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UNC Institute for the Environment surpasses $12 million goal in historic Campaign for Carolina

2023

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  UNC students turn downed trees into art

  Since the fall of 2021, the Carolina Tree Heritage (CTH) and Jim Hirschfield’s wood sculpture class have given downed trees on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus new life. CTH provides students in the introductory wood sculpting course with wood from trees that … Continued

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  New UNC study quantifies disparity among minority communities exposed to traffic-related air pollution across the U.S.

  Traffic-related air pollution is a pervasive problem across the United States. Vehicle emissions are highest near major roadways with around 19% of the U.S. population living in the vicinity of a major roadway. In more densely populated states, like California, … Continued

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  SURF grant advances UNC microplastics research in western North Carolina

  For Chloe Hall, receiving summer funding for her research meant she got to return to the place she loves—the Appalachian Mountains. Hall is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in environmental science. Last year, … Continued

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  Joint study from UNC and Boston University finds air pollution from oil and gas production responsible for $77 billion in annual U.S. health damages including thousands of early deaths, childhood asthma cases nationwide

  These health impacts affected communities in states with high oil and gas production, as well as states with limited or no gas activity, underlining the need for comprehensive regulatory action to protect Americans from the pollutants generated by this sector. … Continued

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  UNC dual-degree student teams up with Institute researcher to validate communications strategies to combat climate change in North Carolina

  A lifelong resident of Apex, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dual-degree student Jessica Reid watched her community experience rapid growth. Construction made way for new roads, homes, businesses, shopping and everything that comes with an influx of … Continued

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  Remembering Adel Hanna

  Adel Fahim Hanna, 77, founding director of the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development (CEMPD) and Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) died April 23, 2023. Hanna a beloved professor, colleague and mentor served the … Continued

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  Carolina Celebrates Earth

  Earth Day is Saturday, April 22 This April, Carolina celebrates planet Earth all month long. Sustainable Carolina, along with other University departments and student organizations, have events planned to bring awareness to environmental efforts and sustainability.

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  IE BOV Member Seymour ’81 spends semester as Yale’s McCluskey Visiting Fellow in Conservation; selected to U.S. Department of State’s Science Envoy

  Every Monday morning last fall, Frances Seymour boarded a train from Washington, D.C. to New Haven, CT, a five-hour trek that delivered her to Yale University where she was a Dorothy S. McCluskey Visiting Fellow in Conservation at the Yale … Continued

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  Thank you for helping the UNC Institute for the Environment have the “best day ever” for GiveUNC

  The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) had the “best day ever” Mar. 28 for GiveUNC—Carolina’s 24-hour giving challenge. The Institute recorded its most successful GiveUNC effort to date, raising more than $375,000 from 110 donors in 24 hours. GiveUNC, … Continued

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  New UNC study quantifies $562M in financial risk from Hurricane Florence using novel modeling approach that evaluates risk of mortgage default and property abandonment

  Press contacts: Emily Williams, eew@email.unc.edu, 919-962-0965 or Meg Palmer, meghan_palmer@unc.edu, 919-966-8317 When Hurricane Florence made landfall on North Carolina’s coast in 2018, it brought record rainfall causing catastrophic flooding and damages to communities across the eastern portion of the state. … Continued

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  Ninth annual UNC Cleantech Summit to feature leaders in business, public sector for keynotes, panels and networking

  The 2023 UNC Cleantech Summit is set to take place on Mar. 27 and 28 at UNC’s Friday Center for Continuing Education in Chapel Hill, NC. The annual event is open to students, educators and members of the cleantech industry. … Continued

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  Help us reach our GiveUNC goal on Mar. 28!

  ­ Mark your calendars for Mar. 28 and help the UNC Institute for the Environment exceed our fundraising goals for GiveUNC—UNC-Chapel Hill’s 24-hour giving challenge. The Institute has consistently landed on the leaderboards in multiple categories for number of gifts … Continued

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  Kryston examines sanitation in NC communities with IE’s inaugural Environmental Justice Graduate Research Award 

  Amy Kryston, the inaugural recipient of the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Justice Graduate Research Award, studies the relationship between on-site sanitation, health and social drivers of health in North Carolina communities. “Sanitation is a human right,” Kryston, a … Continued

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  Carolina’s field sites featured on UNC.edu

  At field sites in North Carolina’s mountains, coastline, cities and even the tropical rain forests of Thailand, undergraduates have a semester-long opportunity to explore real-world issues through a combination of coursework, field trips, research projects and internships with local organizations. … Continued

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  The potential of mentorship, Graves and Johnson forge powerful bond

  Neasha Graves enthusiastically shows a model of a human airway fashioned from a toilet paper roll, rubber bands and pink and red foam craft sheets to Mitierra Johnson. Graves is simulating a healthy airway and contrasting it with the airway … Continued

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  One Tree Planted Partners with Vets to Drones and Carolina Drone Lab (One Tree Planted | Jan. 27, 2023)

  Vets to Drones, One Tree Planted, and UNC Chapel Hill’s Carolina Drone Lab are proud to announce the creation of the Veterans in the Forest Program, a partnership to train veterans and provide on-the-job experience in drone-based forest monitoring technology. … Continued

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  Wild Things Make Their Hearts Sing (Endeavors | Jan. 24, 2023)

  In a small kitchen in western North Carolina, the smell of butter wafts through the air as Marie Young pulls shortbread from the oven. Several blankets drape across a worn couch and metal shelves line three of the walls, each … Continued

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  Hunting for Hemlocks (Endeavors | Jan. 20, 2023)

  “It’s just a little further,” Ken Donny-Clark promises. The UNC-Chapel Hill senior crawls on his hands and knees, pushing aside branches and small plants as he squeezes his way to his destination. After a few more minutes of struggling through … Continued

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  Desperately Seeking Salamanders (Endeavors | Jan. 18, 2023)

  About an hour after the sun sets over the ridgeline of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kristina Hefferle and Leah Morrissey hike to a nearby creek in total darkness under a tangle of rhododendron, dog hobble, and towering pine trees. The … Continued

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  All Creatures Great and Small (UNC Research | Jan. 17, 2023)

  As the last remnants of the sun streak the sky with purple and peach hues on this hot summer night, the trees by the Eno River fall silent. It’s one of those Carolina evenings that’s so humid, it’s as if … Continued

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  How to live more sustainably in 2023 (UNC News | Jan. 12, 2023)

  UNC Institute for the Environment Director Mike Piehler is an expert on how human activity affects natural systems and is helping the University be more green as Carolina’s chief sustainability officer. He’s also dedicated to helping Tar Heels find ways to … Continued

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  ‘It is good to be back in person,’ CMAS Center hosts 21st annual conference to tackle complex air quality issues

  The Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Center has served the air quality modeling and analysis community for more than two decades by providing access to open-source software that can be used to analyze air quality impacts and develop policies … Continued

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  Arter, Gorelick named AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows

  Former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill postdoctoral researchers Calvin Arter and David Gorelick recently were named to the 50th cohort of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellows (STPF). The program, … Continued

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  UNC Institute for the Environment surpasses $12 million goal in historic Campaign for Carolina

  The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) has surpassed its $12 million campaign goal in Carolina’s campus-wide fundraising campaign. The Campaign for Carolina, launched in 2017, raised a record-setting $5 billion before closing Dec. 31, 2022. In addition to public … Continued

2022

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  Using drones to study the Galápagos Islands, Cohen adds to summer study abroad experience 

  The Galápagos Islands’ unique landscape and topography provide the backdrop for a five-week program with the UNC Study Abroad Office and a partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill’s Center for Galápagos Studies and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in Ecuador.    Over … Continued

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  Institute awarded $2.3 million from National Science Foundation to implement and study program empowering Latino and Indigenous youth to seek solutions to climate impacts

  UNC researchers, collaborators in NC and WA receive funding to engage diverse youth in exploring climate impacts and solutions in their communities. The Center for Public Engagement with Science in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for … Continued

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  UNC students return to St. John through Institute’s field study program

    Through a UNC Institute for the Environment field study program called UNC Coral Reef Ecology in the Caribbean, 16 UNC-Chapel Hill students were able to visit St. John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, led by Brian Naess, a … Continued

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  Strategic planning retreat explores financial loss and uncertainty amid environmental events

  The UNC Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems (CoFiRES) held its sixth annual Strategic Planning Retreat at the Morehead Planetarium on Oct. 14. CoFiRES is a partnership between the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at UNC’s Gillings School … Continued

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  Meet the 2022 Molchanov Scholars

  Over the summer, six UNC students were paired with environmental organizations across the state to build their skills for a future in an environmental field through internships. These experiences were made possible by the Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program, an endowed … Continued

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  Haine named Outstanding Informal Educator by RePowering Schools

  In May 2022, Dana Haine, K-12 science education manager for the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science, was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Informal Educator Award from RePowering Schools. REpowering Schools is a national non-profit organization … Continued

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  Robeson County high school students gain experience in geology and marine science through IE’s Summer Geoscience Internship Program

  This past summer, high school students from Robeson County spent time on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus to participate in the Summer Geoscience Internship program, a five-week program that allows prospective college students to gain experience in the geosciences. “I was … Continued

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  CMAS Conference returns to Friday Center for its 21st event Oct. 17-19

  The Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Conference will return in person this fall after more than two years of virtual programming. The conference hosted by the Institute for the Environment will be held Oct. 17-19 at UNC’s Friday Center.   … Continued

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  IE, CE3 launch Energy Transition Initiative

  The UNC Institute for the Environment and UNC School of Law’s Center for Climate, Energy, Environment & Economics (CE3) have teamed up to launch a new program called the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI). The program, led by UNC law professor … Continued

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  Institute launches environmental justice graduate research award; Kryston inaugural recipient

  In summer of 2020, the UNC Institute for the Environment reconstituted its diversity, equity and inclusion committee known as the Institute for the Environment’s Inclusion and Equity Committee or IEIE. The group facilitated discussions about what the Institute can do … Continued

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  Meet the Inaugural CRCE Scholars

    The Center for Resilient Communities and Environment Scholars Program, led by Philip Berke, director of Center for Resilient Communities and Environment and research professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning, recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution … Continued

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  UNC-Chapel student team wins inaugural North Carolina Sea Grant’s Coastal Resilience Team Competition

  In March, a team of UNC-Chapel Hill students was named the winners of the North Carolina Sea Grant’s first Coastal Resilience Team Competition for their research on ecosystem function in New Bern. Now, led by Anne Smiley, the team will … Continued

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  MEDIA INVITED: Teachers from NC communities impacted by PFAS contamination to convene at UNC to create health-focused science lessons 

  Media invited Eight high school science teachers from five North Carolina counties will convene at UNC June 20-22 to design lessons about an emerging environmental contaminant, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). First developed in the 1950s, PFAS are found in … Continued

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  IE partners with the Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to engage STEM teachers in learning about chemistry innovations in the energy sector

  Fourteen STEM teachers from across North Carolina convened in the Blue Makerspace in Carmichael Residence Hall at UNC-Chapel Hill on April 29 to learn about chemistry innovations in the energy sector from UNC researchers. This workshop was sponsored by IE’s Center … Continued

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  New UNC-Chapel Hill study finds stormwater infrastructure inundation contributes to high tide flooding in coastal communities

  Throughout human history, coastal residents have enjoyed the benefits of living near the ocean while balancing the associated risks. Coastal flooding, exacerbated by sea level rise, whether from the ocean, rivers, or rain is an ongoing challenge for many coastal … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy—UNC’s eighth annual Clean Tech Summit advocates for economic and environmental advancement

  The UNC Cleantech Summit took place in-person on March 29-30, drawing more than 800 industry leaders, students, and policymakers from across the Southeast to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This year’s theme, “Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy,” gave attendees from … Continued

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  UNC-Chapel Hill researchers find significant health benefits to air pollution reduction policies in NYC

  New research demonstrates how reduced emissions can save lives and save money A new study from scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimates reducing emissions in New York City could save more than 400 lives every … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  #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 … Continued

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  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.

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  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 … Continued

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  UNC study reveals surprising benefits of invasive marsh grass  

  Phragmites australis (P. australis), an invasive marsh grass that many consider a nuisance along the North Carolina coastline, may have surprising benefits, according to new research conducted by Mollie Yacano. Yacano is currently a graduate student at the University of … Continued

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  UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 2022 campaigned for the Environmental Justice Undergraduate Research Program on GiveUNC

  As a part of their annual Senior Campaign, UNC-Chapel Hill’s graduating class of 2022 campaigned to raise money and awareness for the Environmental Justice Undergraduate Research Program, a program administered by the UNC Institute for the Environment. The Senior Campaign, … Continued

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  Thank you for helping the UNC Institute for the Environment have a “day like no other” for GiveUNC

  The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) had a day like no other on Mar. 29 for GiveUNC—Carolina’s 24-hour giving challenge. The Institute partnered with the Senior Class to raise money and awareness for a new environmental justice research program … Continued

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  #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 … Continued

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  Help us reach our GiveUNC goal on Mar. 29!

  Mark your calendars for Mar. 29 and help the UNC Institute for the Environment exceed our fundraising goals for GiveUNC—UNC-Chapel Hill’s 24-hour giving challenge. Last year, the Institute had a “day like no other,” raising more than $325,000 from more … Continued

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  Electric school bus research project leads to publication and research partnership benefiting Sustainable Carolina 

  Melanie Elliott hadn’t planned to become a sustainability analyst for Sustainable Carolina when she first arrived at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after leaving a career in restaurant management. With a desire to do something she felt … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  New grant supports partnership with Durham Public Schools and Museum of Life and Science to develop hands-on STEM activities to engage students in learning about extreme heat 

  The Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) in the UNC Institute for the Environment (IE), in collaboration with the Community Engagement Core (CEC) of UNC’s NIEHS-funded Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility (CEHS), received one of the first Climate … Continued

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  “Transitioning to a low carbon economy,” 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit features in-person event, virtual career fair

  WATCH: See how this annual event connects the next generation of cleantech innovators with global, national, and regional industry leaders. The 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit will be held in-person on Mar. 29-30 at UNC’s Friday Center for Continuing Education in … Continued

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  Molchanov Scholars gain valuable experience amid pandemic; apply now for Summer 2022

  Over the summer, five UNC students were paired with environmental organizations across the state to build their skills for a future in an environmental field through internships. These experiences were made possible by the Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program, an endowed … Continued

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  Petric named director of IE’s Highlands Field Site

  Rada Petric’s love for nature and animals stems from a place of comfort amid tragic events in her childhood: a civil war. Born in Bosnia, Petric was separated from her parents when she was seven years-old. Her mother was a … Continued

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  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.

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  Registration now open for 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit

  Registration is now OPEN for the 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit, “Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy” on March 29-30th. Save with early bird rates, good through 2/12. Flat rates for all students, K-12, university faculty.

2021

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  A Holiday Message + Year-in-Review from the UNC Institute for the Environment

  As we close in on the end of 2021, we reflect on the many accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students. We wish you a restful and happy holiday and very best wishes for the New Year. Please click the … Continued

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  CMAS Conference celebrates 20th anniversary with record attendance at 2021 virtual event in November

  The Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Conference at the UNC Institute for the Environment held its 20th annual event Nov. 1-5, 2021 with a record number of registrants representing 19 countries and more than 360 attendees. This is the … Continued

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  We’re Hiring: Postdoctoral Research Associate

  The Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) in the UNC Institute for the Environment seeks a postdoctoral scholar to begin February 1, 2022. The CPES partners with UNC faculty and community leaders in North Carolina (NC) to translate environmental … Continued

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  Geoscience interns explore Battle Park Water Lab (Photo Essay)

  Over the summer, students in the Summer Geoscience Internship Program spent time exploring labs and sites around UNC and Chapel Hill, NC for their summer internship experience. Students in this program are from Robeson Early College High School in Robeson County, … Continued

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  December Updates: IE Cleantech Corner

  Green hydrogen is the focus of an entire track at the 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit on March 29-30. Cleantech intern Yutong Qiu shares a blog about this clean technology. Her article provides uses for green hydrogen such as steel production … Continued

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  With $1.25 million Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, IE launches Iterative Design to Engage All (IDEA) Learners Program 

  First developed in the 1950s, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in a variety of household items. They are used to create water-repellant fabrics, non-stick cookware, and a host of other products that repel grease, oil, and water. While … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  Is your well water safe to drink? New resource from UNC-Chapel Hill, partners can help you decide

  People who rely on private well water in North Carolina have a better chance of learning whether their well water is safe to drink thanks to an initiative of the UNC School of Law Well Water Pro Bono Project, the … Continued

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  November Updates: IE Cleantech Corner

  Planning for the 2022 UNC Cleantech Summit is well underway! New speakers and sponsors are announced each week. We will host more than 200 speakers and 35 panel sessions about the global energy transition, finance, the hydrogen economy, off-shore energy, … Continued

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  New study finds alternative jet fuels decrease health impacts near airports and downwind

  Press contact: Emily Williams, eew@email.unc.edu, 919-962-0965 Airplane emissions are estimated to be responsible for 16,000 premature deaths around the world each year. Driven by a 3.5% growth in passenger flights, aviation traffic is expected to rise over the next 20 years … Continued

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  October Updates: IE Cleantech Corner

  The UNC Cleantech Summit is proud to announce Glenn Wright, President, Shell Energy North America and VP of Renewables and Energy Solutions, Americas, as the event keynote speaker for the March 29-30, 2022 event. Mr. Wright will speak about Shell becoming … Continued

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  Salvesen to retire after two decades at Carolina

  This month, David Salvesen will celebrate retirement after a career spanning two decades at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His professional story tells of the importance of people in the environmental field, as he leaves behind a … Continued

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  Bradley steps on to UNC System Board of Governors; steps off IE Board of Visitors

  It may seem unintuitive for a real estate developer to serve on an environmental board, but through a series of chance encounters turned friendships, Kirk Bradley did just that. Bradley, chairman, president and CEO of Lee-Moore Capital Company, served on … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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.

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  CMAS Conference 2021: Call for Abstracts

  The 20th Annual CMAS Conference will be held virtually from November 1-5, 2021. The CMAS Center is now accepting abstracts and registrations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference will again be hosted virtually by the UNC Institute for … Continued

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  UNC capstone students engage Greater Duffyfield residents regarding beloved recreation center

  Stanley White dressed in New Bern baseball uniform (Loaned by Cleo White and Pamela White-Holloway to New Bern-Craven County Public Library) UNC students in one of last semester’s environmental studies capstones sought to help a historically Black community strengthen its … Continued

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  August Updates: IE Cleantech Corner

  2022 UNC Clean Tech Summit Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy The eighth annual UNC Clean Tech Summit will take place on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 – Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. … Continued

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  YES-Resilience youth science enrichment program wraps up with in-person summer institutes

  The UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) concluded its 10-month-long science enrichment program, Youth Engaging in the Science of Resilience in Urban and Rural NC (YES-Resilience) Teen Climate Ambassadors Program in June with two, … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  July Updates: IE Cleantech Corner

  The annual Cleantech Summit will return on March 29-30, 2022 at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. This event will focus on decarbonization and feature global expertise from every sector including energy, transportation, agriculture, sustainable textiles, urban planning, Bluetech, … Continued

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  IE energy educators contribute to first-of-its-kind renewable energy education summit

  The UNC Institute for the Environment’s role in training the next generation of clean energy professionals is garnering national attention once more. Lindsay Dubbs, co-director of the Outer Banks Field Site, who recently was recognized for her energy education work … Continued

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  EcoStudio provides professional development through coursework, internships

  The EcoStudio at UNC-Chapel Hill began as an idea to pair students with UNC environmental and sustainability entities to give students workplace experience and a chance to make a difference at Carolina. Now in its fourth year, the EcoStudio has … Continued

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  New study identifies leading source of health damages from vehicle pollution in 12 states and Washington, D.C.

  Press contact: Emily Williams, eew@email.unc.edu, 919-962-0965 Tailpipe emissions caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in 2016 A new study finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated … Continued

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  Piehler presents preliminary findings to NC Senate Select Committee on flood resilience

  The North Carolina General Assembly’s Senate Select Committee on Storm Related River Debris and Damage in NC met in April and heard from a host of entities from academic, government and non-profit organizations working on flood resilience in the state. … Continued

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  June Webinars: IE Cleantech Corner

  This past semester, our IE Cleantech Corner student interns produced stories about sustainable cities and food, green finance, and how one ENGO is driving change. Specifically, Alyssa Abraham explored sustainable cities and created, “Designing Sustainable Cities: Songdo.” Tatum Pryor interviewed … Continued

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  MEDIA INVITED: Summer program to engage youth in learning about climate resilience, Whiteville, NC

  The Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) at the UNC Institute for the Environment, in partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) – Whiteville will host a three-day summer institute June 8-10 for youth enrolled in … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  May Webinars: IE Cleantech Corner

  Mark your calendars! The UNC Cleantech Summit will be held on March 29th and 30th, 2022! Please reach out to cleantech@unc.edu with any speaker or sponsorship questions.  Have you missed any Cleantech Corner webinars? Watch our on-demand series. https://ie.unc.edu/clean-tech-corner/webinar-series/ Recent webinars … Continued

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  Youth learn about resilience to wildfires, prescribed burns and air quality impacts

  On Mar. 20, the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) conducted a half-day virtual academy on the topic of climate change and forests for … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

• 

  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. … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  UNC launches CARDNL, Carolina’s first Drone Lab

  From characterizing floodplains and mapping invasive species, to forest management, Carolina’s Drone Lab, or CARDNL, works with interdisciplinary teams to tackle emerging research questions. Recently launched to provide a hub for innovative drone and sensing technologies at Carolina, CARDNL serves … Continued

• 

  Institute has “A Day Like No Other” on GiveUNC

  The UNC Institute for the Environment had a “day like no other,” raising more than $325,000 from more than 70 donors in 24 hours on GiveUNC on Mar. 30. The Institute placed among the top four campus units from across … Continued

• 

  Piehler testifies before U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on flooding and resilience in NC

  On Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Mike Piehler, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, was a witness before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Piehler gave testimony and answered questions about research at Carolina … Continued

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  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 … Continued

• 

  Upcoming Webinars: IE Cleantech Corner 

  These programs feature guest speakers and are produced by cleantech student interns and the UNC Cleantech Summit team of Greg Gangi and Kiersten Williams. More programs are being added each week. Be sure to visit https://ie.unc.edu/clean-tech-corner/webinar-series/ for updates. Save the Dates!  … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

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  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 … Continued

• 

  UNC wins first ever EPA contract through U.S. GSA for up to $11.2 million over five years

  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment (IE) recently won an award for up to $11.2 million over the next 5 years from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule for its work supporting the … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: UNC Study Dives Deeper into Falls Lake and Looks for Solutions to Improve Water Quality

  As an environmental policy intern working with the NC Policy Collaboratory during the 2020 fall semester, I spent several months learning about the work being done by university researchers about the Falls Lake watershed. Much of my semester was spent … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

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  Intern Leticia Tuset combines English and environmental public health to change lives through community resilience

  Leticia Tuset has always harbored a love for English. In fourth grade she just knew she wanted to be a writer. Now a Morehead-Cain Scholar and junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, Tuset has designed a vigorous academic path pursuing her interests … Continued

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  IE, partners receive more than $500,000 to fund environmental health sciences internships

  Starting in February 2021, a new collaborative initiative between the UNC Institute for the Environment, the Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine in the UNC School of Medicine, and the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at North Carolina Central … Continued

2020

• 

  2020 Year in Review

  This year held challenges that few anticipated and brought untold adversity to so many. We are grateful that our research, education and outreach endeavors could continue in modified capacities. The environmental field sites sustained in-person instruction with stringent public health … Continued

• 

  A special holiday message from Mike Piehler and the UNC Institute for the Environment

  Happiest holidays from Mike Piehler + the faculty and staff of the UNC Institute for the Environment. Thank you for your steadfast support this year. Michael Piehler Director, UNC Institute for the Environment Professor, Marine Sciences and Environmental Sciences and … Continued

• 

  IE makes hands-on geoscience learning possible for Northeastern NC’s students and teachers

  The UNC Institute for the Environment recently received $319,000 to connect students and teachers in Northeastern North Carolina with field-based geoscience learning opportunities. Geoscience Teaching Outdoors in NC, also known as GET OUT in NC, will take advantage of the … Continued

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  As IDEA program for underrepresented students concludes, new program funded and in development

  The UNC Institute for the Environment hosted its final cohort of six IDEA (Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia) students this summer, matching a total of 78 students with geoscience internships between 2012 and 2020. IDEA, which has been funded by … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  UNC researchers receive grant to study potential benefits of beaver dams

  Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently received a grant to study the relationship between beaver dams and water quality. The grant, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, totals nearly $600,000. The Institute’s individual … Continued

• 

  Preyer completes term on IE BOV, begins service to UNC Board of Trustees

  John Preyer grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina with a zeal for being outdoors. He got hooked on fishing and hunting by his older brother and some of his friends. But the Preyer’s lived in town and didn’t own land. … Continued

• 

  Reflecting on remarkable career, CMAS Center honors retirement of Adel Hanna

  When the air quality modeling community thinks of CMAS (Community Modeling and Analysis System), they instantly think of Adel Hanna. Hanna has been the director of the CMAS Center since 2003. Institute for the Environment Director Michael Piehler announced at … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  Energy LEAP summer program still meaningful during time of social distancing

  Each summer, IE’s Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) hosts a week-long camp for high school students interested in science. Amid the global pandemic, Energy LEAP (Literacy, Engagement and Action Program) was held remotely this summer during the last … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  After 18 years as Morehead City Field Site director, Noble passes the helm to Rodriguez

  Gathering together for lunch on day one of each semester is Rachel Noble’s tradition. She aims to get to know students from their first day together at the Morehead City Field Site and she said she enjoys seeing many of … Continued

• 

  Meet the Field Site Directors

  Engaging students in a semester of transformative hands-on learning and research are key aspects of the experiences offered at all of UNC-Chapel Hill’s field sites. A partnership among the Institute, the  Environment, Ecology and Energy Program and the  Study Abroad … Continued

• 

  How much geoscience can fit in a box?

  This summer, the Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) launched a new K-12 initiative called “STEM Experiences in the Lab and Field (SELF)” for high school students in Robeson County, NC. Originally intended to take place in Robeson County … Continued

• 

  BenDor named Institute’s distinguished chair of sustainable community design

  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was Todd BenDor’s first job choice back in 2007 after finishing graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Ph.D. in regional planning. Fast forward more than a decade and … Continued

• 

  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.

• 

  From the blog: North Carolina releases new hurricane preparedness guide

  In North Carolina, like many coastal states, hurricane season is a well-known period of the year from June to November where tropical storms that begin in the warmer southern waters gradually grow and shift and can have a great impact … Continued

• 

  IE, NCMNS youth program on climate resilience to begin Aug. 29 virtually

  On Aug. 29, 37 youth from North Carolina will begin the Youth Engaging in the Science of Resilience (YES-Resilience) Teen Climate Ambassadors program hosted by the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science and the NC … Continued

• 

  Stories of Innovation: Clean tech interns launch series’ on start-ups and SMEs

  This summer, interns for the Institute’s Cleantech Program have been engaging with startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to tell their stories of cleantech innovation—digitally. The student interns have been writing whitepapers about cleantech disruption and blog posts which … Continued

• 

  Former field site student awarded prestigious NSF Fellowship

  Claire Johnson, a student in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Environment, Ecology and Energy Program (E3P) and former IE field site student,  recently was awarded a competitive Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The … Continued

• 

  IE to guide $2 million flood resilience study    

  Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian caused billions of dollars in economic losses over the past four years. Six of the 7 largest rainfall events over the last 120 years in North Carolina have occurred in the last 20 years. These … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  UNC Institute for the Environment takes actions to advance racial equity

  UNC Institute for the Environment Director Mike Piehler shared a statement with faculty, staff, and students outlining the actions the Institute is taking to become a racial learning organization. “At IE we know that systemic racism has and does pervade … Continued

• 

  Meet the 2020 Pavel Molchanov Scholars

  The 2020 Pavel Molchanov Scholars discuss their summer internships amid a global pandemic. Interns and organizations have adapted to the new normal as the world navigates how to continue work with new guidelines and standards to protect public health. Funded … Continued

• 

  Thank YOU! Institute posts most successful #GiveUNC to date

  On GiveUNC, the UNC Institute for the Environment recorded its most successful GiveUNC effort to date, raising nearly $340,000 in 24 hours. The Institute placed among the top four campus units from across UNC-Chapel Hill behind only the Kenan-Flagler Business … Continued

• 

  NC Energy Literacy Fellow receives fellowship award to study grid resilience at home and abroad

  Denise Renfro, a CTE teacher and Director of the Academy of Green Technology at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, NC, and participant in the UNC Institute for the Environment’s 2019 NC Energy Literacy Fellows Program, received a Fund For … Continued

• 

  The latest updates to UNC’s COVID-19 response

  Following the UNC System directive to significantly reduce campus operations and services, many of Carolina’s buildings are closed and in-person, non-essential services have been suspended. Important updates: Remote instruction for the majority of courses begins the week of March 23. … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  Berke rejoins Institute to lead Center for Resilient Communities and Environment

  Research professor Phil Berke recently returned to Chapel Hill and was selected to lead the Institute’s newly launched Center for Resilient Communities and Environment. “The Institute for the Environment, by its nature, cuts across the campus. We will be doing … Continued

• 

  From the blog: Winning idea! The story behind clinching the Strata Solar Clean Tech Award

  For the past two years, we have served as co-chairs of the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee. As such, we often find ourselves in conversation about energy markets, and brainstorming ideas for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale. As RESPC … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  LISTEN: Pete Andrews discusses his new book “Managing the Environment, Managing Ourselves, 3rd Edition, A History of American Environmental Policy”

  In a new book released Mar. 17, 2020 by Yale University Press, Richard N. L. “Pete” Andrews examines the 50-year history of the modern environmental policy era against the background of the four centuries of American environmental policies that led … Continued

• 

  UNC Clean Tech Summit launches webinar series

  The clean tech conversation goes beyond the annual UNC Clean Tech Summit! We are launching a webinar series focused on the clean tech economy from a regional, national and global lens. The first series in April 2020 features five (5) webinars with … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  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 … Continued

• 

  CMAS hosts fourth air quality conference in South America

  See more photos This past July, researchers from all over the globe gathered in Brazil at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte to attend the CMAS (Community Modeling and Analysis System) South America Conference. This year’s event … Continued

• 

  UNC IE’s Center for Public Engagement with Science recognized with a 2020 Best of Green Schools Award from the U.S. Green Building Council

  The UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) was recognized this year with the 2020 Best of Green Schools Award for Higher Education for their Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Initiative at Northside Elementary in … Continued

• 

  Book Release: “Managing the Environment, Managing Ourselves, 3rd Edition, A History of American Environmental Policy” by Richard N. L. Andrews (’70, ’72)

  In a new book to be released Mar. 17 by Yale University Press, Richard N. L. “Pete” Andrews examines the 50-year history of the modern environmental policy era against the background of the four centuries of American environmental policies that … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: Improving the Water Quality of Private Drinking Water Wells in North Carolina through Multidisciplinary Work

  The Importance of Private Wells in North Carolina About 3.3 million North Carolina residents—almost a third of its population—rely on household wells or other small residential water systems. Private well water is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and wells … Continued

• 

  Have an internship or research project opportunity? EcoStudio has students!

  EcoStudio pairs outstanding undergraduate students with faculty advisors for environmentally-focused internships, client-based research and applied learning projects. Students not only gain real-world experience, but they also can earn academic credit. Here’s how it works: 1) EcoStudio solicits internship opportunities and independent … Continued

• 

  Postcard from the Field: Claire Bradley ’22 – OBX Field Site

  Name: Claire Bradley Major: Environmental Studies Expected graduation date: 2022 Why did you want to go to the Outer Banks? I was interested in the Outer Banks field site because it offered so many opportunities in one. I was also excited … Continued

• 

  Innovating to a clean economy, UNC hosts 7th annual Clean Tech Summit for industry, government and research leaders from around the globe 

  Click image to view slideshow. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosted its annual Clean Tech Summit, convening industry, government and research leaders from around the globe for discussions on innovating to a clean economy.  The seventh annual … Continued

• 

  At Water’s Edge, NC teachers explore watershed management along state’s coast

  Click image for slideshow. Packing plenty of sunblock and extra pairs of shoes, nearly twenty middle- and high-school science teachers, primarily from the coastal and piedmont regions of North Carolina, set out on an interactive four-day professional development program, known … Continued

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  We’re hiring! Research Associate

  The Research Associate is a permanent position in the Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES), the informal science education and community engagement unit of the UNC Institute for the Environment (IE). This position will be responsible for designing, implementing, … Continued

• 

  UNC scientists, partners to develop new modeling system to pair emissions and health impacts at local scale for city, state of New York

  A team of scientists has partnered to create a new modeling system to assist the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in estimating the public health benefits of adopting clean and renewable energy and reducing energy demand … Continued

• 

  Clean Tech Summit 2020: Innovating to a Clean Economy

  The 7th annual UNC Clean Tech Summit will take place Feb. 20 – 21 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. Registration is open with early bird rates through Feb. 7. In addition to engaging breakout sessions, keynotes and workshops, … Continued

• 

  Celebrating summer interns

  As the summer came to a close, so did internships for dozens of students at the Institute for the Environment (IE) and organizations across the Triangle. On August 15, students who worked with IE and its partners such as the … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: Stormwater ponds are everywhere, but how do they work?

  I get a lot of questions from concerned residents while conducting my research, but then again, my research can seem pretty strange. Every couple of months, I’ll gather up all of the necessary fieldwork supplies and throw it in the … Continued

• 

  Preparing the next generation of energy leaders

    The Duke Energy Foundation funds UNC-Chapel Hill programs that prepare future leaders for the energy workforce. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is not only changing the energy landscape in North Carolina and beyond. It also requires preparing the future … Continued

• 

  Registration now open for 2020 UNC Clean Tech Summit

  This UNC event is now the largest clean tech conference of its kind in the Southeast. The 2020 Summit, set for February 20 – 21 will feature a diverse mix of tracks including: Circular Economy, Ag Tech, The Rise of … Continued

2019

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  2019 Year in Review

  As we near the turning of the year, our thoughts reflect on the amazing accomplishments of our faculty, students and staff. Please enjoy this video featuring a few highlights from the year. We thank you for your support that allows … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: Using Modeling Capabilities to Address Air Pollution at a Local and Global Scale

  Approximately 4.2 million premature deaths occur globally each year due to outdoor air pollution. Sources of air pollutants can be man-made, such as vehicle exhaust and other industrial sources like power plants, or natural in origin, such as smoke from … Continued

• 

  Clean Tech Competition offers $10,000 prize for winning entry

  WHAT: The $10,000 Strata Clean Tech Award WHY: To advance clean-energy technologies and to support and encourage those individuals and institutions that are challenging traditional approaches to our energy ecosystem WHO: Students, advisors, faculty, staff, and administrators at accredited colleges … Continued

• 

  Recently-renewed funding from NASA expands lake level project worldwide

  Continuing its pursuit of understanding water volume fluctuations in Earth’s natural lakes, the Lake Observations by Citizen Scientists and Satellites (LOCSS) project is finishing its first year of worldwide data collection following its recent funding renewal from the National Aeronautics … Continued

• 

  UNC scientists partner with citizen scientists to map Earth’s river obstructions

  Humans have been manipulating the flow of rivers for millennia. From the earliest known dam built on the Nile by the Ancient Egyptians to modern engineering projects like the Hoover Dam, altering and controlling waterways is one of the defining … Continued

• 

  Student body vice president Elizabeth Kendrick discusses her OBX field site experience

  The Carolina community has long been comprised of a diverse body of bright, driven thinkers whose rich blend of academic and social interests lay the foundation of their professional aspirations. With access to a vast selection of resources designed to … Continued

• 

  Undergraduate students visit tech hubs for renewable energy development in Asia

  In a three-week long program this summer as part of Honors Carolina’s Burch Field Research Seminar, 22 undergraduate students traveled to China and South Korea to learn about the rise of clean technology and renewable energy in Asia. “The green … Continued

• 

  IE, NC Museum of Natural Sciences receive National Science Foundation funding to engage youth in learning about climate resilience

  Responding to the challenge of developing resilient communities as the world faces more frequent and severe extreme weather events, Kathleen Gray and Dana Haine of the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science were recently awarded … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: Coming Full Circle – Accelerating the Circular Economy

  Coming Full Circle On the morning of Friday, September 13, The Great Hall in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union was abuzz with excitement as students gathered to learn more about the Circular Economy. The Institute for the Environment and … Continued

• 

  IE to host more than 300 air quality scientists at annual conference

  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment is hosting its 18th annual Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Conference Oct. 21-23 at the university’s Friday Center. The annual conference has become an international hub and … Continued

• 

  Pate family renews scholarship for field studies

  The G. Timothy (’80) and Jessica Hope (’07) Pate Environmental Science Field Program Scholarships, or simply the Pate Scholars Program, recently received a renewal in its funding. The Pate Scholars Program is a need-based scholarship opportunity that helps reduce the … Continued

• 

  From the blog: A Park for Every Child – Bringing Students and Teachers to the Outdoor Classroom

  Connecting Teachers with State Parks This summer I had the opportunity to work for UNC Institute for the Environment through an APPLES service-learning internship. I primarily worked on the “A Park for Every Child” project for the duration of my internship position. … Continued

• 

  Do you know what to do after a hurricane hits?

  UNC Institute for the Environment‘s Center for Public Engagement with Science along with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health‘s Center for Environmental Health + Susceptibility maintains a disaster response + recovery resource for NC. In recent years, hurricanes and tropical … Continued

• 

  IE, North Carolina State Parks host teacher training institutes

  During their summer break, elementary school teachers from across the state braved the rain and the heat to learn environmental education techniques from specialists with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and the Institute for the Environment’s (IE) … Continued

• 

  IE’s Clean Tech + Innovation Program launches blog

  As part of the Institute for the Environment, the UNC Clean Tech + Innovation Program has launched a storytelling platform called, Clean Tech Stories. The content will bring the topics of global and regional transformation to life through student travel … Continued

• 

  Piehler Lab to examine the role of oysters in new studies

  Each year, Americans slurp up 2.5 billion oysters. They’re an important part of coastal cuisine, and in North Carolina alone the fishery is worth about $4 million dollars. But there’s more to the acclaimed Eastern oysters than meets the eye. … Continued

• 

  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, … Continued

• 

  Postcard from the Field: Brianna Chan ’22 – China + South Korea

  Name: Brianna Chan Major: Environmental Health Sciences Expected graduation date: 2022 Why did you want to go to China and South Korea?  China and South Korea are both rising leaders in the green sector, regarding clean technology development and innovative … Continued

• 

  IE, Northside Elementary Create Hands-On, Nature-Based Curriculum

  View slideshow Over the past year, the Institute for the Environment’s Center for Public Engagement with Science (CPES) has teamed up with teachers from Northside Elementary School to create a curriculum that will engage third through fifth grade students with … Continued

• 

  The sky’s the limit: New drone-focused instructional program to be offered in fall 2019

  This fall, eight UNC faculty members will participate in a five-day intensive course that will explore the operation, safety, federal regulations and data collection capabilities of drones for environmental research. Susan Cohen, associate director for UNC’s Institute for the Environment … Continued

• 

  Postcards from the Field: Inaugural Molchanov Scholars share their summer internship experiences

  Inaugural Molchanov Scholars Cassidy Harding ’19 and Dylan Burns ’21 discuss their summer internships in this Postcard from the Field. Funded by a $1 million gift from Pavel Molchanov, the program matches undergraduate students with environmental internships where students can … Continued

• 

  From the Blog: Exploring the Possible Link Between Wildfires and Landslides in Western North Carolina

  Is there a connection between wildfire occurrence and debris flows (landslides) within that previously burned area?  University researchers in partnership with state and federal officials are working to answer that question in North Carolina.

• 

  UNC-led team wins NOAA grant to develop better air quality forecasting

  A team of air quality monitoring experts will soon kickstart the development of a state-of-the-art emissions testbed to enhance current air quality forecasting systems produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Leading this team is B.H. Baek, a research assistant professor at the UNC Institute … Continued

• 

  Geoscience students embark on retreat through coastal NC

  On May 22, nine undergraduate students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University set out on a three-day retreat to explore the coast of North Carolina and broaden their knowledge and appreciation of … Continued

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  NC Energy Literacy Fellows to explore the future of the electric grid

  The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) will host twenty middle and high school teachers from across North Carolina for a professional development institute to explore the future of the electric grid June 25-27. These teachers are enrolled in IE’s … Continued

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  UNC-Chapel Hill joins U.S. General Services Administration schedule for environmental consulting services

  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment (IE) recently joined the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule to offer environmental services to federal government agencies. “The GSA Schedule is a different way of doing business … Continued

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  From the Blog: Increasing Student Diversity in the Geosciences at Carolina

  This summer, the selected undergraduate students from UNC and NCCU will be completing 10-week research internships with faculty in the UNC School of Public Health, Departments of Geography, Geological Sciences, and Marine Sciences, and the NCCU Department of Environmental, Earth, … Continued

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  From the blog: Helping Local Governments Respond to Drinking Water Incidents

  Jill Moore is an Associate Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government.   Local government agencies have critical roles in responding to drinking water incidents. Incidents affecting drinking water occur frequently in North Carolina. Storms may … Continued

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  Media Advisory: North Garner middle school students get out of the classroom and into the water

  On Friday, May 10, eighty middle school students from North Garner Middle School in Wake County will head to the Neuse River to test water turbines they constructed in the classroom from garbage, plastic water bottles, milk jugs, wine corks … Continued

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  Troubled water: UNC researchers, capstone class address water contamination in North Carolina

  By Annie McDarris ’20 This 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 … Continued

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  Inaugural Pavel Molchanov Scholars named at 2019 UNC Clean Tech Summit

  Two UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduate students will get hands-on, professional training this summer thanks to a new internship program funded by Pavel Molchanov, a Duke alumnus and senior vice president and equity research analyst at Raymond James & Associates. Cassidy Harding, … Continued

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  NC Energy Literacy Fellow leads student team to National KidWind Competition

  View slideshow An Onslow County science teacher led a team of students from Dixon High School to a first-place win in the wind energy competition at the North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge held on April 6, 2019. JD Jorgensen, a … Continued

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  Bringing environmental science to the people, IE launches Center for Public Engagement with Science

  For the last 34 years, the UNC Institute for the Environment’s outreach unit, the Environmental Resource Program (ERP), has been committed to connecting environmental researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with communities in North Carolina. Now, … Continued

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  GiveUNC Day April 9, Help us meet our goal!

  At the UNC Institute for the Environment, we believe that great research achieves its full potential only when it moves out of academia and into the world on a scale large enough to effect change. We work to connect environmental … Continued

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  UNC-Chapel Hill to lead $2.4 million U.S. Department of Defense-funded drone training program for natural resource professionals

  A researcher at the UNC Institute for the Environment is leading a $2.4 million project to bring drone capabilities to Department of Defense (DoD) natural resource managers at Marine Corps bases in the Southeast region. Susan Cohen, IE’s associate director, … Continued

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  From the blog: Hope for coral reefs? Maybe, but only if we reduce our emissions

  Coral Reef Research Coral reefs are some of the most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. They cover 1% of the oceans but harbor near 30% of the total biodiversity. Did you know that about 1/3 of the global … Continued

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  Innovating toward a stronger economy — and a healthier planet

  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. By Emilie Poplett, University Communications Originally published on UNC.edu Clean technology isn’t just good for … Continued

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  Satellites reveal a new view of Earth’s water from space

  Zambezi river delta, snapped by Landsat 8 in March 2018. NASA Tamlin M. Pavelsky, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill In 1889, near the remote border town of Embudo, New Mexico, John Wesley Powell, the famous explorer of the … Continued

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  From the Blog: Energy Transitions and Rural Economies-Mitigating Impacts and Capturing Benefits

  What happens to a municipality when the local coal-fired power plant closes? Or nuclear facility? Conversely, what community impacts are there when a utility-scale solar field is installed; or new natural gas power plant begins operation nearby? Are the employment … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  UNC and Virginia Tech offer free well water testing in Chatham County vicinity

  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech are offering free well water testing to any resident or business using a private well for indoor and outdoor use in Chatham County, N.C. or nearby areas. The samples … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  Gangi appointed associate director of clean technology and innovation

  By Peggy Mullin (B.S. Environment and Ecology ’19) Greg Gangi, who formerly served as the UNC Institute for the Environment’s associate director for education, is taking on a new role as associate director for clean technology and innovation. As the head … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  From the Blog: Carolina’s Commitment to Sustainability – The Three Zeros Environmental Initiative

  Launched in 2016, Chancellor Folt’s Three Zeros Environmental Initiative is Carolina’s integrated approach to reducing its environmental footprint through three sustainability goals: net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Three Zeros includes everything … Continued

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  Installation at IE features environment-inspired art of UNC student Meredith Emery

  When Meredith Emery photographed geography researchers conducting fieldwork, she couldn’t believe what she saw — a slew of litter along streambeds and forest lines. Now she’s sharing these images through an exhibit currently on display at the UNC Institute for … Continued

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  2019 UNC Clean Tech Summit features industry and policy leaders; inaugural career fair

  The UNC Clean Tech Summit convenes students and professionals in business, policy and academia for two days of problem-solving to foster leadership and growth in the Southeast’s clean tech economy.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) will host its … Continued

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  We’re Hiring! Business Services Coordinator

  The primary purpose of this position is to provide local business support at the Institute for the Environment (IE), a complex organization with research, engagement, and education foci. This position will be responsible for the day-to-day organization and execution of … Continued

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  Registration open for 2019 UNC Clean Tech Summit

  We are proud to announce that registration is open for the sixth annual UNC Clean Tech Summit on Thursday, February 28 and Friday, March 1, 2019 at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill. This year’s event will explore the innovations and key issues that … Continued

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  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 … Continued

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  Molchanov establishes environmental scholars program with $1 million gift in Campaign for Carolina

  A new endowed internship program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment will put students one step closer to environmental science careers. A $1 million gift from Pavel Molchanov of Charlotte will match students … Continued

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  From the Blog: Working to Strengthen the Oyster Industry on North Carolina’s Coast

  North Carolina goes by many names. From the Old North State and First in Flight to the Tar Heel State and Southern Part of Heaven– North Carolina is home to a long list of nicknames and slogans.  And soon, we may be … Continued

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  Postcard from the Field: Lauryn McMiller ’19 – Highlands

  Name: Lauryn McMiller ’19 Expected Graduation Date: May 2019 Which field site did you attend: Highlands Field Site Why did you choose that site specifically? I wanted hands-on experience with environmental research and field work. When I looked into the … Continued

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  Emotional Environment

  Read the full story by Alyssa LaFaro, originally published in Endeavors; video originally published in Endeavors UNC student Meredith Emery’s work is currently on display at the UNC Institute for the Environment. The artist’s statement Chapel Hill North Carolina Stream Project, … Continued

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