, 2019)

Healthy coral reefs host vibrant communities of fish and other marine animals, from time worms to hulking sharks. They protect coastal communities by breaking up large storm waves before they hit shore.

Message from Carolina BOT Chair Richard Stevens on Kevin M. Guskiewicz (UNC News | Dec. 13, 2019)

Guskiewicz is deeply committed to the University and its mission, prioritizing student success, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing the critical needs of North Carolina and the world.

8 Most Popular College Majors – Marine Science (The Onion | Dec. 10, 2019)

The field of marine science has seen a boom in recent years following Niels L. Lindquist’s publication of his study “Oyster Reefs Can Outpace Sea-Level Rise” in Nature Climate Change, prompting high school students across the country to attempt to … Read more

How a Small Stretch of Ocean Stirred a Conservation Movement (Associated Press | Nov. 25, 2019)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — From the surface, these 22 square miles of water are unexceptional.

CEOs Are Facing Fierce Pressure on Climate Change—From Their Own Kids (Fortune | Nov. 25, 2019)

When it comes to getting major companies to act on climate change, CEOs increasingly list pressure from their shareholders, their customers, and their own employees. But for many executives, the pressure is also coming from another, particularly powerful source: their … Read more

Puerto Rico’s Next Big Crisis Is Water (Huffpost | Nov. 23, 2019)

SALINAS, Puerto Rico ― It was a late August afternoon when the rain finally came, first as a drizzle that beaded on the plaza’s magnolia trees, then a downpour, darkening the dusty bricks and forming murky rivulets along the curbside.

Eating Healthy Might Cause More Harm then Good as Caesar Salad is Believed to Cause E. coli Infections (Nature World News | Nov. 21, 2019)

At least 17 people from eight states felt ill due to E. coli infection, according to public health officials. There is no reported death, but seven were hospitalized. Two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure … Read more

UNC researcher working to make solar energy more affordable (WRAL TechWire | Nov. 19, 2019)

CHAPEL HILL — If someone asked you to wager a guess on when solar energy first came of age, and you said the seventies, you’d be correct – but only if you meant the 1870s.

Carolina ranks 17th among U.S. universities for study abroad in 2019 ‘Open Doors’ report (UNC News | Nov. 19, 2019)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 17th among U.S. higher education institutions for the number of students earning credit for study abroad for the second year in a row, according to the Institute of International Education’s 2019 … Read more

Solar that Sells (Innovate Carolina | Nov. 18, 2019)

Professor Jinsong Huang is working to change the renewable power industry with his perovskite solar cell method that will make solar energy more affordable.

New Tools For Shark Research (UNCTV | Nov. 15, 2019)

The UNC Institute of Marine Sciences manages the nation’s longest running coastal shark survey- going on 45 years. New research into shark tissues will provide new insights into the shark’s life history, movement, diet, and where it fits in the … Read more

Carteret County students get hands on learning Volume 90% (WITN – Greenville, NC | Nov. 14, 2019)

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (WITN) Nearly 100 middle school students in the east had the chance to leave their classroom behind for the day and instead spend time at a local university and on an island getting some hands on learning.

Toxic Algal Blooms Are Worsening with Climate Change (Earth & Space Science News | Nov. 13, 2019)

Every summer, vast blooms of harmful algae erupt in freshwater lakes across the United States. This year, blue-green mats of algae blanketed more than 1,500 square kilometers of Lake Erie’s surface by August; toxic algae forced officials to close New … Read more

Testing Well Water for Contamination (American Scientist | Nov. 7, 2019)

After the 2014 coal ash spill into North Carolina’s Dan River, the state required water testing around each of the Duke Energy coal ash storage facilities. The tests showed groundwater contamination, but testing wasn’t expanded beyond those sites. So people … Read more

Helping a coastal town monitor water quality (College of Arts & Sciences | Nov. 6, 2019)

Adam Gold’s lab space resembles more of a garage workbench than a water research facility. Drills, screwdrivers, soldering irons and circuit boards cover the countertops. Gold, an Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) Ph.D. student in the Environment, Ecology and Energy … Read more

Living Shoreline Proponents Tout Examples (Coastal Review Online | Nov. 6, 2019)

BEAUFORT –  As a covered sightseeing tour ferry circled the Sandbar Oyster Co.’s shellfish lease at the mouth of the Newport River, David Cessna gestured and told the about three dozen aboard that “On the starboard side of the boat, … Read more

UNC researchers work toward safer water across the globe (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 31, 2019)

UNC professor Theo Dingemans is working with a team of researchers on a membrane-based water purification tool with the goal of providing safer water for populations across the globe.

The Impact Of Hurricanes On Valuable Seagrass (UNC-TV | Oct. 17, 2019)

Seagrass provides crucial habitat for fish, it filters the water and stabilizes shoreline. But until now, researchers have never looked at how much damage a hurricane does to this valuable coastal habitat. A team from the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more

IMS scientists give close-up look at Neuse River research (New Bern Sun Journal | Oct. 17, 2019)

Faculty members from UNC-Chapel Hill got a first-hand look at the work done by the school’s Institute for Marine Sciences (IMS) in Morehead City during a tour of the Neuse River Thursday.

Girls dive into science at IMS (Carteret County News-Times | Oct. 12, 2019)

MOREHEAD CITY — It was all about science and technology for area high school girls Saturday at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences.

Girls encouraged to pursue STEM during weekend science camp (WITN – Greenville, NC | Oct. 9, 2019)

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (WITN)A science camp this weekend at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City is hoping to encourage high school girls to pursue a future in a STEM field.

Oyster reefs are making a comeback–by protecting coasts from the ravages of climate change (CNBC | Oct. 9, 2019)

GOVERNORS ISLAND, N.Y. — They are salty, sumptuous and often served opulently on ice. They are also now on the front lines in the fight to protect coastal real estate from climate change. Oysters — more precisely, oyster reefs.

Jones County man contracts Vibrio while cleaning crabs (ABC News | Oct. 8, 2019)

POLLOCKSVILLE, Jones County — After one North Carolina man died from contracting Vibrio from eating a raw oyster, a Jones County family is opening up about their ordeal with the potentially deadly bacteria.

#GDTBATH: Allie Omens (UNC News | Oct. 7, 2019)

Environmentalism and sustainability have been engrained in Carolina senior Allie Omens for as long as she can remember.

Sustainable steps (UNC News | Oct. 7, 2019)

In 2016, after Carolina’s Sustainability Office worked with stakeholders across campus to research and develop a campus sustainability plan, the University identified three ambitious sustainability goals: net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Biosolids: mix human waste with toxic chemicals, then spread on crops (The Guardian | Oct. 5, 2019)

Residual sludge from treating waste water has been turned into a money-spinner but what are the costs to health of ‘the most pollutant-rich manmade substance on Earth’? By some estimates, Americans send about 300m pounds of feces daily from the … Read more

Growing Cannabis Could Lead To More Air Pollution (Science Friday | Oct. 4, 2019)

Between water and electricity, Colorado’s legal cannabis industry already has a big environmental footprint. But what about Front Range air quality? Could the plant itself be contributing to air pollution?

Climate Game-Changers (Endeavors | Oct. 3, 2019)

Moss-covered molehills pepper the landscape, each a different shade of autumn. Some are mustard yellow, others evergreen. Upon closer inspection, petite red buds peep through the growth while spindly, fingerlike plants called lycophytes grow long and tall on the mounds’ … Read more

Column: How environmental and economic justice work together (Triangle Business Journal | Oct. 3, 2019)

People of color and low-wealth individuals and families are at the greatest risk of exposure to both natural disasters and technological hazards in our state.

Frogs, Butterflies, Sharks, oh my! (UNCTV | Oct. 3, 2019)

Animals can’t survive without places to breed and feed. The endangered Carolina gopher frog. Monarch butterflies. Sharks. Meet the conservationists trying to give these species a boost using habitat conservation. And learn how bobcats and fox are responding to coyotes—a … Read more

Moisture Variability Extremes Could Threaten Southwest Forests (KJZZ – Phoenix, AZ | Oct. 2, 2019)

Warming due to climate change is driving shifts in Earth’s hydrological cycle.

12-state coalition targets fuel-generated carbon emissions (Enterprise News | Oct. 1, 2019)

BOSTON – A coalition of Eastern states trying to cut carbon emissions from transportation has decided to focus on gasoline and on-road diesel, which together account for over 80 percent of carbon emissions in the region.

Fuel suppliers at heart of transportation initiative (The Herald News | Oct. 1, 2019)

BOSTON — The coalition of eastern states developing a program to drive down carbon emissions from transportation has decided to focus on motor gasoline and on-road diesel, two sources of pollution that account for over 80 percent of carbon emissions … Read more

The Latest Carbon Market Developments: Part 1 (Law 360 | Oct. 1, 2019)

This article is part one of a two-part series addressing domestic and international developments related to carbon pricing and related programs aimed at regulating or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Regional coalition outlines path to curb vehicle emissions in Virginia and 12 other jurisdictions (Virginia Mercury | Oct. 1, 2019)

From Maine to Virginia, carbon capping may be coming — this time for cars.

States unveil plan to curb transportation emissions (Boston Globe | Oct. 1, 2019)

Massachusetts and 11 other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states released a framework agreement Tuesday for a “cap-and-invest” system to curb transportation emissions, the nation’s largest source of greenhouse gases.

Eastern States’ Clean Transportation Plan Takes Shape (NRDC | Oct. 1, 2019)

To solve the climate crisis, we need bold leadership across the economy, especially in transportation, which is the United States’ number one source of climate pollution. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is heading in reverse by protecting polluters over people and … Read more

Massachusetts joining 11 other states to cut back on carbon emissions from regional transportation, new draft policy shows (Masslive | Oct. 1, 2019)

Massachusetts and 11 Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states are jointly looking to scale back on gasoline and diesel emissions as part of an effort to implement a regional “low carbon” transportation policy, according to a draft policy framework released on Tuesday … Read more

UNC partners with upcycle company, providing sustainable products on campus (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 1, 2019)

UNC has partnered with Reborn Clothing Co., a Raleigh-based upcycling company, to reuse and upcycle unwanted or outdated textiles into new products.

More frequent and intense tropical storms mean less recovery time for the world’s coastlines (The Conversation | Oct. 1, 2019)

Tropical cyclones – storms that bring strong, rotating winds and rain, and which can intensify into hurricanes or typhoons – affect coastal regions around the world. Our research team, centered at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences, … Read more

Morehead Planetarium wins multi-year $2.86 million grant for new exhibits, programs (WRAL, “Go Ask Mom” blog | Sep, 20, 2019)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — As Morehead Planetarium and Science Center undergoes a major renovation and expansion, it’s also celebrating a big infusion of money that will help it build new exhibits for visitors and participants in its traveling programs.

Is Pot Part Of Denver’s Ozone Headache? That’s What Researchers Want To Find Out By Michael Elizabeth Sakas September 30, 2019 (Colorado Public Radio | Sep. 30, 2019)

Between water and electricity, Colorado’s legal cannabis industry already has a big environmental footprint. But what about Front Range air quality? Could the plant itself be contributing to air pollution?

Donald Fejfar (Endeavors | Sep. 25, 2019)

Don Fejfar is a junior and Morehead-Cain Scholar majoring in biostatistics within the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. He studies how disease relates to food and water quality, security, and accessibility on Isabela Island in Galápagos, Ecuador.

Old Growth, New Life (Endeavors | Sep. 24, 2019)

Taking root around 1780, perhaps thanks to a colonial ancestor of today’s campus squirrels, a mighty tree predated UNC by a decade or more. For approximately 240 years it stood sentinel, its branches climbing slowly upward as the world around … Read more

Puerto Rico’s Breaking Point (Endeavors | Sep. 20, 2019)

After Hurricane Maria swept across Puerto Rico in 2017, millions of people lost power — some for nearly a year. But the blackout wasn’t just the work of a powerful hurricane. Decades of debt, economic dependence, and bad financial deals … Read more

Coastal Flooding From Tropical Cyclones On The Rise In NC (WUNC | Sep 19, 2019)

Coastal flooding from hurricanes and other tropical storms is getting worse, according to a recent studyby researchers at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. Scientists looked at more than 120 years of data on tropical cyclones … Read more

A Solution for Seagrass (Endeavors | Sep. 17, 2019)

After a short boat ride across the Oscar Shoal, near Harkers Island in Beaufort, a team of marine scientists arrive at their field site. They zip up wetsuits and strap on weighted belts and snorkels, as if preparing for a … Read more

Get the Lead Out: Nonprofit pushes for testing of drinking water in NC schools (WRAL | Sep. 16. 2019)

Parents and clean water advocates in North Carolina are pushing for more lead testing at schools and daycares statewide.

UNC Study: Storms with heavy rainfall are the new normal (WRAL | Sep. 16, 2019)

All caused significant damage due to flooding, and it’s a trend a recent study from UNC shows could be caused by a changing climate.

Despite Seasonal Floods Now, Experts See Risk of Mekong Drying Up (WRAL | Sep. 13, 2019)

Two leading experts on water issues in Asia warn that parts of Vietnam’s fertile southernmost areas bordering Southeast Asia’s longest river, the Mekong, are in danger of drying up.

Climate explained: why carbon dioxide has such outsized influence on Earth’s climate (The Conversation | Sep. 13, 2019)

Jason West, a Gillings School of Global Public Health professor, writes about climate change research and how carbon dioxide affects the global climate.

UNC-Chapel Hill experts available to discuss climate (UNC News | Sep. 13, 2019)

Many news organizations have agreed to shed light on climate stories during the week of Sept. 16-23, leading up to the United Nations Climate Summit. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are among the leading climate … Read more

Carnivorous Conservation (Endeavors | Sep, 12, 2019)

In the brush of North Carolina’s humid swamplands, a predator lies in wait. It’s perfectly still. It doesn’t breathe. It hasn’t had a meal in almost a month, but patience goes a long way out here.

Trapped on the Surface (Endeavors | Sep. 10, 2019)

A park ranger unlocks the gates of a chain-link fence. UNC professor Nathan Hall drives through in a pick-up truck carrying a rowboat and disassembled pieces of a weather station. Straight ahead, the Cape Fear River slides down a structure … Read more

Study details mislabeling of North Carolina shrimp (Seafood Source | Sep. 10, 2019)

A third of shrimp labeled “local” wild shrimp in North Carolina was actually imported farmed shrimp, a new study found.

Researchers warn of dangerous bacteria from flood waters Researchers warn about flood waters (WITN – Greenville, NC | Sep. 10, 2019)

Flood waters and storm surge brought on by hurricanes can wreak havoc on buildings, and homes, but it can also bring an unseen threat, dangerous bacteria. Rachel Noble, a Gillings School of Global Public Health and Institute of Marine Sciences … Read more

Fighting Fire with Fire (Endeavors | Sep. 5, 2019)

In its mission to inspire understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants, the North Carolina Botanical Garden conducts a series of controlled burns each year to manage wildfires and maintain rare plant and animal habitats in Chapel Hill and Durham.

UNC researcher worries Dorian is ‘something new’ as another hurricane floods NC coast (WRAL TechWire | Sep. 5, 2019)

It hasn’t even been a year since Hurricane Florence ravaged parts of North Carolina’s coastline. Now comes Hurricane Dorian, barreling towards the Carolinas as a Category 3.

Matthew and Florence taught NC lessons: Storms like Dorian threaten old people (North Carolina Health News | Sep. 5, 2019)

The serious perils that older people in North Carolina face during hurricanes are lurking again in the gales and rainy torrents of the powerful storm Dorian. Across the state, prepared professionals and private citizens are stepping up to minimize harm.

Dorian spurs floods, tornadoes in Carolinas as hurricane continues its disastrous trek northward (The Washington Post | Sep. 5, 2019)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Hurricane Dorian spawned damaging tornadoes and flooded low-lying communities in the Carolinas on Thursday, in what officials hope will be the closing chapter of a storm that devastated the Bahamas and has panicked East Coast residents … Read more

Where Hurricane Dorian’s storm surge could be the worst (PBS NewsHour | Sep. 5, 2019)

Life-threatening storm surge from Hurricane Dorian could affect some areas of North and South Carolina as the storm moves along the coast Thursday and Friday, due to the timing of tides, defenses, such as dunes, eroded by past flooding, and … Read more

Poison Frog Fathers Ferry Their Tadpoles Great Distances (Scientific American | Sep. 4, 2019)

After poison frog tadpoles hatch from their eggs in the leaf litter, they wriggle onto the backs of their patiently waiting fathers, who piggyback them to water. Scientists studying the candy-colored amphibians, sometimes called poison dart frogs, in the Amazon … Read more

Dorian Could Hit NC With Major Storm Surge (WUNC | Sep. 4, 2019)

Forecasters are warning of significant storm surge as Hurricane Dorian slowly moves up the east coast.

Charlotte Talks: From Jaws To Shark Week, Our Fear And Fascination Of Sharks (WFAE – Charlotte, NC | Sep. 2, 2019)

Everything you need to know about sharks. Despite conditioning from Steven Spielberg, shark expert William McKeever says we shouldn’t fear sharks. We’re more of a threat to them and we find out why.

A Speedy Test For Norovirus Could Help Water Supplies Check For Contamination (NPR | Aug. 30, 2019)

Norovirus tends to makes the news when an outbreak occurs on cruise ships. But the virus affects many more people than ocean-going vacationers.

Institute researchers part of study to analyze potential health benefits of transportation policies aimed at curbing climate change (C-Change NEWS | Aug. 29, 2019)

Transportation is the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S., contributing 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the nation. Tailpipe emissions are also a large source of traditional pollution that can degrade air quality and harm human health, … Read more

Nearshore coral growth hindered by climate change and human activities (Earth.com | Aug. 29, 2019)

Nearshore coral growth rates are slowing down due to rising ocean temperatures, a new study has found.

Are these shrimp actually local? Falsely labeled seafood coming to forefront in North Carolina. (The Virginian-Pilot | Aug. 28, 2019)

Seafood may be labeled as local from North Carolina, but often it actually comes from Asian ponds and arrives infused with harmful supplements, according to a new study.

Scientist: Algal blooms’ cause still unclear ( The Daily Advance | Aug. 26)

The Daily Advance quotes Institute of Marine Sciences Research Assistant Professor Nathan Hall from the “Harmful Algal Blooms in the Chowan River and Albemarle Sound” forum held at the College of The Albemarle’s Edenton campus last Saturday.

Scientist: Algal blooms’ cause still unclear (The Daily Advance | Aug. 26, 2019)

EDENTON — Scientists believe nutrients entering area waterways are making an area already prone for algal blooms worse, but where the nutrients are coming from and why they’re driving bloom production now remain unanswered questions.

UNC research team studying bay scallops on east coast (WITN | Aug. 24)

Institute of Marine Sciences Ph.D. student Amy Yarnalll talks about current University research in Carteret County with bay scallops.

Flesh-eating bacteria is infecting more people and spreading to new areas. Scientists blame climate change (BuzzFeed | Aug. 23)

Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC School of Medicine Professor Rachel Noble talks about why there has been an increase in Vibrio infections.

This is how cities around the world can avoid a water crisis (World Economic Forum | Aug. 22)

Gillings School of Global Public Health Professor and Water Institute Director at UNC Aaron Salzberg talks about how water allocation can become political in some parts of the world.

Mellon Foundation awards pilot funding for consortium in environmental humanities (UNC News | Aug. 22, 2019)

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded a $150,000 two-year grant to pilot a consortium of four research institutions and their public partners to study coasts, climates and the environmental humanities. The Coasts, Climates, the Humanities and the Environment Consortium … Read more

Audio Recordings Bolster Reef Life Science (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 19, 2019)

If you’ve ever been in the coastal South, you may understand the importance of oysters, but have you ever really listened to them? The bivalves are not only a favorite food served at almost every restaurant lining the Atlantic for … Read more

OUR VIEW: Hurricanes have changed; so must our preparations (Wilmington Star-News | Aug. 18, 2019)

In case you forgot, it’s hurricane season, and let’s just say there are storm clouds on the horizon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted more hurricane activity than normal this year, since the El Nino weather cycle (which … Read more

Local Scientists Say Expect More Rainfall, Flooding With Hurricanes (Public Radio East | Aug. 14, 2019)

Climate change and warming ocean temperatures may explain why catastrophic flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms seems to be happening more frequently in Eastern North Carolina.

Study: A bulkhead doesn’t mean property along North Carolina’s estuaries is safe (The News and Observer | Aug. 14, 2019)

Property owners with bulkheads along North Carolina’s sounds and Intracoastal Waterway tend to build their homes closer to water and suffered more damage during 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel … Read more

A Family Trailblazer (UNC News | Aug. 12, 2019)

In the shadow of the spot on North Carolina’s Outer Banks where the Wright Brothers launched the world’s first flight, Izzie Estes is preparing for a first of her own.

The Known Unknowns (Endeavors | Aug. 6, 2019)

In 2016, a group of North Carolina researchers published evidence of high rates of PFAS in the Cape Fear River basin. While this unregulated family of chemicals is used in the production of everyday goods, its impact on human health … Read more

Study: Climate Change Key in Cycle of Floods (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 7, 2019)

The Carteret County News-Times again reports on the work of Niels Lindquist, an Institute of Marine Sciences professor, and commercial fisherman David “Clammerhead” Cessna, this time focusing on how they are helping to create living shorelines.

New business creates living shorelines (Carolina Coast Online | Aug. 6, 2019)

As environmental changes that threaten natural ecosystems mount in coastal communities, two innovative Carteret County men have created a product they hope can be used to create and restore estuarine habitats and help stop shoreline erosion. Dr. Niels Lindquist, a … Read more

Applied Physical Sciences Research Advances Solar Energy (Tech Xplore | Aug. 2, 2019)

In an article published this month in Science, researchers in the Huang Group in the College of Arts & Sciences’ department of applied physical sciences at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill revealed a new method for stabilizing … Read more

Scientist, fisherman team up to restore shellfish habitat (Carolina Coast Online | Aug. 1, 2019)

In the face of a changing coastal environment, a local scientist-fisherman duo is working to help restore oyster populations in Carteret County waters. Dr. Niels Lindquist, a researcher at the UNC Institute of Marine Science, and David “Clammerhead” Cessna, a … Read more

Scientist, fisherman team up to restore shellfish habitat (Carteret County News-Times | Aug. 1, 2019)

Dr. Niels Lindquist, a researcher at the UNC Institute of Marine Science, and David “Clammerhead” Cessna, a longtime commercial fisherman, are business partners who have created a new, biodegradable material to grow oysters. Although they come from different backgrounds, the … Read more

Wonderful Water: OWASA, UNC Reclaim Water Together for More Than 10 Years (Chapelboro | Aug. 1, 2019)

This week on “Wonderful Water,” join Aaron Keck for a conversation about conservation with OWASA wastewater treatment plant and biosolids recycling manager Monica Dodson and Brad Ives, the chief sustainability officer at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Applied physical sciences research advances solar energy (UNC College of Arts & Sciences | Aug. 1, 2019)

In an article published this month in Science, researchers in the Huang Group in the College of Arts & Sciences’ department of applied physical sciences revealed a new method for stabilizing perovskite solar cells and discussed the implications it has on … Read more

Shark myths versus reality (WCTI | July 30, 2019)

Sharks are a common sight around Eastern North Carolina, but what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to our aquatic friends? According to UNC Institute of Marine Sciences PhD student Jeff Plumlee, many of the myths you hear … Read more

On the Record examines ocean threats: Sharks and rip currents (WRAL | July 30, 2019)

Institute of Marine Sciences Assistant Professor Joel Fodrie discusses shark behavior and ocean swimming. This week’s episode examines shark myths to determine fact from fiction. The show also explores the dangers of rip currents and how to stay safe in … Read more

Conversations at Hickerson House: Xiaodong Chen on Coupled Human and Natural Systems in China (UNC Center for Urban and Regional Studies | July 2019)

Xiaodong Chen, associate professor of geography at The University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll, is the 2018-19 CURS Scholar-in-Residence. His research interests focus on coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Chen studies how human activities affect the natural environment, … Read more

The danger zone: When heat meets humidity this summer in the Carolinas (Greenville News | July 29, 2019)

In the first 25 days of July, the Greenville-Spartanburg area has already experienced 15 days where temperatures have hit above 90 degrees, according to National Weather Service data. In Charlotte, the Queen City has already been hit with 20 days of … Read more

Researchers speak on recent shark bites (WNCT – Greenville, NC | Jul. 3, 2019)

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) Researchers found shark bites or encounters are not common along our coast but there’s something you should keep in mind before heading to the beach.

Eastern NC scientist weighs in on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week (WITN – Greenville, NC | Jul. 29, 2019)

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (WITN) This week millions of people will tune in to see what the Discovery Channel has created for their annual Shark Week, which officially kicked off on Sunday night.

Hurricane and climate change research in the East (WITN | July 23, 2019)

Hans Paerl, an Institute of Marine Sciences professor, speaks with WITN about findings from work that looked at rainfall producing weather systems occurring in the state since 1898. Looking at information dating back to 1898 researchers at UNC say 6 … Read more

North Carolina tropical cyclone-driven coastal flooding is worsening with climate change, population growth (UNC News | July 23, 2019)

Six of the seven highest precipitation events in Coastal North Carolina since 1898 have occurred within the last 20 years, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences researchers found. A historic 120-year-old data set is allowing researchers to confirm what data modeling … Read more

Protecting North Carolina’s wetlands (UNC News | July 22, 2019)

Cassidy Harding has known she wanted to be an environmental scientist since taking an AP class in high school. “I wanted to do something with my life that made a difference and tackle urgent issues,” she said. “What I learned … Read more

Tar Heels in the Field: Cassidy Harding (UNC News | July 22, 2019)

Experiential learning is an important way for students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields. This summer, budding musicians, environmental researchers, public servants, journalists and more are jumping headfirst into internships and programs. Working with the Environmental Defense Fund … Read more

Hate Columbia’s heat now? It will be ‘dangerously hot’ in a few years, study says (The State | July 16, 2019)

In a state widely known for scorching summer days, the prospect of even hotter weather can’t be reassuring for South Carolina’s more than 5 million residents. But by the middle of this century, the number of sweltering days in the … Read more

Peterson Reflects on Marine Science Legacy (Coastal Review Online | July 16, 2019)

Charles “Pete” Peterson, who retired June 30 as distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences, credits his time as a graduate student at the University of California Santa Barbara for his combination of passionate environmental … Read more

Unearthing Environmental Research (Endeavors | July 15, 2019)

Environmental education and research have deep roots at Carolina, but a lot has changed since the natural sciences came to campus almost 200 years ago. From the creation of a sanitary engineering department to relationships stoked by the internet, environmental … Read more

Richard Stevens elected to chair UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees; new members sworn in (UNC News | July 15, 2019)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees has elected Richard Y. Stevens of Cary to serve as chairman of the Board. During last week’s meeting, six other Board members were sworn in to begin their roles … Read more

Studying premature babies to understand environmental impacts on children’s health (UNC Health Care | July 10, 2019)

UNC School of Medicine researchers are 15 years into a long-term study to learn how to optimize the health of children born at less than 28 weeks gestation, including identifying factors that help them succeed in school and develop social … Read more

Captain of the Coast (Endeavors | July 9, 2019)

From the shores of New Jersey to the North Carolina coast, Pete Peterson has always loved the ocean. He’s spent nearly five decades researching its marine life, fighting for its protection, and guiding the next generation of marine scientists to … Read more

Academy Brings Marine Science to Students (Coastal Review Online | July 5, 2019)

School may be out but 42 young teens from Carteret and Craven counties spent last week dissecting, probing, examining and measuring at many of the marine science institutions in eastern North Carolina.

Serendipity by design (UNC News | July 4, 2019)

Through RENCI, a collaborative data science lab, Carolina helps foster connections among research scientists across different disciplines and universities. Carolina is at “the epicenter of computer science and data science” because of the work of the Renaissance Computing Institute, Executive … Read more

Artifacts of alteration (UNC Research | July 2, 2019)

Most visitors return from Jordan Lake with a tan and a photograph. Recent Carolina graduate Ayla Gizlice collects something else entirely — chunks of clay, plastic bags, rocks — for an art project addressing how human actions shape the physical … Read more

Salzberg to direct UNC’s Water Institute (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health | July 1, 2019)

An international leader in global water policy, peace and security, Aaron Salzberg, PhD, has been selected to be the Don and Jennifer Holzworth Distinguished Professor and director of The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. … Read more

Phillips selected for 2019 NC Energy Literacy Fellows (The Times-News | June 30, 2019)

Donna Phillips, an eighth-grade science teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, was selected earlier this year to participate in the 2019 N.C. Energy Literacy Fellows Program, yearlong professional development combining hands-on STEM activity, study of relevant careers, and visits to energy … Read more

Increased levels of metals found in groundwater near coal ash plant (Chatham News + Record | June 28, 2019)

Increased levels of heavy metals — including barium, chromium, vanadium, arsenic, copper and lead — were found in groundwater samples tested in January near the Brickhaven coal ash site located in Moncure through testing required by N.C. Dept. of Environmental … Read more

Meet the shape-shifting baby amphibians that become cannibals (National Geographic | June 26, 2019)

Some young salamanders and frogs are able to grow bigger heads and “fangs,” which enable them to eat their kin and grow faster. High in the Three Sisters mountains of the Cascade Range in central Oregon, researchers had to hike—and then … Read more

Eastern N.C. teachers explore animal waste-to-energy trend in their own backyard (EducationNC | June 25, 2019)

“I didn’t know much about this technology even though I live in this county!” exclaimed one teacher as she stepped onto covered swine waste on a Smithfield Farm in Duplin County. This sentiment was felt by a number of teachers … Read more

Over Half of Chatham Wells Show High Levels of Contaminants (Chatham News + Record | June 23, 2019)

More than half of the 242 wells tested in Chatham County contained levels of Chromium-6 and Vanadium, according to a joint study conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech. Between 10 and 20 percent of wells tested also contained high … Read more

How does exposure to extreme weather affect both people and places over time? (Carolina Population Center | June 2019)

An interdisciplinary team including several CPC Fellows has received a UNC Creativity Hub Pilot Award to investigate the long-term impact of storms. Climate change is generating more frequent and more powerful extreme weather events along the Eastern seaboard and Gulf … Read more

More People, More Sharks Leads To More Bites (Public Radio East | June 19, 2019)

So far this season, three people have been bitten by sharks at North Carolina beaches. Some speculate the recent shark interactions may be caused by climate change or an overpopulation by sharks off our coast, but the explanation could be … Read more

Scientists predict fewer stresses on Neuse Ecosystem (Public Radio East | June 19, 2019)

Scientists are forecasting a lower probability of fish kills on the Neuse River this summer. A model produced by scientists at North Carolina State and UNC-Chapel Hill is predicting higher levels of dissolved oxygen this summer in the Neuse River … Read more

America’s Skies Have Gotten Clearer, but Millions Still Breathe Unhealthy Air (New York Times | June 19, 2019)

When asked about climate change, President Trump often shifts the focus to America’s “clean air.” “We have the cleanest air in the world in the United States and it’s gotten better since I’m president,” he said again this month while … Read more

Creativity Hubs Awards Accelerate Solutions to Societal Challenges (UNC Research | June 18, 2019)

A UNC team will examine the dynamics that extreme storms and flooding create, aiding in the prediction of impacts of future storms on the multiple facets of coastal habitats and inhabitants with a new UNC Research Creativity Hubs Awards.

With 3 shark bites at NC beaches already, are we in for a bad summer? CuriousNC answers. (Raleigh News & Observer | June 18, 2019)

There have been three shark bites — one quite serious — at North Carolina beaches so far this year, and summer hasn’t even officially started yet. Seventeen-year-old Paige Winter lost most of her leg from a shark bite while swimming … Read more

Serendipity by design (University Gazette | June 18, 2019)

RENCI director Stanley Ahalt serves as the lead PI on the UNC Translator team, but points out that the team is a cross-campus intiative, including researchers from the Institute for the Environment and the NC TraCS Institute at the School of … Read more

Researchers Forecast Healthier Neuse River Oxygen Levels (NC Sea Grant | June 17, 2019)

Scientists at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are forecasting higher levels of dissolved oxygen this summer for the Neuse River Estuary. Compared to last summer, the predictive model indicates a smaller likelihood … Read more

Orange County Set To Levy Historic Climate Tax (WUNC | June 17, 2019)

Orange County is set to levy a quarter-cent tax on property owners specifically to fight the effects of climate change. The final budget vote is Tuesday. If approved, it would become the first tax in North Carolina for which the explicit … Read more

Three BCPS teachers chosen as N.C. Energy Literacy fellows (Morganton News Harold | June 14, 2019)

Three Burke County Public Schools engineering teachers were selected to participate in the 2019 N.C. Energy Literacy Fellows Program, a yearlong teacher professional development program that combines hands-on STEM investigations with place-based explorations of energy production facilities, energy research facilities … Read more

Sharks ‘test’ for food during bites, experts say (WRAL | June 12, 2019)

So far this month, there have been two shark bites off the North Carolina coast. Paige Winter, 17, lost part of her leg to a shark bite off Atlantic Beach on June 2. On June 10, a shark bit 19-year-old … Read more

Study Calls for State Action on Derelict Boats (Coastal Review Online | June 11, 2019)

A recent report from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recommends putting a state agency in charge of removing derelict and abandoned vessels in navigable North Carolina waters, with dedicated funding to address the problem.

Chapel Hill Transit to Pilot Battery-Electric Buses (Finance and Operations News | Jun. 11, 2019)

Chapel Hill Transit is planning to purchase three new electric buses that run on batteries to reduce emissions and improve local air quality.

Shark awareness after second shark bite on NC coast (WITN | June 11, 2019)

The victim of a shark bite off the coast of North Carolina on Monday has spoken out about his encounter while still recovering in his hospital bed. And with now two victims already this month, experts are doing their part … Read more

Flounder behavior being studied in the East (WITN | June 11, 2019)

Research is underway at one university in the East to better understand the behavior of one species of fish that is not only important to the coastal marine ecosystem but also fisheries.

Chatham County testing shows elevated levels of Chromium 6 in 100+ wells (NC Policy Watch | June 10, 2019)

More than half the drinking water wells tested in Chatham County contained levels of contaminants associated with coal ash that were above the state’s health advisory goal, according to researchers from UNC and Virginia Tech.

CHCCS Receives Duke Energy Continuation Grant (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | June 10, 2019)

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, in partnership with the Public School Foundation, received a check for a $7,500 continuation grant from Duke Energy Foundation to support expanded Energy and the Environment instruction at Northside Elementary. The award was presented by Indira … Read more

Troubled waters: Capstone class addresses water contamination in North Carolina (UNC College of Arts & Sciences | June 7, 2019)

This past semester, Annie McDarris participated in a capstone class through the Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program that examined well water contamination and environmental justice in the northern piedmont of North Carolina. She is a part of the Environment and … Read more

An eye on the hurricanes (UNC News | June 2019)

North Carolina is one of the states most susceptible to hurricanes. With a coastline that juts out into the Atlantic, the state is like a catcher’s mitt, catching the storms as they move north. At the University of North Carolina at … Read more

Five Research Teams Seek Answers on PFAS (Coastal Review Online | June 5, 2019)

Before 2017, few people in southeastern North Carolina were familiar with terms like GenX or the acronym PFAS. In the two years since the results of a study of the presence of these chemicals in the Cape Fear River was made … Read more

Storm surge research helps save lives (WITN | June 3, 2019)

Hurricane season is here and researchers are hoping to keep people better informed about their risks when it comes to the storm surge that hurricanes can bring.

Preventing waterborne illness after a hurricane (UNC College of Arts & Sciences | June 3, 2019)

Rachel Noble of Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences talks about her rapid water quality tests and how they can help North Carolinians stay safe during hurricane season. Back in 2004, with E. colicommanding attention in the media headlines, Carolina researcher … Read more

Teen bitten by shark at Atlantic Beach has leg amputated, serious damage to hands (WRAL | June 2, 2019)

A 17-year-old girl was bitten Sunday afternoon by what is believed to be a shark, according to a park ranger. Paige Winter, 17, suffered severe injuries to her leg and hands and was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Protecting homes and ecosystems with living shorelines (UNC News | May 31, 2019)

Former doctoral student Carter Smith is researching living shorelines as an economic way for coastal homeowners to protect their property while also doing something good for the environment.

Three female entrepreneurs built North Carolina’s first seaweed farm on a foundation of rejections (Newsweek | May 31, 2019)

At first glance, social entrepreneurship might not seem like a young woman’s game. As my co-founders and I have been told on many occasions, the business world is no place for the naive, the faint of heart, or the wishful. … Read more

Where Is the EPA’s Respect for the ‘Unborn’? (Bloomberg | May 30, 2019)

President Donald Trump and his administration have undermined their very vocal support of the “unborn” by canceling the primary source of funding for studies monitoring the prenatal and postnatal effects of pollution on children.

Rapid water quality tests better protect beachgoers (The Conversation | May 24, 2019)

Planning a trip to the beach? Along with looking forward to some summer fun, beachgoers may be thinking about the safety of their waterfront destination. Will the water be clean enough for swimming, surfing, wading and all the other ways … Read more

Is Hurricane Florence impacting rip currents along NC coast? (WCTI | May 22, 2019)

Eastern North Carolina has seen many rip current-related rescues in 2019 and many people are wondering why that is. One question asked: Does Hurricane Florence have anything to do with this?

Harnessing Seaweed’s Full Potential (The Campaign for Carolina | May 2019)

A Carolina student startup plans to revolutionize seaweed farming in temperate waters, creating jobs, reducing plastic pollution and cleaning carbon from the atmosphere along the way. Founded by Carolina undergraduate students Eliza Harrison, Lucy Best and Emily Kian, the Phyta initiative … Read more

Nichola Lowe Named Interim Director of CURS (UNC Center for Urban and Regional Studies | May 2019)

On June 30, 2019, longtime Center for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) Director Bill Rohe will step down from his CURS leadership role as he moves into phased retirement. Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Global Programs Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld … Read more

Living shorelines: How salt marshes help protect coastlines (Yale Climate Connections | May 17, 2019)

Carolyn Currin of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says these wetland habitats provide homes for fish and other wildlife. And they help protect shorelines from the erosion caused by waves crashing, day in and day out.

Moderate NC Republican representative won’t seek re-election (Raleigh News & Observer | May 13, 2019)

Advocates for the environment, redistricting reform and privatization of alcohol sales will soon lose a major Republican voice. NC Rep. Chuck McGrady, a Republican who has represented Henderson County since 2010, announced Monday that he won’t try to retain his seat … Read more

All Hands on Deck (Endeavors | May 13, 2019)

Capping off a semester of hard work, students in a biological oceanography class put their lessons to the test during a two-day, hands-on field trip to the Neuse River Estuary and the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City.

A weekend of celebration (UNC News | May 13, 2019)

With family, friends and mentors by their sides, more than 6,000 Carolina students became alumni over the weekend. “You’ve awed with us your accomplishments and inspired us with your character,” Interim Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz told the graduates.

Eye-Opening Ice (Endeavors | May 10, 2019)

After spending two months on a research expedition in Alaska last summer, UNC junior Carly Onnink, a biology major, shares her story of field-based discovery.

UNC student finds new uses for old billboards (WRAL | May 10, 2019)

When University of North Carolina senior Ana Soule was on a trip to South Africa she noticed something. People were using tents and sleeping bags that appeared to be made of heavy-duty vinyl. It turns out the material is what is … Read more

Artifacts of Alteration (Endeavors | May 9, 2019)

Most visitors return from Jordan Lake with a tan, a photograph, or maybe a unique bird feather. Ayla Gizlice collects something else entirely — chunks of clay, plastic bags, rocks, and dead fish. The UNC senior incorporates these materials into an … Read more

Climate change is giving old trees a growth spurt (American Geophysical Union | May 9, 2019)

Larch trees in the permafrost forests of northeastern China—the northernmost tree species on Earth—are growing faster as a result of climate change, according to new research. A new study of growth rings from Dahurian larch in China’s northern forests finds … Read more

Tree rings are a window into climate change past and present (Independent | May 8, 2019)

The rings of trees offer a far more complete historical picture of climate variations. As they age, trees grow outward from the centre and each year a new, distinct circle of dead wood is created around the trunk of most trees. In … Read more

Elayna Locklear is Carolina’s second American Indian Udall scholar (UNC News | May 7, 2019)

Elayna Locklear, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, has been awarded the Udall scholarship to help her pursue a career in osteopathic medicine to treat Native … Read more

Restoring Rural China (Endeavors | May 6, 2019)

While the United States and China take up roughly the same amount of land mass, China’s population is over four times that of the U.S. — and more people means more change in vegetation growth. How do these factors connect … Read more

Carolina Ranked #1 in U.S. for Sustainability by Times Higher Education (Three Zeros News | May 6, 2019)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been recognized this year by the Times Higher Education’s (THE) as first in the United States in the University Impact Rankings and 24th out of 462 participating universities globally.

As air pollution increases in some cities, Trump administration weakens regulations (The Conversation | May 2, 2019)

Air pollution kills. In the United States, 1 of every 25 deaths occurs prematurely because of exposure to outdoor air pollution. It kills more Americans than all transportation accidents and gun shootings combined. More than diabetes or than breast cancer … Read more

Caffeine Peps Up Solar Energy (Scientific American | Apr. 25, 2019)

The study is impressive, says Jinsong Huang, a physicist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who also was not involved with the work. He suggests it might push perovskite solar cells closer to commercial sale. “Stability is the … Read more

The student guide to sustainability (Times Higher Education | Apr. 25, 2019)

Ayashe Ramey, global studies major, Spanish and sustainable studies double minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , free reusable water bottles and straws are given out to students, making it easy … Read more

WRAL Doc: New Trouble on the Neuse River (WRAL | Apr. 24, 2019)

In 1990, the Neuse River was on the brink of catastrophe.  Nutrient pollution was robbing this river of so much oxygen that fish were dying by the millions every day. Toxic algal blooms threatened the river as a source for … Read more

2019 University Teaching Awards (University Gazette | Apr. 24, 2019)

Twenty-four faculty members and teaching assistants have been named winners of Carolina’s 2019 University Teaching Awards. The recipients will be recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Syracuse on Feb. 26. The University Committee on Teaching Awards, which … Read more

UNC-Chapel Hill student Meredith Emery is the University’s seventh Beinecke Scholar (UNC News | Apr. 24, 2019)

Meredith Emery, a third-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pursuing a major in studio art and a minor in geography, was recently selected for the prestigious Beinecke Scholarship. Emery will graduate in December 2019 and … Read more

North Carolina’s Famed Shipwrecks Are Now Home to a Shark Conservation Research Study (Smithsonian | Apr. 24, 2019)

Old shipwrecks are pretty cool, so it’s no surprise why scuba divers like to visit and photograph the hundreds of sunken ships in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” scattered along the coast of North Carolina. They also like to take … Read more

Cable named senior associate dean for natural sciences (College of Arts + Sciences News | Apr. 23, 2019)

Jaye Cable (current chair of the Environment, Ecology and Energy Program (E3P) has been named senior associate dean for natural sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her appointment is effective immediately, but she will also remain chair of E3P … Read more

In Iredell County, tests show high percentage of wells contain Chromimum 6 (NC Policy Watch | Apr. 22, 2019)

More than three-quarters of private drinking water wells tested in Iredell County had levels of Chromium 6 above the state health screening level, but the source of the compound is unknown. Scientists from UNC Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech, who conducted … Read more

Creating a buzz on campus (UNC News | Apr. 22, 2019)

It began nearly two years ago with a cluster of hungry honeybees swirling around a campus trash can. That sight reminded Bryn Walker, then a first-year student, that she had intended to look into Carolina’s Beekeeping Club, one of the … Read more

How the recent heavy rains led to Carrboro’s stormwater management plan (Daily Tar Heel | Apr. 22, 2019)

Michael Piehler, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, said development has been shown to have an effect on increasing water runoff. “That runoff is the primary source of stormwater,” said Piehler. “That water itself would not be as … Read more

NC Sea Grant-Funded Scientist Receives Best Paper Honor (Coastwatch Currents | Apr. 16, 2019)

The Environmental Science & Technology journal has recognized “Mitigating the Expansion of Harmful Algal Blooms across the Freshwater-to-Marine Continuum” as one of the “Best Papers of 2018.” Hans W. Paerl, an aquatic ecologist at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, … Read more

Scientists update lawmakers on PFAS research, including presence of compounds in food (NC Policy Watch | Apr. 10, 2019)

At the House Environment Committee meeting yesterday, lawmakers received an update from the NC Policy Collaboratory about its NC PFAST Network. More than a dozen university scientists are studying the presence, health effects and potential removal treatments of emerging compounds, … Read more

News headlines on WUNC: Susan Cohen discusses drone training program (WUNC | Apr. 7, 2019)

Tune in to North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC to hear news headlines featuring UNC Institute for the Environment‘s Associate Director Susan Cohen on her new drone training program for natural resource professionals at Marine Corps bases along the Eastern … Read more

Earlier Springs Heighten Allergy Misery in Tennessee (Climate Central | Apr. 4, 2019)

In the heart of South Knoxville sits one of eight Allergy and Asthma Affiliates clinics scattered across Tennessee. Allergist and immunologist Dr. Trent Ellenburg is already being kept busy at his family-owned business, where patients have started coming in suffering … Read more

UNC undergrads hope seaweed can help save the planet (WRAL | April 1, 2019)

Phyta co-founders junior Emily Kian and seniors Eliza Harrison and Lucy Best, as well as Gillings School of Global Public Health professor Kurt Ribisl and Innovate Carolina Global Network director Sheryl Waddell talk about the startup, which aims to open … Read more

Cellphone charging is a science lesson at Reagan thanks to teacher’s solar tower idea (Winston-Salem Journal | Mar. 27, 2019)

Thutt said he came up with the idea for the tower while at a professional development conference (2018 Energy Literacy Fellows) that focused on renewable and alternative energy sources, like wind, water and solar.

Focus Carolina: Erika Wise (Chapelboro.com | Mar. 18, 2019)

Erika Wise from the UNC Department of Geography studies the Earth’s climate by looking at tree rings and collects samples to determine how old trees are when droughts and fires may have occurred. This data allows her to recognize climate … Read more

Focus Carolina: Erika Wise (University Gazette | Mar. 18, 2019)

Erika Wise, an associate professor of geography, studies the Earth’s climate, past and present, using tree ring science or dendrochronology. Her research answers questions concerning Western North America’s climate and water resources in both recent times and in past centuries.

Solving Water Shortages (Now. In the Spotlight | Mar. 15, 2019)

With the leadership of Jamie Bartram, Ph.D., the Don and Jennifer Holzworth Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and director of the UNC Water Institute, and Gregory Characklis, Ph.D., Singer Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and director … Read more

Free Well Testing for Chatham residents Tuesday (Chatham News + Record | Mar. 4, 2019)

Chatham County residents can have their well water tested for free this week thanks to a partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech. The partnership is studying contaminants that can make their way into ground water through industry, storm runoff, … Read more

Cisco exec: US is slow on uptake when it comes to smart city movement (WRAL TechWire | Mar. 1, 2019)

Let this sink in: Southeast Asia, India and Europe are beating us when it comes to the smart cities movement. At least, that’s according to Jim Haskins, Cisco’s Smart Connected Communities/IoT specialist. “We’re a little slow on the uptake,” he … Read more

NC energy summit looks to solar and storage to improve grid operations (Charlotte Business Journal | Mar. 1, 2019)

Panelists at the UNC Clean Tech Conference discuss how renewable energy developers, infrastructure companies, utilities and energy brokers can get the pieces to work together to increase the use of clean energy sources.

Innovating toward a stronger economy — and a healthier planet (UNC News | Feb. 28, 2019)

Carolina hosted its annual Clean Tech Summit, convening entrepreneurs, government leaders and researchers from across the country for discussions on the global clean technology economy. Clean technology isn’t just good for the environment. It’s also a multibillion-dollar industry, and North … Read more

NC’s role in clean energy economy is focus of UNC Clean Tech Summit (WRAL TechWire | Feb. 26, 2019)

UNC Chapel Hill is hosting its sixth annual Clean Tech Summit this week, providing a forum for students and industry leaders to share insights on the ever-advancing clean energy sector in North Carolina. The agenda includes two days of sessions … Read more

Fish consumption advisories that work (NIEHS Environmental Factor | Feb. 2019)

“In North Carolina, we have a statewide mercury advisory and 25-site specific advisories for consumption of locally-caught fish,” said Kathleen Gray, Ph.D., at a Jan. 17 seminar. Gray leads the community engagement core at the NIEHS-funded Center for Environmental Health … Read more

Satellites reveal a new view of Earth’s water from space (The Conversation | Feb. 13, 2019)

In 1889, near the remote border town of Embudo, New Mexico, John Wesley Powell, the famous explorer of the Grand Canyon and second head of the U.S. Geological Survey, started a quiet scientific revolution. He knew that water would be … Read more

Environmental careers with impact (Carolina Stories | Jan. 2019)

North Carolina is a prime spot for students interested in the environment, and together the UNC College of Arts & Sciences and UNC Institute for the Environment are making this even more true. The College’s recently launched Environment, Ecology and … Read more

Two dozen earn 2019 University Teaching Awards (UNC News | Jan. 30, 2019)

Twenty-four faculty members and teaching assistants have been named winners of Carolina’s 2019 University Teaching Awards. The recipients will be recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Syracuse on Feb. 26. The awards banquet will be held April … Read more

Gone in a Generation: How climate change is disrupting American lives (Washington Post | Jan. 29, 2019)

For six generations, Lois Ann Cantlow’s family has lived in New Bern, a town in eastern North Carolina located at the mouth of the Neuse River. During Hurricane Florence, the storm surge reached 10 feet in New Bern. Cantlow says … Read more

Scientists need your help with The N.C. King Tides Project (WECT | Jan. 23, 2019)

Scientists are looking to document events which cause the extreme ups and downs of the ocean levels. Especially during King Tides events, which make the water levels rise to the highest levels. The University of North Carolina Institute of Marine … Read more

Saving Scallops (WLIW21 | Jan. 21, 2019)

Due to warming waters, Scallops have struggled to exist in North Carolina’s bays and estuaries. However, thanks to a new research study at the University of North Carolina, Scallops may have a new lease on life.

Need an internship? Thanks to this Duke grad, you might find one (Daily Tar Heel | Jan. 17, 2019)

A $1 million gift to the UNC Institute for the Environment will be used to endow the Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program, which matches students with professional summer internships in environmental science careers. “When I was a college student, internships for … Read more

2019 UNC Clean Tech Summit (WRAL Newswire | Jan. 15, 2019)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will host its sixth annual UNC Clean Tech Summit Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2019 at UNC’s Friday Center. The event will highlight the latest innovations, trends and challenges in the clean technology industry … Read more

Monday numbers – a closer look at private drinking water wells post-Florence (NC Policy Watch | Jan. 14, 2019)

After Hurricane Florence, UNC and Virginia Tech scientists sampled 62 private drinking water wells in Robeson County, one of the areas hardest-hit by the historic storm. Andy George of the UNC Institute of the Environment and Kelsey Pieper, a research … Read more

Taking the classroom to the mountains (UNC News | Jan. 11, 2019)

From lecture halls to mountain streams, see how these Tar Heels got hands-on experience in conducting field research at Highlands Field Site. Eight Carolina students spent the fall semester conducting field research at one of the most biodiverse areas in … Read more

New internship program prepares students for environmental careers with training, funding (University Gazette | Jan. 9, 2019)

A $1 million gift from Pavel Molchanov, an expert in energy sector analysis, will endow the Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program. The program will create a partnership between Carolina’s Institute for the Environment and selected environmental small businesses, nonprofit organizations and government … Read more

New internship program prepares students for environmental careers with training, funding (UNC News | Jan. 9, 2019)

Funded by a $1 million gift from Pavel Molchanov, the program will match undergraduate students with environmental internships where students can supplement their academic work with experiential, professional training.

Experiential Education For Future Environmental Leaders (Carolina Stories | Jan. 9, 2019)

Carolina students receive one of the best public educations in the nation, thanks to visionary educators teaching in the classroom. But for students to enter careers as ambitious, adept and empathetic leaders, experiential learning outside of the classroom is also … Read more

Robeson County residents test for bacteria in well water (WMBF News | Jan. 8, 2019)

More than 70 residents in Robeson County have tested their drinking water for contaminants following flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. Researchers with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech distributed free test kits on Monday as … Read more