2016 News

IE forges joint venture with U.S. Forest Service

By Cinnamon Moore UNC’s Institute for the Environment recently joined up with the U.S. Forest Service to initiate a renewable five-year joint venture, based in IE’s headquarters in Chapel Hill. The goal of the newly established relationship is to foster … Continued

Easterling (’76, ’81, ’85) to Lead Geosciences at National Science Foundation

Carolina graduate and Institute for the Environment Board of Visitors member William E. Easterling has been selected to lead the Directorate for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation. His new post supports fundamental research spanning the atmospheric, earth, ocean and … Continued

‘Time to teach solutions to pressing environmental challenges,’ says Gangi

By Alex Grant Greg Gangi, a joint faculty member in the Institute for the Environment (IE) and the Curriculum in Environment and Ecology, and the associate director of education for IE, said it is time to stop focusing on problems … Continued

Taking a classroom beyond the stone walls

Canoeing down the banks of the Coharie River recently as part of a Capstone Course, UNC-Chapel Hill senior Daniel Barnes-Batista said, was the kind of educational experience he could never get at a desk.  Capstone courses at Carolina, which can be major-specific … Continued

Final printed edition of UNC Environment newsletter hits mailboxes; get latest news + updates in e-news

  Dear UNC Environment readers, As an Institute, we are committed to solving environmental, energy and development challenges through research, education and outreach. For years, IE has printed UNC Environment newsletter with the impact on the environment at heart. We … Continued

Characklis named Singer Distinguished Professor

Gregory Characklis, professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and director of the Center for Watershed Science and Management in the UNC Institute for the Environment, has been named the Phillip C. … Continued

Curtis Smalling: Bird Conservationist with Audubon NC

  “It inspires me every year to think that a 9 gram bird is going to fly 2,000 miles and go spend the winter on a coffee plantation in Nicaragua and then fly back to North America to breed–and it … Continued

Student Profile: Caroline Hall ’17

Name: Caroline Hall Hometown: Oak Ridge, NC High School: Northwest Guilford High School Major(s)/Minor(s): B.S. Environmental Sciences | Minors: Geographic Information Systems and Information Sciences Expected Graduation: May 2017 University highlights, achievements, awards: Deans List   I chose to attend … Continued

West leads new interdisciplinary course on climate change

by Cinnamon Moore Jason West, an associate professor in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, studied civil and environmental engineering as an undergraduate, but it wasn’t until he was a graduate student that he found his passion—climate change. … Continued

EPA awards multimillion-dollar contract to Institute to protect air quality

Air quality analysis center receives contract worth up to $10.2 million to continue, expand operations (Chapel Hill, N.C. – Oct. 20, 2016) – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment has been awarded a seven-year … Continued

Local HS students “immersed” in environmental, geosciences through IE’s yearlong IDEA Program

Over the summer, twenty-one local high school students completed a weeklong field camp immersion, through the UNC Institute for the Environment’s IDEA High School Program (IDEA), where they conducted stream sampling at local creeks, toured a wastewater treatment plant, learned … Continued

Postcard from the Field: Morehead City – Hannah Lee Slep ’18

Name Hannah Lee Slep Major Environmental Science (BS) Expected graduation May 2018 Hometown Matthews, NC Why did you want to go to the Morehead City Field Site? I wanted an opportunity to get more hands-on experience and physical involvement in … Continued

Meet Regina Hill, IE’s New Director of Development

By Cinnamon Moore During a field trip in elementary school to the Newark Watershed in New Jersey, Regina Hill was struck by the beauty and wonder of nature and instantly developed a love and appreciation for the environment. For Hill, … Continued

Student Profile: Oscar Menzer

Hometown: Greensboro, NC High School: Grimsley Senior High School Major(s)/Minor(s): Environmental Science Major, Computer Science Minor Expected Graduation: May 2017 University highlights, achievements, awards: Buckley Public Service Scholar, Phillips Ambassador, Pate Scholar, Gilman International Scholar, Bonner Leader I became an … Continued

Western N.C. Science teachers to explore the future of electricity

The UNC Institute for the Environment will host middle and high school science and technology teachers from N.C.’s western region at a day-long professional development workshop on October 3, 2016 at The Collider in Asheville. This interactive teacher professional development … Continued

UNC-Chapel Hill-led team wins $3 million to study innovations, solutions to the interdependence of food, water and energy

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded nearly $3 million to an interdisciplinary team led by UNC-Chapel Hill’s Greg Characklis to examine the interdependence of the systems that supply food, energy and water. Characklis, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment’s … Continued

Local HS students spend week at UNC-Chapel Hill immersed in energy, climate science

By Cinnamon Moore Twenty-eight high school students from Durham and Orange counties recently spent a week learning about the connections between climate and energy at the Climate Leadership and Energy Awareness Program (Climate LEAP) summer institute as part of a … Continued

Postcard from the Field: Thailand – Laney Sears ’18

Why did you want to go to the Thailand Field Site? This program is very unique in that it is seven months long. You get to experience a semester abroad and a summer of research. I wanted to do this … Continued

Meet Grant Parkins: IE’s New Watershed Education Coordinator

By Cinnamon Moore Grant Parkins was raised in rural Ohio, spending his childhood in a one-stoplight town surrounded by cornfields and dairy farms. It was in this small, quiet town that Parkins’ love for the environment began. “I grew up … Continued

Summer program to promote energy awareness among local high school students

The Institute for the Environment at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Climate Leadership and Energy Awareness Program (Climate LEAP) begins Aug. 1. The program, now in its seventh year, provides a weeklong summer science enrichment experience for Durham and Orange County high school … Continued

Taking the classroom into the field, UNC-Chapel Hill course delves deep into NC’s renewable energy future

By Alexandra Grant   Stepping inside the base of a 500-foot, two-megawatt wind-turbine, is something most people can’t say they’ve experienced, unless they’ve taken Professor Greg Gangi’s course on the future of energy. Gangi, associate director for education at the … Continued

Alumni Profile: Will Morgan ’07

By Alexandra Grant   Will Morgan, director of government relations at the North Carolina Nature Conservancy and UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, said working as a lobbyist for the past six years has made him realize that environmental issues are not as … Continued

Institute professor weighs in on the importance of energy efficiency in a guest column for Durham’s Herald-Sun

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have partnered with Boston University to study the impact of including energy efficiency measures into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan aims to lower carbon emissions across the country. Their … Continued

Postcard from the Field: Galapagos – Erica Gallerani ’16

“For my independent research project I am working with Dr. Stella de la Torre on her observational study of pygmy marmosets at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Everyday for 6-8 hours I am in the field … Continued

ERP, partners develop guide to help Triangle fishermen safely eat their catch

View official announcement from UNC-Chapel Hill Families enjoying North Carolina’s Free Fishing Day at Triangle-area lakes or rivers this Fourth of July will have new resources to help them understand health advisories about eating the fish they catch, thanks to … Continued

UNC professor pens column for the Raleigh News and Observer on ensuring safe drinking water for North Carolina

By Steve Wall Earlier this year the Research Triangle Environmental Health Collaborative released a report with recommendations for policy-makers and governmental agencies to improve how North Carolina manages and protects its residents reliant on private wells for drinking water.  The … Continued

‘Tools of Watershed Management’ trains leaders to protect North Carolina’s watersheds

By Cinnamon Moore Following a comprehensive, statewide study of North Carolina’s diverse watershed programs, the Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Resource Program (ERP), in partnership with the NC Watershed Stewardship Network, designed and conducted a series of workshops to build … Continued

Postcard from the Field: OBX – Cinnamon Moore ’17

By Cinnamon Moore During the fall semester, I spent four months at UNC’s beautiful Outer Banks field site. While taking classes and participating in an internship, I, along with nine other UNC students, conducted a capstone research project titled “The … Continued

Kern develops new course on energy system analytics and modeling

By Alexandra Grant Jordan Kern, research assistant professor at the Institute for the Environment at UNC-Chapel Hill, recently developed a new undergraduate environmental studies course in energy analytics. The course, “ENEC 490- Energy Analytics,” will focus on energy system analytics … Continued

Exploring the Future of Electricity workshops continue to teach NC teachers

Forty-six science and technology teachers from Central and Eastern North Carolina recently participated in the professional development program Exploring the Future of Electricity, offered by the Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Resource Program (ERP). The program, led by ERP’s K-12 … Continued

UNC Talks Climate Change

By Cinnamon Moore UNC-Chapel Hill hosted its 3rd annual Climate Change Symposium Friday, Apr. 22, featuring four keynote speakers and a poster competition for climate change research conducted by UNC students. Sponsored by the Carolina Climate Change Scientist and the … Continued

Band, Duncan featured in UNC Research’s Endeavors

Water experts within the UNC Sustainability Office and Institute for the Environment strive to make local and statewide water systems healthier, safer, and more resilient. Rivers and streams are regularly affected by urbanization and other human activities. That’s why UNC and … Continued

IDEA Students Featured at Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research

On Tuesday, April 18th, UNC students and faculty gathered at Frank Porter Graham Student Union for the Seventeenth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research. The purpose of this event, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), is to recognize and … Continued

Celebrate Earth Day with UNC + IE

How will you celebrate Earth Day this year? Here are a few ideas from UNC-Chapel Hill and the Institute for the Environment.   Join the Carolina Climate Change Scientist and the Institute for the Environment for the 3rd Annual Climate Change … Continued

‘We’ve had weather-related crop failures,’ says NC apple grower

  Climate Stories NC seeks to capture the voices of ordinary North Carolinians—farmers, hunters, beekeepers, fishermen, Christmas tree growers and others whose lives have been affected by changes in the climate. The project, run by the Institute for the Environment … Continued

Carolina air quality faculty share research at NC BREATHE event in Charlotte

On April 8, more than 300 participants gathered in Charlotte, NC for the Bridging Research on Economics and Air Quality for The Health of Everyone (NC BREATHE) conference. The event featured air quality experts, medical professionals, government officials, and citizen … Continued

Students get first hand experience in coral reef ecology

  Fourty-four UNC-Chapel Hill students got first-hand experience in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet – coral reefs. As part of their Coral Reef and Ecology and Management (ENEC259) course, students learned about basic reef ecology, threats … Continued

Reeder gives overview of NC’s coal ash response

  Tom Reeder, who is charged with leading the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) coal ash management efforts, provided an overview of the state’s enforcement and cleanup actions since the Dan River coal ash spill in early 2014. Reeder … Continued

Visit IE at the Annual UNC Science Expo Apr. 9

On Saturday, Apr. 9, the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Resource Program (ERP) will host an exhibit at the UNC Science Expo. Annually, the Expo attracts over 1,000 attendees of all ages to engage with scientists and educators from … Continued

Institute professors receive Junior Faculty Development Awards

Three faculty members from the Institute for the Environment were chosen as recipients for Junior Faculty Development Awards this academic year. The awards were selected by an interdisciplinary committee chaired by UNC-Chapel HIll’s executive vice chancellor and provost, James W. … Continued

High School Students Discuss Civic Engagement Issues During Saturday Academy

Twenty local high school students from the Climate LEAP and IDEA programs came together on March 19 to learn about civic engagement and sustainability. This Saturday Academy was facilitated in collaboration with Paul Bonnici at the UNC School of Government … Continued

‘Feeling of hope’ after attending UN Climate Change Conference, says Neligan ’16

  The feeling in Paris after COP 21 was one of hope. – Megan Neligan ’16 Megan Neligan is a senior environmental studies major. Over the winter, she traveled to Paris to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Read … Continued

Environmental Health Specialists “Sort Sources” of Lead to Learn About Protecting NC Children and Families

On March 17, ERP staff, Megan Hoert Hughes and Megan Rodgers, presented at  the West Piedmont Environmental Health District quarterly meeting in Winston-Salem.  Thirty environmental health specialists participated in the session to learn more about childhood lead poisoning and prevention, … Continued

EGRET Fellows Dive into Coastal Science at Weekend Retreat

EGRET Fellows teachers gathered at the coast during the weekend of March 12-13, to learn about barrier islands and sound ecosystems in North Carolina, as the culminating event for a year-long professional development program.  Nine participants, all 5th grade teachers, … Continued

Registration Now Open for Tools of Watershed Management Workshop

The NC Watershed Stewardship Network in partnership with UNC Institute for the Environment, is offering a FREE two-day workshop to anyone who works at the local level and is ready to plan and implement watershed improvement projects in their community. The workshop will be … Continued

New video from Climate Stories NC features Alamance County farmer talking weather extremes and agriculture

David Salvesen pens opinion column in the News and Observer Mar. 11, 2016: Where climate change consequences disrupt lives Climate Stories NC seeks to capture the voices of ordinary North Carolinians—farmers, hunters, beekeepers, fishermen, Christmas tree growers and others whose … Continued

IDEA Students Discuss the Need for Diversity in the Sciences

On Saturday, February 27, sixteen high school students from the IDEA (Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia) geosciences program, met with UNC Geology faculty Dr. Joel Hudley and Dr. Melissa Hudley, along with IDEA undergraduate students Corey Moore and Jonathan Garrick, … Continued

Salvesen co-authors Best Paper in Journal of the American Planning Association

The associate editors of the Journal of the American Planning Associations recently announced the Best Paper in the latest volume of the Journal of the American Planning Association. The paper, “Evaluation of Networks of Plans and Vulnerability to Hazards and … Continued

ERP Educators Present at UNC Minority Health Conference

On Friday, February 26, Environmental Resource Program educators Neasha Graves and Megan Hoert Hughes presented at the 37th annual UNC Minority Health Conference.  They were joined by local partners Lorisa Seibel, Reinvestment Partners, and Lenora Smith, Partnership Effort for the … Continued

First Meeting of the Year for the Lead Advisory Committee and Healthy Homes Outreach Task Force

On Wednesday, February 24, Environmental Resource Program (ERP) educators Megan Hughes and Neasha Graves coordinated twenty-two lead and healthy homes professionals from across the state in a quarterly Lead Advisory Committee and NC Healthy Homes Outreach Task Force meeting. The … Continued

IE awarded $100,000 by Duke Energy Foundation to study water, energy sustainability in North Carolina

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment recently was awarded $100,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation to continue research on the drought vulnerability of the state’s power generation capabilities and explore the diversification of electric power systems and alternative energy sources. … Continued

Meet a Student: Lily Dinkins ’17

Lily Dinkins Environmental Science Class of 2017 I knew after taking AP Environmental Science as a junior in high school at that I would major in environmental science. After being accepted to UNC, I had the chance to meet with … Continued

UNC-Chapel Hill to host NC Clean Tech Summit, Feb. 18-19

UNC-Chapel Hill to host NC Clean Tech Summit, Feb. 18-19 Professionals in business, policy and academia gather for two days of problem-solving and planning to foster leadership and growth in North Carolina’s clean tech industry Chapel Hill, N.C.—Feb. 2, 2016) … Continued

NC Initiative to Reduce Home Health Hazards Featured in National Webinar

On February 4, Kathleen Gray, Associate Director for Outreach and Public Service in the UNC Institute for the Environment (UNC-IE), and Neasha Graves, Community Outreach and Education Manager in the UNC-IE Environmental Resource Program (ERP), co-presented in a webinar facilitated … Continued

High School Programs Now Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for two exciting summer enrichment programs for high school students – Climate LEAP (Leadership and Awareness Program) and IDEA (Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia).  Both programs provide hands-on, minds-on science activities and are open to … Continued

Two UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Elected to American Geophysical Union Fellows

UNC scientists’ work on water and the environment is making an impact in North Carolina and around the world. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty members Lawrence E. Band and Hans W. Paerl were named to the prestigious … Continued

UNC Professor Convenes Stormwater Task Force

Stormwater runoff is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the nation and right here in North Carolina.  While stormwater pollution impacts all regions of North Carolina, its effects on the coastal region of the state raise specific … Continued

Training Stewards to Build Capacity for Watershed Management

On December 15th and 16th, Michele Drostin, ERP research associate, along with other members of the NC Watershed Stewardship Network (WSN), facilitated a workshop titled Tools of Watershed Management. The event, held at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, was … Continued