Environment in the News - UNC Institute for the Environment

2023

Meet BOT Chair John P. Preyer (UNC News | Sept. 26, 2023)

The new leader of the University’s Board of Trustees calls his service to Carolina “a labor of love.”
Carolina ranks 4th among publics (UNC News | Sept. 18, 2023)

UNC-Chapel Hill is the No. 4 ranked public university in the country and is No. 22 overall in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best College rankings released Monday. Carolina, which has been among the top 5 public universities … Read more
Environmental scientist looks at climate from all angles (UNC College of Arts and Sciences | Aug. 14, 2023)

When Ruitian Yan left her first undergraduate climate science class, she remembers feeling deeply concerned. “Oh, my God,” she recalled thinking, “Global warming is happening so fast, I’ve got to do something.” Aside from her concerns about the urgency of … Read more
Measuring Water from Space (Endeavors | Sept. 14, 2023)

A new NASA satellite is recording the first global survey of Earth’s water cycle with unprecedented accuracy — and Tamlin Pavelsky is verifying its data from North Carolina to New Zealand.
John P. Preyer elected chair of UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees (UNC News | Sept. 7, 2023)

The 1990 alumnus has served Carolina in multiple roles, including as a member of the Board of Visitors for both the University and the UNC Institute for the Environment.
Research Reveals the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Increasing Resilience to Sea Level Rise (NCCOS | Aug. 22, 2023)

As we confront the escalating threats of climate change, there is growing interest in the potential of restored nature to offer a sustainable and effective response to the challenges posed by sea-level rise (SLR). Previous research has shown that by … Read more
Oakland airport expansion raises environmental concerns (East Bay Echo | Sept. 1, 2023)

Sarav Arunachalam, a research professor and deputy director at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment, specializes in developing and modeling aircraft emissions to support sound environmental policies. He expressed concerns to the East Bay Echo … Read more
Carolina Strong: Resources for the Carolina Community

Visit unc.edu for campus resources and the latest updates on help and information after UNC’s tragic shooting. No one at Carolina is in it alone. Keep reading to find tips and advice from mental health experts on how to process … Read more
A Fair Recovery (Endeavors | Aug. 22, 2023)

Cassandra R. Davis has dedicated her career to reframing the conversation around disaster relief, advocating for the marginalized groups that struggle to recover.
New UNC study identifies disparities in testing and treating well water among low-income, BIPOC households in N.C. (BREDL | Aug. 22, 2023)

BREDL chapters and staff participated in a University of North Carolina project examining the potential contamination of private wells. Our chapters Chatham Citizens Against Coal Ash Dump and Northampton County Citizens Against Coal Ash reached out to local residents about … Read more
Kenan Stadium getting lighting upgrades ahead of UNC football’s home opener (CBS17.com | Aug. 18, 2023)

The 96-year-old Kenan Stadium is getting some illuminating upgrades just in time to welcome fans back for football season. More than 196 new game lights will be installed on top of the north and south sides of the stadium, according … Read more
Lighting Upgrades Will Enhance Kenan Stadium (goheels.com | Aug. 18, 2023)

North Carolina football fans will experience a more colorful and modernized game day atmosphere when they cheer on the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium this season. The 96-year-old stadium in the heart of Carolina’s campus is undergoing significant lighting upgrades … Read more
Study: Well water safety disparity in NC (WRAL | Aug. 11, 2023)

A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study finds significant disparities between households that test and treat drinking water from their private wells.
Engaging communities in Carolina research (UNC Research | Aug. 8, 2023)

The Center for Public Engagement with Science gets North Carolinians involved in UNC-Chapel Hill research — including a unique project with NASA that educates volunteers about lakes in their own communities. Why? That’s the main question Grant Parkins gets from … Read more
For people on private wells, race and income often determine whether water is safe to drink (NC Newsline | Aug. 7, 2023)

Roughly 2.4 million North Carolinians rely on private wells for their drinking water. But unlike public water systems, private wells are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Instead of a utility being responsible for ensuring the drinking … Read more
UNC-Chapel Hill study: Low-income, BIPOC households in NC less likely to test, treat private wells (WUNC | Aug. 4, 2023)

Most private wells in the United States are not tested for contaminants. In North Carolina, more households rely on private wells as a main source of drinking water than in any other state in the country. A new study from … Read more
Making the most of summer (UNC.edu | July 31, 2023)

Eight undergraduates from Carolina, NCCU and Oakwood University spent the summer in an intensive part of their year as 21EH Scholars. The program, administered by the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, had scholars working 35 hours per week for 10 … Read more
Traffic pollution overly impacts marginalized communities across the U.S. — including Durham (WUNC | July 31, 2023)

Highways like the Durham Freeway and I-885 have helped Downtown Durham flourish, bringing more people into the city than ever before. But in the summer, these roadways also bring dangerous heat and air pollutants into neighboring communities. Bonita Green is … Read more
Creating Climate-Resilient Communities (Endeavors | July 25, 2023)

After several days without rain, Paula noticed the soil around her neighborhood becoming extremely dry and starting to crack. “We will sometimes go days without rain, even weeks, which is extremely abnormal considering my county is somewhat like a rainforest,” … Read more
CMAQ: Celebrating 25 Years of Air Quality Modeling Excellence (U.S. EPA | June 21, 2023)

EPA develops software models and tools to address a range of environmental issues. These developments have exploded with the advent of technology since the turn of the century. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system is one of EPA’s … Read more
Crews Head Down River, Out to Sea to Prep New SWOT Water Satellite (NASA | July 20, 2023)

In mid-June, a team of freshwater researchers spent their nights drifting down Alaska’s Yukon River in an area that straddles the Arctic Circle. The hydrologists were using a GPS unit installed on their boat to measure the slope of the … Read more
Backpacking for Bats (Endeavors | July 20, 2023)

“What am I even doing?” I kept asking myself this question during my ascent of Yellow Mountain. As my 50-pound pack shifted on my back and my sweat continued to glue my t-shirt to my skin, I focused on the … Read more
On the Surface (Endeavors | July 19, 2023)

A warm, salty breeze blew through my hair as I stood on the deck of the Albatross III, which sat about 40 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. I looked down into the deep, clear blue of … Read more
Penny Gordon-Larsen Named Vice Chancellor for Research (UNC Research | July 5, 2023)

Following a national search Penny Gordon-Larsen, who has served as interim vice chancellor for research since March of last year, has accepted the position on a permanent basis, effective immediately. Gordon-Larsen is a transformational leader and has served in academic … Read more
Wetlands Protection, the Clean Water Act and the US Supreme Court (Scholars’ Circle | July 2, 2023)

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened the EPA’s capacity to protect wetlands, we explore the role of wetlands in sustainability, biodiversity, and the economy. What might the decision mean for our environment, and economy? We … Read more
Charlotte goes ‘Code Red’ for air quality concerns (WCNC | July 29, 2023)

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Charlotte and much of North Carolina because of more smoke from the continued Canadian wildfires. By midday Thursday, Charlotte’s air quality sensors had already reached a “Code Red” level, which means the … Read more
Upgrades Will Enhance Carmichael Experience (goheels. com | June 29, 2023)

“We are so pleased to partner with UNC Athletics to both transform the experience in this iconic venue and to significantly advance the university’s sustainability goals,” said Mike Piehler, UNC’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Carolina has a long history of commitment … Read more
Lithium plant fire under investigation (WCNC | June 27, 2023)

Sarav Arunachalam, a research and adjunct professor at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, said long-term testing is ideal. “You want to put some monitors out there at different distances from the facility and continue monitoring at least … Read more
New Pilot Program Provides Well Users Resources for Clean, Safe, and Adequate Supply of Water (Union County, N.C. | June 28, 2023)

Union County has allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to establish a pilot Private Drinking Water Well Rehabilitation and Repair Program to help solve well water quality and quantity issues experienced by Union County residents who receive drinking water from a … Read more
North Carolina Collaboratory: Research Center without Walls (UNC.edu | June 27, 2023)

The N.C. General Assembly established the North Carolina Collaboratory in 2016 to facilitate the dissemination of the policy and research expertise for the UNC System and other universities across the state to solve North Carolina’s most pressing challenges through collaboration.
Digital resource helps community planners prep for natural disasters (UNC Research | June 13, 2023)

The Coastal Resilience Center has launched a website to help communities plan for and evaluate hazards like hurricanes and wildfires. You know that part of your yard that turns into a small pond every time it rains? Or what about … Read more
UNC Superfund educating Union County residents about hazards of drinking untreated well water (The Enquirer Journal, June 2, 2023)

Private well water samples in Union County were tested during a recent research study and participants were invited to a meeting on May 24 held at the Ag Center to receive information on the results. Professor Rebecca Fry is the … Read more
UNC Study Reveals Disparities in Traffic-Related Air Pollution Exposure Among Minorities (Mirage | June 2, 2023)

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, … Read more
Union Co. well water could be contaminated with heavy metals (Queen City News | May 22, 2023)

UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — New research reveals private well water in Union County may be contaminated with substances that could make you sick. Ernest Angrum is a part of the 25 percent of the population countywide that … Read more
Climate Thursday: UNC Climate Scientist Angel Hsu (Chapelboro.com | May 11, 2023)

University of North Carolina climate scientist Dr. Angel Hsu spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 11th. She discussed her work studying the intersection of climate change and urbanization. She explained how she uses large data sets … Read more
Coastal Resilience Center of Excellence takes next-gen resilience planning tool online (UNC | May 9, 2023)

Assorted action plans on the books of communities across the country are often so compartmentalized that coordinators struggle to connect them. This problem stymies regional resilience by dividing efforts and resources that are more useful when unified. The Plan Integration … Read more
Oil and Gas Production Causes 7,500 Premature Deaths Per Year (Yahoo News | May 9, 2023)

Just because a fuel source may emit less CO2 when it’s used doesn’t mean that there aren’t adverse impacts along its entire life cycle. Air pollution from the production of fossil fuels is responsible for $77 billion in health damages … Read more
Earth Day events focus on fun, sustainability (The Well | April 25, 2023)

The Earth provided a sun-splashed, faultless day on April 20 as a harbinger to the celebratory day that bears its name. A Farmers Market at the Pit and an Earth Day Festival brought out hundreds of students, staff and faculty, … Read more
Striving for a Greener Tomorrow (UNC News | 2023)

Through a collaborative culture and multidisciplinary teams, researchers at Carolina are addressing some of the greatest issues of our time by seeking discoveries and innovative solutions. That commitment includes tackling environmental challenges facing our state and world. Our students, faculty … Read more
The coastal engineer (UNC | April 21, 2023)

As Rick Luettich walks down the dock that sits behind the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries in Morehead City, he looks like someone who’s always lived on the coast. His walk is slow and well-paced, his hands in the pockets of … Read more
She researches water mazes in Arctic deltas (The Well | April 21, 2023)

Wayana Dolan is a doctoral student in the Earth, marine, and environmental sciences department within the College of Arts and Sciences. Using satellite imagery and field data, she studies how the interactions between lakes and rivers in Arctic deltas impact lake ice cover … Read more
Meet Jim White, College of Arts and Sciences dean (The Well | April 21, 2023)

Jim White is a passionate and tireless supporter of the enduring value of a broad-based liberal arts education and often gives public talks on the topic. He also believes that diversity, equity and inclusion go hand in hand with what … Read more
Estuarine ecologist measures NC’s marine health (The Well | April 20, 2023)

What does it take to measure the health of an entire ecosystem? Joel Fodrie, a professor and researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Earth, marine and environmental sciences department, seeks to answer this question for North Carolina’s coastal habitats. Fodrie and nine … Read more
Spin Bikeshare Program Launches on Carolina Campus (UNC Transportation and Parking | April 19, 2023)

UNC-Chapel Hill is partnering with Spin, a leading micromobility company, to launch a new bikeshare service for students, faculty and staff, and the local community starting April 20.Tar Heel Bikes by Spin will provide a fleet of 100 electric assist bikes … Read more
Graduate student examines sanitation in NC communities (UNC News | April 17, 2023)

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 second-year … Read more
THIS EARTH DAY, DON’T TRASH OLD TECH (UNC Information Technology Services | April 14, 2023)

As we approach Earth Day, you might be thinking about ways to be a little greener. Don’t forget about technology! The tech we use impacts the environment through its entire lifecycle, but you can do a few things to make … Read more
Blog on Effective Environmental Communication (Planet Now | April 2, 2023)

Last week I was thrilled to attend my fourth Cleantech Summit at UNC-Chapel Hill. This conference brings together clean energy professionals and students to discuss the future of clean energy across sectors such as electric vehicles, hydrogen, and carbon capture. … Read more
The Mystery Ship off Pappy Lane (Coastwatch | 2023)

On a calm day in Rodanthe, North Carolina, the stern of the “Pappy Lane” shipwreck is visible from the shore. Since it ran aground on the shallow bottom of the Pamlico Sound in the 1960s, not far from the end … Read more
New UNC study quantifies $562M in financial risk from Hurricane Florence using novel modeling approach that evaluates risk of mortgage default and property abandonment (Gillings School News | March 31, 2023)

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. Estimating the financial impacts of household flooding is complex because direct … Read more
Uncovering Secondary Damage (Carolina Stories | March 31, 2023)

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. Estimating the financial impacts of household flooding is complex because direct … Read more
Calls for more utility regulation mount as Duke Energy and NC allies counsel patience (Charlotte Business Journal | March 30, 2023)

Pressure is already building for more utility legislation in North Carolina, even as Duke Energy Corp. and state representatives call for time to implement and evaluate major changes made in 2021.
‘We have to act now’: UNC to host largest collegiate cleantech gathering in the U.S. (The Daily Tar Heel | March 21, 2023)

On March 27 and 28, the UNC Institute for the Environment will bring students, academics, government officials and industry professionals together for the ninth annual UNC Cleantech Summit. Cleantech is an umbrella term for clean technology and explores sustainability projects … Read more
Facilitating Drone Usage for Natural Resource Management at DoD Installations (SERDP-ESTCP | March 1, 2023)

Drones can substantially enhance natural resource management on Department of Defense (DoD) installations. They provide detailed, on-demand imagery of areas that might otherwise be inaccessible, allowing personnel to closely monitor critical habitats and compare change over time. However, as with … Read more
All in a Semester (The Laurel Magazine | Feb. 27, 2023)

What do you get when you toss a handful of college students together for a semester at the Highlands Biological Station? Impact. An ongoing collaboration between the Station (a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University), UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the … Read more
Carolina researchers examine new construction in floodplains (UNC News | Feb. 15, 2023)

As extreme weather events become more frequent and intensify, the number of people and places exposed to flooding events is likely to grow. But until now, surprisingly little was known about how floodplain development patterns vary across communities. A new … Read more
‘We’re making our jobs harder.’ NC builds thousands of homes in flood-prone areas (The News & Observer | Feb. 7, 2023)

Construction of new homes in flood-prone areas far outpaced the number of buyouts between 1996 and 2017, according to new research from UNC-Chapel Hill. Published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Planning Association, the study found that over the … Read more
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. … Read more
Research field site experience sets triple Tar Heel on path for dream career (UNC News | Feb. 6, 2023)

Molly Bost ’13, ’16 (MS), ’22 (Ph.D.) has always known she wanted to be an environmental scientist. At Carolina, the three-time Tar Heel gained the knowledge and experience to put her passion for North Carolina’s coast into action.
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. … Read more
Town of Chapel Hill Earns A-List Ranking for Climate Leadership (Chapelboro.com | Jan. 27, 2023)

The Town of Chapel Hill has received an A-List rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project, one of 122 cities and towns worldwide to receive the highest score. It honors “bold climate action and transparency.” “We are honored to have Chapel … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
UNC’s Energy Transition Town Hall discusses sustainability in action (The Daily Tar Heel | Jan. 23, 2023)

UNC strives to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. “I think it’s fair to say that this energy transition is always going to be our top priority because we recognize climate change is a giant challenge,” Mike Piehler, Chief … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
RUNC: Angel Hsu (Endeavors | Jan. 11, 2023)

Angel Hsu is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Policy and the Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program within the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. She applies data-driven approaches to evaluate climate and environmental policy, primarily at the state … Read more
Data-Driven EnviroLab tracks climate action (The Well | Jan. 10, 2023)

Promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are often the focus at international conferences about climate change. Countries, coalitions and companies announce pledges and plans to combat climate change, but how do we judge their progress? The 27th United Nations Conference … Read more
Regulatory challenges for EPA after West Virginia v. EPA Decision of 2022 (Scholars’ Circle | July 17, 2022)

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

2022

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

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released its 2021 fiscal year Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) data, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has once again ranked 10th for federal funding and 13th overall in the … Read more
UNC scientist plays key role in upcoming NASA mission to measure Earth’s water levels (The News & Observer | Dec. 14, 2022)

When a Falcon 9 rocket takes off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force base Thursday, it will carry a satellite that represents almost two decades of UNC-Chapel Hill hydrologist Tamlin Pavelsky’s work. The satellite will measure the height of water’s surface … Read more
Hydrologist leads science behind SWOT satellite (The Well | Dec. 8, 2022)

Ten days out from the long-awaited launch of a satellite to track the planet’s water resources, professor Tamlin Pavelsky couldn’t stop smiling. “I hope you will be as excited about the launch as I am, if that’s possible,” Pavelsky told … Read more
Rooted: Mike Piehler (UNC Research News | Dec. 6, 2022)

Mike Piehler has worked for UNC-Chapel Hill for 25 years in a variety of roles, most recently as the director of the Institute for the Environment and the university’s Chief Sustainability Officer. He holds a joint professorship in the Department … Read more
The For’Em On The Hill: Community Conversations (For ‘Em (Forum) On The Hill featuring Mike Piehler | Chapelboro.com, Dec. 5, 2022)

The annual community forum on 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com is taking place next week from Monday, December 5 through Friday, December 9. Sponsored by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Grubb Properties, Industrious, Innovate Carolina, Orange County Arts Commission, Orange County … Read more
UNC Student Details Experience at International Climate Summit (Chapelboro.com | Dec. 2, 2022)

Since UNC is an accredited NGO, or a non-governmental organization, they were granted the opportunity to send students and faculty to the conference. One of those people was junior Max Poteat. Poteat said one UNC professor runs a lab that … Read more
UNC Students to present Buxton Woods research at Dec. 5 presentation (Island Free Press | Nov. 29, 2022)

Students from the UNC Institute for the Environment, who have been studying Buxton Woods vegetation for the past several years, will present their findings at a Buxton-based event scheduled for Monday evening, December 5. Each fall, students from UNC spend … Read more
Paerl and Pless win best critical review of the year from Environmental Science + Technology for their work “Toxic Cyanobacteria: A Growing Threat to Water and Air Quality.”

Congratulations to our colleagues Hans Paerl + Haley Plass for winning best critical review of the year from Environmental Science + Technology for their work “Toxic Cyanobacteria: A Growing Threat to Water and Air Quality.”
UNC-Chapel Hill surpasses $5 billion for the Campaign for Carolina (UNC | Nov. 19, 2022)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Campaign for Carolina has surpassed $5 billion with more than one month remaining in the comprehensive fundraising campaign. More than 215,000 donors made gifts to support students, initiatives and the research and … Read more
Thriving on sustainability (UNC | Nov. 18, 2022)

At Meantime Coffee Company on Carolina’s campus, the students behind the counter are not only baristas but also CEOs, sustainability officers and marketing directors. The coffee bar, located in the lobby of the Campus Y, is a nonprofit business, operated … Read more
Surveying the Smalls (Endeavors | Nov. 18, 2022)

Vy Pham picks up a foot-long metal box and holds it to her ear. “I’m not sure if anything is in it,” the UNC-Chapel Hill senior says warily. She holds it out in front of her, her headlamp illuminating its … Read more
UNC Ranks 11th Among US Universities for Study Abroad in 2022 ‘Open Doors’ Report (UNC Global | Nov. 17, 2022)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked 11th for the number of students earning credit for study abroad in the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) 2022 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. The report presents comprehensive data on … Read more
Algal Rhythms (Endeavors | Nov. 17, 2022)

As Isabel Silva-Romero collects data for her research, the only sound she hears is her own breathing. Today, her lab is located six meters underwater, in a cove off the coast of San Cristóbal in the Galápagos Archipelago. She uses a metal … Read more
Professor Rachel Noble Develops Interdisciplinary Project to Protect NC Coastal Ecosystems (Collaboratory | Nov. 15, 2022)

Rachel Noble, a professor and researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has engaged in cutting-edge research on North Carolina’s water and marine systems for 20 years. However, Noble’s career plans didn’t initially involve molecular biology research—she … Read more
Empowering youth to seek climate solutions in their communities (University of Washington School of Public Health | Nov. 9, 2022)

A new $2.3 million program funded by the US National Science Foundation will educate and equip young scientists to cultivate resilience to climate impacts such as flooding and extreme heat. Partners include the University of Washington Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, … Read more
Carolina expert explains lead in water (The Well | Nov. 3, 2022)

Carolina Environment, Health and Safety has kept faculty, staff and students updated on lead in campus drinking water since the discovery of detectable lead in three drinking fountains in Wilson Library earlier this semester. Since then, the University has taken a phased … Read more
Paerl recieves Lifetime Achievement Award from U.S. Harmful Bloom Committee at 11th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae

Dr. Hans Paerl has recently been selected to receive the National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee Lifetime Research and Service Award! This award will be presented at the upcoming HAB Symposium to formally recognize and honor his research achievements, leadership, and extensive … Read more
Rada Petric: Finding refuge from the Yugoslav wars (UNCG Magazine | Oct. 4, 2022)

When war broke out in Bosnia, UNCG alumna Rada Petric ’08, ’10 MS, ’20 PHD was just a little girl living in Sarajevo. Every day, her parents and two siblings packed their bags and headed to the airport, hoping their … Read more
Rooted: David Peden (UNC Research | Oct. 17, 2022)

David Peden is the senior associate dean for translational research at the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). In addition to his extensive research on the effects of allergens, the professor of pediatrics, microbiology & immunology, and medicine aided in the creation … Read more
Water, water everywhere at University Day (UNC | Oct. 14, 2022)

At a University Day celebration that occurred in the middle of University Research Week, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz called attention to Carolina’s research mission. “When Carolina’s researchers see the problems of this world, and particularly the challenges in our state, … Read more
Water, water everywhere at University Day (The Well | Oct. 14, 2022)

At a University Day celebration that occurred in the middle of University Research Week, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz called attention to Carolina’s research mission. “When Carolina’s researchers see the problems of this world, and particularly the challenges in our state, … Read more
RUNC: Christian Chung (Endeavors | Oct. 12, 2022)

Christian Chung is a junior double-majoring in biology and public policy within the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. He uses hydrologic and chemical analyses to study how water absorbs PFAS and to evaluate the policy implications PFAS have on … Read more
Endeavors 2022-23 (UNC Research | Oct. 2022)

About Endeavors: Endeavors is the online magazine of research and creative activity at UNC-Chapel Hill. Endeavors (ISSN 1933-4338) is published by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nepal round three (UNC College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 10, 2022)

What do you do when a gastrointestinal illness takes out half of your research team that traveled nearly 8,000 miles to Nepal to study the effects of climate change on Buddhist holy lakes? You press on. An interdisciplinary group of … Read more
UNC Kenan-Flagler celebrates groundbreaking for Steven D. Bell Hall (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Sept. 30, 2022)

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School continues its tradition of educational innovation with a transformative $150-million project. With a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Steven D. Bell Hall, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School entered a new era. Steven D. Bell ’67, the building’s … Read more
Kryston receives inaugural environmental justice graduate research award from UNC Institute for the Environment (Gillings School News | Sept. 29, 2022)

Amy Kryston, a graduate student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has been named the inaugural recipient of the environmental justice graduate research award from the UNC Institute for the Environment (IE). This $50,000 annual stipend is … Read more
Studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands (UNC News | Sept. 28, 2022)

A group of Tar Heels studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands this summer had the chance to hike up volcanic craters, snorkel in the ocean, fly drones over the landscape, join a beach cleanup and learn about the unique islands. … Read more
How can communities adapt to climate hazards? (The Well | Sept. 15, 2022)

Recent floods kill 38 people in Kentucky. Wildfires destroy houses, businesses and lives in California. A flooded river leaves the 180,000 people of Jackson, Mississippi, with no water for drinking or flushing toilets. Heavy rains shut down I-95 in Rhode … Read more
Environmental Risks on the Rise: UNC and the Town of Chapel Hill are studying how to deal with weather extremes amid heat waves and episodic rainfall (Triangle Business Journal | Sept. 8, 2022)

The Triangle is an oasis compared with the weather extremes occurring around the country due to climate change, but Chapel Hill and UNC researchers aren’t waiting for a 100-year flood or oppressive heat wave to prepare for action. The Triangle … Read more
Warren County PCB landfill protests focus of new library exhibition (The Well | Sept. 12, 2022)

Forty years after activism in Warren County, North Carolina, launched the environmental justice movement, a new exhibition at Wilson Special Collections Library tells the story through the perspectives of those who lived it. “We Birthed the Movement: The Warren County PCB Landfill … Read more
Lincoln County slow to respond to extremely high levels of cancer-causing arsenic in residents’ drinking water (NC Policy Watch | Sept. 9, 2022)

Before Abby and Jason Hollis bought their 1,200-square-foot house on Laboratory Road in rural Lincolnton, the inspector required them to test their drinking water well, a routine step when purchasing a home. Good news: Test results from 2007 showed no … Read more
Freezer Challenge encourages energy-saving practices (The Well | Sept. 9, 2022)

Here’s a little-known fact: A single ultra-low temperature lab freezer uses about as much energy as an entire house. As a top-tier research university, Carolina operates thousands of these across campus. There’s a movement afoot, led by a San Diego-based … Read more
Mucking in the Marshes (Endeavors | Aug. 24, 2022)

Josh Himmelstein and Tony Rodriguez hitch a boat trailer to a truck behind the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS). Checkered boards sit in the bottom of the boat, but otherwise it is fairly empty. Despite the chaos of organizing a … Read more
The Sediment Scientist ( Endeavors | Aug. 19, 2022)

When 9-year-old Anne Smiley returned home to Pensacola, Florida, after Hurricane Ivan, one of the first things she noticed was the harsh sunlight. Her childhood neighborhood, Heron’s Forest, had served as a shady playground providing trails to run and trees … Read more
Electric school buses are taking students back to school – bringing cleaner air and lower maintenance costs to school districts across the country (The Conversation | Aug. 17, 2022)

Each weekday, more than half of the K-12 students in the U.S. – over 25 million pupils – ride a school bus. Until very recently, nearly all of these 500,000 buses ran on diesel fuel. Nationwide, diesel-powered school buses produce more than 5 million tons of … Read more
Experts explain how water quality is impacted on North Carolina coast (WITN | Aug. 16, 2022)

N.C. (WITN) – The summer season is still in full swing and many people are headed to the coast to cool off in the water. However, before people dive in, just how clean is that water? Experts say there are … Read more
Celebrities: The Climate Consequences Of Their Private Jet Use (Newsy | Aug. 14, 2022)

Taylor Swift isn’t the only celebrity facing backlash for private jet usage. There may be bad blood between environmentalists and pop princess Taylor Swift. Yard, a sustainability marketing agency based out of the United Kingdom, found Swift to be the … Read more
Crucial Research at Highlands Biological Station (The Laurel Magazine | Aug. 2022)

Exciting things are happening at the Highlands Biological Research Station. A team of student researchers is delving into myriad ways that we’re affecting the Plateau’s ecology.
In the field with Carolina researchers (UNC News | July 2022)

Carolina researchers conduct groundbreaking research around the world. One of our most significant research footprints abroad is the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island. The 20,000-square-foot facility is a partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill’s Center for Galapagos Studies and the … Read more
UNC-Chapel Hill research funding tops $1.2 billion (UNC News | July 27, 2022)

Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continues to grow, bringing in more than $1.2 billion in funding awards during the 2022 fiscal year. This is the third year in a row that research awards have topped … Read more
The Galapagos Science Center hosts the World Summit on Island Sustainability to ensure healthy island ecosystems for future generations (UNC News | July 26, 2022)

The World Summit on Island Sustainability was held from June 26 to 30 in San Cristobal, Galapagos to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Galapagos Science Center, a collaboration between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad … Read more
waterloop #149: Flooding On A Sunny Day with Miyuki Hino (waterloop | July 18, 2022)

Some coastal communities experience flooding of low-lying areas on sunny days due to exceptional high tides. The frequency and severity of these events, also called blue sky flooding or nuisance flooding, are increasing due to sea level rise and are … Read more
Marine scientists reveal how sharks have changed over 50 years (Today | July 20, 2022)

Researchers from UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences are sharing the results of their one-of-a-kind shark survey which charts everything from size, species and population. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports with a rare look at how sharks in the U.S. have changed … Read more
Thousands of North Carolina wells are spiked with toxic metals (WUNC | July 20, 2022)

Contamination of private water wells by toxic metals is alarmingly common statewide, according to a recent analysis. Contaminants include lead, arsenic, and unhealthy levels of manganese. Lauren Eaves, a PhD candidate in environmental sciences and engineering at UNC and the … Read more
Faculty Fellow Pete Andrews weighs in on regulatory challenges for EPA after West Virginia v. EPA Decision in Scholars’ Circle (Scholars’ Circle | July 17, 2022)

The Supreme Court has weakened executive agencies and their ability to regulate and make policy. No agency has been more affected than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What is next for environmental protection? [ dur: 58mins. ] Traditionally, the US … Read more
Understanding What People Think and Do About Well Water Contamination (Partnerships for Environmental Public Health | July 2022)

Measuring community members’ understanding of environmental health topics and self-efficacy to act on that knowledge can help researchers and educators better tailor interventions to meet the needs of communities. A team of NIEHS-funded researchers at the University of North Carolina … Read more
Carolina Discoveries: recent research and why it matters (The Well | June 30, 2022)

A study led by Adam Gold, a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute for the Environment, looks at the relationship between the inundation of urban stormwater infrastructure and high tide flooding in East Coast communities. The study found that it … Read more
#GDTBATH: Mollie Yacano (UNC News | June 22, 2022)

Mollie Yacano can’t remember a time when she wasn’t fascinated by the North Carolina coast. She’s always wanted to be a marine scientist, even when she didn’t know the word for studying the ocean. “My entire life, every time someone … Read more
Study links timing of blue-green blooms, airborne particles (Coastal Review Online | June 21, 2022)

As spring gives way to summer and temperatures rise, the rivers and streams that are part of the Albemarle Sound Basin in northeastern North Carolina are home to an increasing number of algal blooms. New research draws a connection between … Read more
Institute of Marine Sciences Celebrates 75 Years (UNC News | June 2022)

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences, faculty, students and staff have been conducting research on our coast for 75 years to keep our state’s citizens and resources safe. Keep reading to learn about … Read more
Peace Boat Hibakusha Project and “Flashes of Hope” Film Screening with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – EcoStudio program (Peace Boat US | June 17, 2022)

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Peace Boat US and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EcoStudio partnered to stream “Flashes of Hope: Hibakusha Traveling the World.” Peace Boat is an international non-profit NGO based in Japan, that works to … Read more
Stacy Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | June 17, 2022)

A boy, 11, crosses two miles of open water on his own for the first time. His sun-bleached hair swirls as he steers a 14-foot skiff toward the Shackleford Banks. But he’s not truly alone. The eyes of his father, … Read more
King tides offer peek into coastal future (The Well | June 9, 2022)

A few times each year, Mother Nature gives us a look at the future of flooding in North Carolina’s coastal towns, sounds and ocean-fed waterways by focusing her crystal ball on king tides. King tides are the predicted highest and … Read more
How would electric school bus charging benefit the power grid and environment? (Gillings School News | May 25, 2022)

In fall 2020, Melanie Elliott, a senior on her way to a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and astronomy, had a keen interest in applying what she knew about physics to a renewable energy project. She landed in the … Read more
Big storms are coming. Are we ready? (Marketplace | June 1, 2022)

Today is the first day of hurricane season. And between global warming and an ongoing La Niña, this year’s forecast is not looking great. For the seventh year in a row, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts above-average hurricane … Read more
Mountain State Spotlight adds reporter Ellie Heffernan (Mountain State Spotlight News | June 1, 2022)

Ellie joins Mountain State Spotlight as a Report for America corps member starting June 1. A recent graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, she previously wrote for several publications including INDY Week, The Local … Read more
Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | May 31, 2022)

A boy, 11, crosses two miles of open water on his own for the first time. His sun-bleached hair swirls as he steers a 14-foot skiff toward the Shackleford Banks. But he’s not truly alone. The eyes of his father, … Read more
Stacy Davis keeps world-class coastal research center running (The Well | May 31, 2022)

More than 100 Massey Award nominators described how vital the practical knowledge and can-do spirit of this Outer Banks native is to the success of the Institute for Marine Sciences.
James W.C. White will be College of Arts & Sciences dean (The Well | May 17, 2022)

James W.C. White, acting dean and professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and a highly cited and internationally recognized researcher in climate science, has been appointed dean of the College of Arts … Read more
James W.C. White will be College of Arts & Sciences dean (The Well | May 17, 2022)

Coming from the University of Colorado Boulder, White brings more than 30 years of experience, a history of collaborative leadership and a commitment to preparing students for an evolving workforce.
Kathleen Gray, Ph.D. – Improving Environmental Risk Communication Through Interdisciplinary Collaborations (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences | May 6, 2022)

Kathleen Gray, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC) has long held a passion for increasing understanding of environmental exposures in communities affected by contamination. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked with community-based organizations in southern Louisiana … Read more
Educator Spotlight: Megan Rodgers Lane (NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs)

Megan Rodgers Lane recently completed her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. Megan is the public science and internship coordinator for the UNC Institute for the Environment’s (IE) Center forPublic Engagement with Science. “I work on many different projects all with … Read more
Air pollution reduction policies bring significant health benefits (The Well | May 3, 2022)

New research from the UNC Institute for the Environment demonstrates how reduced emissions in New York City can save lives and money.
Carolina researchers find significant health benefits to air pollution reduction policies in NYC (UNC-Chapel Hill | April 29, 2022)

Researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment modeled five sustainability policy scenarios in New York City and found a significant reduction in health risks associated with a decrease in air pollution based on the policies.
Sustainability at Kenan-Flagler supported by $11 million estate gift (The Well | Apr. 29, 2022)

The late Charles S. Ackerman ’55, who had a successful career in real estate, wanted to help the business school address critical sustainability challenges.
The Persistent Effort to Address Climate Change with Dr. Pete Andrews (Management Matters Podcast | Apr. 25, 2022)

On this episode, we welcome Dr. Pete Andrews, Faculty Fellow at the Institute for the Environment at the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill and Academy Fellow to discuss overcoming political barriers to address climate change, environmental challenges and solutions in … Read more
Sustainable Carolina releases Water Plan on #EarthDay2022

This Earth Day marks the release of the Water Plan, telling the story of the University’s accomplishments, current goals, and visions for a future of water sustainability. As we face challenges related to water quality and quantity, including growing demands … Read more
Jointly led UNC and USFQ research team receives $1m grant from National Science Foundation to conduct research in Galapagos and help determine how temperature influences marine ecosystems (UNC Center for Galapagos Studies | Apr. 22, 2022)

UNC researcher Dr. John Bruno and Dr. Margarita Brandt of USFQ are partnering on a three year, one million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to untangle the interactive roles of temperature, nutrient flux, and predation in structuring the … Read more
What is Sustainable Carolina? (The Well | Apr. 22, 2022)

Annabel Grocott sloshes her rain boots through Chapel Hill’s Battle Branch Creek while checking sensors that log water level and temperature. Downstream a bit, Ashlynne Hobcroft swings a sledgehammer to stake another sensor, and Gabriela Martinez stretches a measuring tape … Read more
Student-led sustainability at Carolina (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2022)

A new fully-electric Chapel Hill Transit bus and a rooftop full of solar panels are just two ways Carolina students are working to make our campus more sustainable.
How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint with oyster shells and marsh grass (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2022)

A project at the UNC Institute for Marine Sciences is serving as a carbon offset for Carolina by burying carbon deposits into the sediment of a saltmarsh created by researchers.
#GDTBATH: Dylan Morgan (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2022)

Carolina senior Dylan Morgan has always had a strong connection with nature and he turned to UNC Institute for the Environment and the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory as a Tar Heel to gain the skills and experience to turn that … Read more
Tar Heels in the field (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2022)

Through the UNC Institute for the Environment’s semester-long Sustainable Triangle Field Site, Carolina students are researching Chapel Hill’s creeks to help the town develop stronger flood mitigation plans.
On the Origin of Sculptures (Endeavors | Apr. 19, 2022)

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

Carolina is making strides toward becoming a more sustainable university. Our commitment to excellence in sustainability and environmental work is led by Sustainable Carolina. The Carolina Sustainability Council guides this initiative and turns ideas into action by connecting with campus … Read more
From Manteo to Wilmington, could the ‘kudzu of the coast’ help fight climate change? (Star News | Apr. 18, 2022)

Mention phragmites and you’re likely to hear an agonized groan from a long list of people, including biologists and coastal landowners.
Breaking the barrier to composting (UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 18, 2022)

Founded by Carolina students, CompostMates is making composting accessible to all Tar Heels through free, curbside food scrap collection service.
Chapel Hill and Carrboro host Earth Day events throughout weekend (The Daily Tar Heel | Apr. 17, 2022)

With Earth Day quickly approaching this month, organizations across Carrboro and Chapel Hill are planning environmentally friendly events for community members of all ages. Here is a guide to Earth Day events happening on April 22 and 23.
Logging into the Deep History of Climate, with Erika Wise (Resources Radio | Apr. 12, 2022)

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Erika Wise, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wise discusses some of her research, which combines tree ring data with historical climate data drawn from artifacts … Read more
Battle Grove: soothing sounds and scenery (The Well | Apr. 6, 2022)

A 2017 restoration has made this water-centric outdoor space an environmentally friendly place to see spring in bloom and maybe glimpse an otter or “KP” the turtle.
Arrival will make its first electric delivery van at a Charlotte factory in late 2022 (MSN | Mar. 30, 2022)

Electric buses and vans can do more to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities than upscale electric cars and SUVs, the CEO of a company that will make those electric utility vehicles in the Carolinas said Tuesday.
In UNC address, Shell executive outlines path from oil and gas to renewable energy (The News & Observer | Mar. 30, 2022)

Shell, the multinational energy company that is one of the world’s leading suppliers of oil and gas products, doesn’t want to go the way of Kodak — a once-dominant company that lost its market share because it failed to anticipate … Read more
UNC-Chapel Hill graduate programs ranked among best in nation (UNC-Chapel Hill | Mar. 29, 2022)

Numerous University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate programs received high rankings — 19 were among the top 10 in the nation in their respective categories — as part of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” list.
Stephanie Caddell (endeavors | Mar. 9, 2022)

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

Join us on Mar. 29 for #GiveUNC, Carolina’s 24-hour giving challenge. Please enjoy our take of the #dronetrend #tiktokchallenge. We have a drone! Actually, we have a whole drone lab! Follow along Mar. 29 to see all of the innovative … Read more
How Can Students Lead Change? Caitlin Flanagan’s Story (Planet Now | Mar. 19, 2022)

Not many teenagers get to meet members of the U.S. Congress. Before she even began college, Caitlin Flanagan used her voice to encourage federal policymakers to fight climate change. Some of the policymakers included Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), former Rep. … Read more
Can Entrepreneurs Save the Planet? (Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise | Mar. 16, 2022)

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our planet and our way of life. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released its 2022 Climate Report, which features a stern warning that human-induced climate change is already … Read more
Inundation of Stormwater Infrastructure Is Common and Increases Risk of Flooding in Coastal Urban Areas Along the US Atlantic Coast (Advancing Earth and Space Science | Mar. 15 2022)

Urban areas are often drained by underground pipes that convey stormwater runoff downstream when it rains, but coastal urban areas can experience recurrent “high-tide” flooding (HTF) that may block stormwater pipes from draining. We estimated where stormwater pipes may be … Read more
Riveros-Iregui receives a Fulbright Scholar Award (Department of Geography | Mar. 14, 2022)

Diego Riveros-Iregui has been awarded a 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Ecuador to investigate the coupling of greenhouse gas emissions, hydrologic dynamics, and the ecology of tropical alpine environments of the Northern Andes. The award will allow Riveros-Iregui to … Read more
Instagram Takeover (unc_gradschool | Mar. 10, 2022)

Follow graduate students Meredith Meyer and Melanie Cohn for the day.
Wastewater unlocks new possibilities in COVID-19 surveillance (Carolina Public Press | Mar. 10, 2022)

Monitoring data from wastewater allows better tracking of COVID-19 and new variants in communities.
The Past, Present And Future Of Utah Lake: Part II (Radiowest | Mar. 10, 2022)

Utah Lake is in dire straits. At least, that’s the opinion of the company behind a massive engineering plan proposed for the lake. To save it, they say, we need to dredge it and build dozens of islands on it. … Read more
New research from NC State suggests many more may be at risk for flooding than FEMA says (WNCT9 | Mar. 9, 2022)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A new study is showing many more homeowners may be at risk for flooding.
Stephanie Caddell (Endeavors | Mar. 9 2022)

Stephanie Caddell is a sophomore studying environmental science in the Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Science within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. She studies how to connect the needs of humans with the needs of the environment … Read more
Coronavirus wastewater data, CDC guidelines can give mixed signals on whether to mask (CNN Health | Mar. 10, 2022)

The federal government has taken clear steps toward a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks: The Biden administration released the National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan, and new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped … Read more
Nonnative phragmites may help with climate resilience (Coastal Review Online | Mar. 8, 2022)

A tall and looming reed grass, nonnative phragmites now extends pervasively into North Carolina’s marshes and shorelines. Likely introduced to North America in the 18th or 19th century, it hasn’t taken long for Phragmites australis — more commonly known as … Read more
Nonnative phragmites may help with climate resilience (Coastal Review | Mar. 08 2022)

A tall and looming reed grass, nonnative phragmites now extends pervasively into North Carolina’s marshes and shorelines.
Educational tool highlights COVID-19 and arsenic research (Environmental Factor NIEHS | Mar. 2022)

A new online educational resource invites high school students to examine ways that humans are exposed to arsenic and how exposure might influence susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. The tool was developed by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center at … Read more
NC Sea Grant Announces Winners of the Coastal Resilience Team Competition (Sea Grant North Carolina News | Mar. 1, 2022)

Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected to receive funding in North Carolina Sea Grant’s first Coastal Resilience Team Competition.
Eastern Carolina environmentalists weigh in on climate change report (WITN | Feb. 28, 2022)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released an updated climate report Monday. The climate report shows that the world has warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. If the world reaches two degrees it could mean a loss of coral … Read more
UNC Institute of Marine Sciences celebrates its 75th anniversary (The Daily Tarheel | Feb. 27, 2022)

This year, the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences is celebrating 75 years of conducting research in the coastal town of Morehead City, North Carolina.
UNC researchers develop mapping tool to protect populations from environmental chemicals (Gillings School News | Feb. 15, 2022)

NC ENVIROSCAN, a new online interactive mapping tool, helps North Carolina communities increase awareness of key environmental and societal factors that can impact health. Developed through a collaboration between the UNC Superfund Research Program (UNC SRP) and the Institute for … Read more
Sea-level predictions raise concerns (WITN | Feb. 17, 2022)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationpredicts the sea level will increase by a foot by 2050. Marine science experts say this increase will likely cause more erosion on the shoreline of coastal communities. “That’s the equivalent of what we’ve seen over the … Read more
Sea-level predictions raise concerns (WITN | Feb. 17, 2022)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the sea level will increase by a foot by 2050. Marine science experts say this increase will likely cause more erosion on the shoreline of coastal communities. “That’s the equivalent of what we’ve … Read more
NC Collaboratory puts UNC System expertise to work (The Well | Feb. 16, 2022)

Jeff Warren remembers the moment the North Carolina Collaboratory turned the corner, when he thought, Yes, this is going to work. It was the summer of 2018, and the North Carolina General Assembly had just appropriated $5 million for a … Read more
Study: Sharks off North Carolina’s coast have gotten smaller (WUNC 91.5 | Feb. 14, 2022)

A 50-year study of sharks off the coast of North Carolina found that many species have decreased in size over time. Researchers started collecting data on 12 species of sharks in 1972 in Onslow Bay, just east of Jacksonville. A recently … Read more
2022 EFRP + My Green Lab Freezer Challenge Opens (UNC Green Labs | Feb. 10, 2022)

The spring 2022 Efficient Freezer Rebate Program (EFRP) and My Green Lab Freezer Challenge are now open! Eligible labs have the chance to receive a rebate of 35% of the cost (up to $5,000) of a new ultra low freezer. … Read more
Water contamination a possibility near fertilizer plant fire. Runoff could hit creeks, streams, expert says (Winston-Salem Journal | Feb. 3, 2022)

Chemicals being carried into Winston-Salem’s drainage system in runoff from the site of a fertilizer plant fire have the potential to produce sometimes-toxic algae if large enough amounts reach downstream creeks that ultimately feed the Yadkin River, an expert in … Read more
What wastewater can tell us about COVID-19 spread (CBS17 | Feb. 3, 2022)

When you flush, your stuff ends up at your local water treatment plant. It’s not pretty to look at or even think about, but your stool can be a valuable tool in the fight against COVID-19. “Whenever you do your … Read more
Chapel Hill storm drain mural project aims to highlight waterways under threat (Daily Tar Heel | Jan. 26, 2022)

UNC Institute for the Environment Director Mike Piehler spoke to The Daily Tar Heel about stormwater drains in Chapel Hill. A new mural project aims to highlight waterways under threat. Storm drains in Chapel Hill will soon have a new … Read more
Morehead City Field Site students study ponds created by Hurricane Dorian (AccuWeather | Jan. 26, 2022)

A team of professors and students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Morehead City Field Site are studying the newest issue impacting the Outer Banks.
Milestone anniversary: UNC Institute of Marine Sciences celebrates 75 years of coastal studies in 2022 (Cateret County Times | Jan. 24, 2022)

For 75 years, students and marine scientists have been coming to Carteret County learn about the oceanic environment, its flora, fauna and the natural systems that govern the waves, at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. Located in Morehead City, UNC-IMS … Read more
A classroom on the Core Sound (UNC News | Jan. 18, 2022)

More than a dozen Tar Heels spent last semester on the coast taking classes and conducting real-world research on a new issue impacting the barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Teaching Awards honor 25 educators (The Well | Jan. 14, 2022)

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

2021

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

Days after Monday’s storm, parts of Bay Street in Morehead City were still underwater Wednesday.
Student study finds Buxton Woods a healthy, valued reserve (Coastal Review | Dec. 17, 2021)

That is one of the conclusions of a study of the state coastal reserve and dedicated nature preserve conducted by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill undergraduate students and presented Dec. 2 to the Hatteras Island community at the Fessenden … Read more
‘Geology of the Carolinas’ explores uniqueness of N.C.’s Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions (Chatham News + Record | Dec. 15, 2021)

North Carolina’s mountains, Piedmont and coast provide more than just gorgeous landscapes and vacation destinations — they contain geological features that have played an important role in the human history of the state and region, as well as fascinating places … Read more
Call for Proposals: Institute of Marine Sciences Mural (Artist Call | Dec. 10, 2021)

IMS is kicking off a Mural Project, a nine month-long endeavor to take advantage of our building’s premium location on Hwy. 70/Arendell Street, where 26,000 cars per day transit. UNC-CH IMS is seeking proposals from artists with experience in arts … Read more
Sea grass research at N.C. coast gives heads up on climate change (Spectrum News 1 | Dec. 8, 2021)

Researchers are looking at the ecosystem of sea grass on North Carolina’s coast as a way to track climate change.
Ask Dr. Bogus | Sheepshead (The Talk Station | Dec. 6, 2021)

Lewis Naisbett-Jones joins Dr. Bogus to talk about Sheepshead on this week’s episode of Ask Dr. Bog
Carolina at the Coast: A Semester at the Morehead City Field Site (UNC Institute for the Environment | Dec. 1, 2021)

Stephanie Caddell is a sophomore Environmental Studies major from Charlotte, NC.
Outdoor access for all (The Well | Dec. 1, 2021)

UNC-Chapel Hill archaeologists are working with a diverse coalition to develop an accessible trail network, uncover the region’s history and spur equitable economic growth in the small western North Carolina town of Old Fort.
Electric Vehicles Expected to Play Huge Role in Environment and Daily Lives Around the World (Cheddar News | Nov. 30, 2021)

Sarav Arunachalam, air pollution scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joins Cheddar Climate, where he discusses what he needs to happen when it comes to EV production on a global level to help reduce the effects … Read more
Carolina’s Research Perseveres through the Pandemic — and Beyond (UNC Research | Dec. 1, 2021)

As 2021 comes to an end, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Joyce Tan and I want to reflect on progress of Initiative 4: Discover, the research framework for the University’s strategic plan Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good.Discover is one … Read more
Carteret County to receive millions from state budget for flood mitigation (WCNT 9 | Nov. 29, 2021)

Carteret County will receive millions in funding from the state budget. The money will go towards various community projects, and much of the money will focus on flood mitigation efforts.
How science is helping to mitigate flood damage (Spectrum News’ In Focus | Nov. 21, 2021)

Scientists that study climate change and water quality are advising on how best to mitigate the worst damage from flooding events. Loretta Boniti talks with Dr. Amanda Martin, chief resiliency officer with the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, Dr. Stephen … Read more
Storm drain sensors show more frequent nuisance flooding (Coastal Review | Nov. 17, 2021)

Relatively small, short-lived flooding events – just enough to be a nuisance – are occurring more often along the coast.
BWF Announces First Round Of Climate Change And Human Health Seed Grants (Burroughs Wellcome Fund | Nov. 17, 2021)

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded the first four grants from the Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program. The mechanism aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields whose collaboration has … Read more
Cleantech Cluster names finalists for its innovation awards – here’s the list (WRAL TechWire | Nov. 17, 2021)

A host of individuals and companies are in the running for the top honors to be handed out by the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster at its third Cleantech Innovation Awards event set for Dec. 8.
Alternate jet fuels reduce deaths (The Well | Nov. 16, 2021)

A new study by researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that sustainable alternative jet fuels decrease premature death rates.
Recognise China’s climate efforts, says US scientist (KHMER Times | Nov. 12, 2021)

China “deserves recognition for its climate efforts so far,” The New York Times has reported, citing a US climate scientist.
Why climate-shaming China at COP26 likely won’t work (CBC | Nov. 10, 2021)

For a country that pollutes more than any other, China, with its 1.4 billion people, has an unusually small footprint at the COP26 climate summit underway in Glasgow, Scotland.
In hot water (The Well | Nov. 10, 2021)

Janet Nye, a Carolina marine scientist, wants to understand how warmer oceans affect fish migration to help fisheries prepare for the future.
Planting for the future: Chapel Hill mayor hosts Tree of the Year contest (The Daily Tar Heel | Nov. 10, 2021)

The Mayor’s Tree of the Year contest, a contest run by the Town of Chapel Hill to highlight important and meaningful trees in the community, is returning for a second year.
Planes, trains and automobiles: It’s transport day at COP26. Here’s what you need to know. (Washington Post | Nov. 9, 2021)

UNC Institute for the Environment Deputy Director and Research Professor Sarav Arunachalam talks to the Washington Post about transportation emissions ahead of transport day at #COP26. The COP26 climate summit has entered its thornier, more difficult stages — when scores … Read more
NC Attorney General awards ENC hundreds of thousands in environmental grant money (WITN | Nov. 9, 2021)

Attorney General Josh Stein was in New Bern Tuesday awarding ENC hundreds of thousands of dollars in environmental grant money.
NC Energy Literacy Fellow, Denise Renfro, featured on Soledad O’Brien’s Matter of Fact (Matter of Fact | Nov. 7, 2021)

NC Energy Literacy Fellow, Denise Renfro, is using renewable energy to engage her students in Fayetteville, NC. Learn more about her efforts that were recently featured on Soledad O’Brien’s Matter of Fact.
NC Scientist Says Climate Action Needed Now to Protect Human Health (Public News Service | Nov. 8, 2021)

Higher temperatures driven by climate change will likely make air pollution worse, and one North Carolina scientist says action is needed now to mitigate human health consequences
King Tides Project using citizen photos to predict environmental future, particularly for this weekend (WNCT 9 | Nov. 5, 2021)

The King Tides Project is seeking to learn more about what the future could look like for coastal towns. Scientists with the project are asking people to take photos of flooding in communities and submit them for research.
New research detects hurricane history hidden in tree rings (Coastal Review | Nov. 4, 2021)

Dr. Justin T. Maxwell is an associate professor of geography at Indiana University, where he researches paleoclimatology, the study of the Earth’s past climates. Most recently, he explored the historical relationship between longleaf pines and tropical cyclone precipitation. Maxwell reconstructed … Read more
King Tides Project needs your photos of extreme tides (Coastal Review | Nov. 4, 2021)

North Carolina King Tides Project organizers are asking residents and visitors to photograph this week’s king tide — extreme high and low tides events of the year — through Tuesday and share their images on the Coastal Observer app.
Coastal residents can take part in citizen-science project documenting “king tides” (Public Radio Serving Eastern North Carolina | Nov. 2, 2021)

“King tides” is a non-scientific name for the highest or the lowest tide events in a year. Christine Voss, a research associate at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City explains.
Are offshore wind farms coming to North Carolina? (The Well | Nov. 2, 2021)

After the Biden administration announced plans to develop coastal wind farms, The Well checked in with marine sciences professor Harvey Seim about what that could mean for North Carolina.
Lingering dry weather slows flow in Neuse River (Coastal Review | Nov. 01, 2021)

River flows remained low in the Neuse River as of last week. Low flows are indications of long stretches of dry weather, where there’s little to no rain contributing to the river.
UNC students pair with Coastal Federation to repair eroded Pamlico County peninsula (WCNT | Nov. 1, 2021)

Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill paired with the Coastal Federation to help build a living shoreline at Whitaker Point in Pamlico County, where 15 acres of the peninsula are eroded.
Is your well water safe to drink? (The Well | Nov. 1, 2021)

A group of UNC School of Law students is working on a multiyear, multifaceted effort to provide North Carolinians the tools they need to self-assess the safety of their well water.
Researchers study how climate change impacts North Carolina (WITN | Oct. 28, 2021)

Fighting climate change and the devastating impacts global warming will have on us has been a major talking point for many ahead of the COP26 Climate Change Conference meeting in Scotland at the end of October.
Sampling study shows little water contamination in and around Atlantic Beach (Carteret County News-Times | Oct. 27, 2021)

After sampling water quality several times this spring and summer, local researchers haven’t seen any significant fecal water contamination problem in bodies around Atlantic Beach.
Regional RISA Teams competition for the Northeast, MidAtlantic, Intermountain West, Carolinas, Great Lakes, Alaska, Pacific Islands, South Central, and Pacific Northwest (Climate Program Office | Oct. 2021)

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

Rivers flow from a continent’s heart into the vast oceans, pumping weathered bits of rock and clay onto broad beds of sediment that form our continental shelves. Oceans change the shape of our coastlines in a relentless wave-driven dance of … Read more
Coastal development boom endangers salt marshes, a resource vital to the Southeast economy (The News & Observer | Oct. 25, 2021)

Thousands of acres of salt marshes that buffer the South Atlantic coast from hurricanes, sustain the seafood industry and bolster the tourism economy are in danger of washing away, victims of booming development and limited government oversight that have made … Read more
Carolina Tree Heritage program brings new life to downed tree (UNC Chapel Hill | Oct. 25, 2021)

South Building, which opened in 1814, just gained a new detail that has been in Chapel Hill longer than the historic building itself: A 5-foot wide, 400-pound table made from a 251-year-old post oak tree that stood behind Old West … Read more
A merger of land and sea (The Well | Oct. 25, 2021)

The union of disciplines in the new department of earth, marine and environmental sciences erases artificial boundaries and reflects natural connections.
Scientists weigh in on latest United Nations climate report (WITN | Oct. 21, 2021)

This week, the United Nations released a new report showing many governments remain out of sync with the warning of climate scientists.
The sky’s the limit for the Carolina Drone Lab (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 18, 2021)

CARDNL — the first of its kind at the University — facilitates drone and sensor use for solving societal and environmental challenges, according to its website. The lab is located within the UNC Institute for the Environment.
The science behind fall foliage (The Well | Oct. 18, 2021)

Why do leaves change color in the fall, and when is the best time to go “leaf-peeping”? The North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Johnny Randall, who says conditions this year are near perfect, answers your fall color questions.
‘Hard-headed little guy’: Sea turtle gets an autopsy (WRAL | Oct. 16, 2021)

A few feet away from the turquoise water, about 17 UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduates form a loose semicircle, with the breeze fluttering their T-shirts and shorts. They’re at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences, standing on a loading dock that hoists wooden … Read more
Searching for sheepshead (The Well | Oct. 15, 2021)

Commercial and recreational fishing are important contributors to the North Carolina economy, but there are still unknowns about many species. Doctoral student Lewis Naisbett-Jones is trying to unravel some of that mystery by tracking the migration of sheepshead.
Scientists say rising sea levels could impact Eastern North Carolina (WITN | Oct. 13, 2021)

Data surrounding climate changes continues to come to light, and many are painting a bleak outlook for our world if action isn’t taken soon.
FEMA ranks Charlotte among one of the nation’s top for flood mitigation (Fox 46 Charlotte | Oct. 13, 2021)

“Little sugar creek definitely fills up a good bit,” and sometimes….it overflows. Arthur Noll’s neighbors had to kayak through floodwaters last November, “the water got up into his basement…some of the houses, garages got flooded,” he reminisces.
Summit spurs action on flooding: Experts, political leaders gather in Greenville for first WATERS conference (Reflector | Oct. 13, 2021)

With flooding, storms and rising sea levels spelling potentially serious changes for North Carolina, experts and politicians on both sides of the political spectrum gathered in Greenville to discuss how cooperation and communication can help stem the coming tide.
Congressman Murphy hosts first WATERS Summit to address waterway challenges (WNCT | Oct. 13, 2021)

Congressman Greg Murphy held the Water Adaptation to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit Wednesday in Greenville. Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and David Rouzer helped facilitate the event. The summit brought political leaders from all areas of the state to Eastern North … Read more
First Annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success Summit (Oct. 13, 2021)

First Annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit hosted by Congressmen Murphy, Rouzer, and Butterfield
In Hot Water (Endeavors | Oct. 12, 2021)

Warming ocean waters are one of many climate change consequences, and scientists have observed fish migrating to stay within their preferred temperature range. Janet Nye, a UNC-Chapel Hill marine scientist, wants to understand how a warmer environment will affect these … Read more
A creek runs through it (The Well | Oct. 8, 2021)

Water springing from a granite ridge millions of years in the making is a main reason for Carolina’s location. Here’s a look at how that water flowing under and through campus becomes the University’s Meeting of the Waters Creek.
UNC researchers study why sea turtles die (Media Hub | Oct. 2021)

North Carolina’s estuaries – the place where freshwater and saltwater meet – are home to things like shellfish, plants, fish and turtles. Researchers in Morehead City are studying the human impacts from climate change which is leading to warmer waters … Read more
Perseverance in the Páramo (Endeavors | Sept. 28, 2021)

This summer, UNC-Chapel Hill research technicians Liz Farquhar and Tessa Davis traveled to the Andes Mountains in Ecuador for a project in the páramo, a beautiful but challenging ecosystem. While the high altitude and unpredictable weather took time to adjust … Read more
Empowering the next generation (The Well | Sept. 27, 2021)

An abnormal heat wave in the Pacific Northwest so hot it melts powerlines. Record-breaking hurricane seasons that bring more severe storms each year. Excessive flooding that forces entire families in Eastern North Carolina to relocate. As climate disasters make headlines … Read more
Carolina names 68 distinguished professors (The Well | Sept. 27, 2021)

Martin Brinkley and Gregory Characklis are named Kenan Distinguished Professors. Chris Clemens is named a Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Coast Lines (ECU Integrated Coastal Programs Newsletter | Fall 2021)

Wow, what a difference a year makes! I state this, not dwelling on the challenges we face associated with COVID and the Delta variant but thinking about all the effort from our staff and faculty to keep our organization moving … Read more
Levees improved by Carolina researcher succeed against Hurricane Ida (UNC | Sept. 23, 2021)

Thanks to the work of Carolina’s Rick Luettich, New Orleans’ levees held and water damage was greatly minimized from the Category 4 hurricane.
Carolina 3rd top public university in Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education Rankings (UNC | Sept. 22, 2021)

he list also has UNC-Chapel Hill 33rd among all private and public universities in the United States.
NC Seafood Threatened By Toxins And Mislabeling (WFAE | Sept. 22, 2021)

Willy Phillips operates Full Circle Crab Co. and Seafood Market in Columbia in Tyrrell County, a wholesale and retail operation. He’s observed a decline in water quality impacting the blue crab fishery.
Testing storm modeling in real time (The Well | Sept. 20, 2021)

Tropical Storm Henri gave researchers at the Coastal Resilience Center a chance to test the ADCIRC Prediction System, which calculates the consequences of extreme weather and how it will impact critical infrastructure.
Sustainable Carolina debuts podcast featuring Mike Piehler (Sustainable Carolina | May 28, 2021)

This week on the Sustainable Carolina podcast Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, Mike Piehler goes in depth on the flurry of sustainability news that happened in April and unpacking the transition to sustainable … Read more
Inspired To Give: Fund provides financial assistance to students to gain hands-on experiences (Campaign for Carolina | Sept. 2021)

The Betsy Steele and Geo. Watts Carr Environmental Support Fund provides financial assistance to students to gain hands-on experiences at the various field sites of the UNC Institute for the Environment. “Our hope is that this generation of students will … Read more
Why New Orleans’ $15 billion levee held and what experts worry about next (NBC News | Sep. 2, 2021)

“We need to invest now for the future. That’s the lesson we’ve learned from the investment in the levees,” said Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.
Algae blooms cause problems for parts of the Chowan River (WITN | Sep. 1, 2021)

The summer heat is causing problems for parts of the Chowan River in Edenton. Algae blooms have popped up in several of the river’s tributaries and ponds. Algae blooms are a cause for concern because blue-green algae can produce toxins that … Read more
Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters carried E. coli, other bacteria across Eastern NC (The News and Observer | Sept. 1, 2021)

Scientists found several species of bacteria in floodwaters left behind by September 2018’s Hurricane Florence, according to a new study from researchers at N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Carolina Beekeeping Club buzzes with education and care of UNC’s pollinators (The Daily Tar Heel | Aug. 30, 2021)

Garrett Tucker started beekeeping from a young age with his dad, who is also a beekeeper. “I love bees because I really love their role in the environment, and I think that they’re essential,” Tucker, a UNC junior, said. “Beekeeping kind … Read more
Fires and floods sweep the globe (The Well | Aug. 26, 2021)

In the aftermath of extreme weather events, considering the long-term well-being of affected people and places is critical, says Director of the Carolina Population Center Elizabeth Frankenberg.
Tropical Storm Henri provides opportunity to test ADCIRC Prediction System™ real-time storm modeling capabilities (Costal Resilience Center | Aug. 24, 2021)

As the weekend of August 21, 2021 drew near, it became increasingly evident that Tropical Storm Henri would not only impact Southern New England, but could become a hurricane before making landfall. This was the perfect opportunity for researchers at … Read more
NC at a crossroads in dealing with water quality challenges (Coastal Review | Aug. 24, 2021)

It’s a windy day in October, warm enough for just a T-shirt, and the Neuse River shimmers in the sunlight. As Katy Hunt approaches the bank, however, a foul smell hits her nostrils. And from the dock, she can see … Read more
Passion for the Galapagos Brings Universidad San Francisco de Quito Alumni to Chapel Hill as Graduate Students (Carolina Graduate School Magazine | Aug. 23, 2021)

Two incoming Ph.D. students share a love for South America and for the intricate ecosystems and wildlife that support it. Isabel Silva Romero and Diego Urquía are joining the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as international students thanks … Read more
Storm surge could be an even greater concern in future hurricanes (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 20, 2021)

“You just stood here. You just stood here. It was so devastating. We didn’t even know what to do. Everything was gone.” That’s how Toni Titone described the scene around Ocean Isle Beach last year following Hurricane Isaias. She owns two … Read more
Wetter hurricanes are a concern for N.C. farmers (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 19, 2021)

Hurricanes are having big impacts on many different ways of life in North Carolina. That’s especially the case for our state’s farmers.
What I did this summer (The Well | Aug. 19, 2021)

Carolina faculty and staff mentored students, reconnected with colleagues and pursued research on campus, across the state and far away.
Hurricanes pose several threats to North Carolina’s seafood industry (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 18, 2021)

Hurricanes can have impacts on many different parts of life in North Carolina. One part that you may not have thought about is that fresh local seafood dinner you enjoy from time to time.
Stronger storms mean tough decisions for N.C. Highway 12 (Spectrum News 1 | Aug. 17, 2021)

There seems to be a yearly battle between North Carolina Highway 12 and storms. Highway 12 is the only road in and out of Hatteras Island and other Outer Banks communities like Rodanthe and Avon, and storms have had major effects … Read more
Denise Renfro, a High School Teacher in Fayetteville NC Wins Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Education (Teachable Moments | Aug. 16, 2021)

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced its 2021 President’s Student and Teacher Environmental Awards winners. Among the winners was Denise Renfro, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher and director of the Academy of Green Technology at Douglas Byrd … Read more
Into the backcountry (UNC-Chapel Hill | Aug. 16, 2021)

This summer, Andrew Buchanan and Owen Ryerson made the arduous trek to the Arrigetch Peaks in remote Alaska to collect rock samples for an independent research project that aims to answer big questions about the mountains.
Activity picks up in the tropics as we near peak hurricane season (WITN | Aug. 16, 2021)

The triple threat in the tropics is a sign that we are now in the very beginning of peak hurricane season, when the conditions become the most favorable for storms. Stacia Strong spoke with experts who say now is the … Read more
Sustainable Carolina debuts podcast (Sustainable Carolina | Aug. 13, 2021)

Sustainable Carolina added a new tool to its messaging kit this summer as the team published its debut podcast episode. The Sustainable Carolina Podcast will feature episode themes including news discussions and insights, guest interviews with members of the campus community … Read more
Empowering Youth for a Resilient Future (Endeavors | Aug. 11, 2021)

As climate change continues to impact daily life, researchers at the UNC Institute for the Environment want to discover the best way to teach the next generation to build a more equitable, resilient society. To do this, they are studying … Read more
NC Climatologist says latest climate report signals a call to action (WITN | Aug. 9, 2021)

An alarming report from the United Nations panel on Climate Change came out Monday, outlining the latest information on global warming.
Will climate change and a rising ocean mean the end of the road for NC Highway 12? (The News & Observer | Aug. 9, 2021)

The highway runs the length of the Outer Banks, supporting the economy, welcoming tourists and often providing a lifeline for residents. But as sands shift and the sea rises, can N.C. 12 survive?
Bringing classroom learning to life (UNC News | Aug. 6, 2021)

Teachers from eastern North Carolina stepped out of their classrooms and into nature this summer to learn more about geoscience so they can bring that knowledge back to their students. The experience was part of a new UNC Institute for … Read more
Will climate change and a rising ocean mean the end of the road for NC Highway 12? (The News & Observer | Aug. 5, 2021)

The highway runs the length of the Outer Banks, supporting the economy, welcoming tourists and often providing a lifeline for residents. But as sands shift and the sea rises, can N.C. 12 survive?
Carolina to Host 2021 AAD Sisco Memorial Forum: ‘Preserving Life: Climate Change, Water and Diplomacy’ (UNC Global | Aug. 3, 2021)

The American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will host its annual Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum in person in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium on … Read more
Algae Blooms found in Chowan River (WITN | Aug. 3, 2021)

This week the State’s Department of Environmental Quality sent out an alert about an algal bloom that could be dangerous to the health of children and pets. Now scientists say this week’s heavy rains could mean we’ll see more of … Read more
Digging In: U.S. Coastal Dredging Policy (UNC Institute for the Environment | Aug. 1, 2021)

I have lived in North Carolina and been near the coast my entire life, but I’ve never given much thought to dredging. I imagine that’s true for most people, but that may be changing.
Cyanobacteria in some Cape Cod waters can make you sick. What you need to know. (Cape Cod Times | July 30, 2021)

Dr. Hans Paerl (IMS, EMES, ESE) is quoted in a story from the Cape Cod Times about harmful algal blooms.
UNC drone lab takes environmental research to new heights (Accuweather | July 26, 2021)

A newly established drone lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has begun research on natural disasters. From characterizing floodplains and mapping invasive species, to forest management, Carolina’s Drone Lab, or CARDNL, works with interdisciplinary teams to … Read more
Meet an Intern: Jenna Hynes at the Piedmont Conservation Council (UNC News | July 26, 2021)

As an environmental science and chemistry major, Jenna Hynes spends a lot of time thinking about water and the challenges communities face with the fragile resource. “You don’t think about it when you’re swimming in a lake, but there can … Read more
New variants now better detected in wastewater sampling (Coastal Review | July 23, 2021)

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

Researchers here participating in a newly expanded program now have the capability through sampling and analysis of public wastewater to quickly see the emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern in specific municipalities, a potentially valuable early warning system for outbreaks … Read more
Well-researched investment in renewable energy can improve global equity (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | July 20, 2021)

In many low- and lower-middle-income countries, great natural wealth contrasts with a desire for economic development. Noah Kittner is an assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he examines the … Read more
Using Tech To Understand the Lives of Sharks (PBS NC | July 16, 2021)

If you’re a scientist studying the health of the population, it’s one thing to know how many creatures of that species there are. It’s even better to know where those creatures are living and what they are eating. So it is with … Read more
ENC shark survey celebrates 50 years of research (WITN | July 14, 2021)

This week millions will tune in to watch Shark Week, but a team of researchers here in Eastern North Carolina are celebrating their own type of shark week as they mark 50 years of their shark survey which is one … Read more
UNC institute’s shark survey a trove of 50 years of data (Coastal Review | July 14, 2021)

Before “Jaws” with its depiction of a giant, vengeful, man-eating creature of the deep; before Shark Week, Discovery Channels’ eight-day ode to all things sharks; and well before the over-the-top gratuitous sci-fi series “Sharknado” films, there was, just off the … Read more
Shark Week 2021: IMS shark survey enters 50th consecutive year (Carteret County News-Times | July 13, 2021)

Shark enthusiasts may be enjoying the spectacle of the 33rd annual Shark Week airing on Discovery Channel this week, but researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences are celebrating a separate milestone — … Read more
The 50-Year Shark Search: UNC’s Institute Of Marine Sciences Celebrates Shark Research Anniversary (WUNC 91.5 | July 13, 2021)

Two years ago, Jeff Plumlee watched as his fellow crew members reeled a four-foot long blacknose shark onto the research vessel Capricorn. As they prepared to take the shark’s measurements, they saw something unexpected sticking out of her birth canal: a … Read more
Every week is Shark Week for researchers in Morehead City (WNCT | July 12, 2021)

It’s Shark Week and with it brings fresh curiosity about sharks and other ocean creatures. For one group of coastal researchers, Shark Week is every week. “If you’ve spent any time in the water at all, you’ve probably been near … Read more
Hatteras residents invited to storm readiness project meeting (Coastal Review | July 12, 2021)

Hatteras Island residents are invited to a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to learn more about a statewide project that seeks to collect data to help communities prepare for and recover from future storms. The meeting, which will be … Read more
UNC shark tagging research program celebrates 50 years of work (News Channel ABC 12 | July 12, 2021)

The annual Shark Week began on Sunday, highlighting the apex predators that call the North Carolina coastal waters their home for much of the year. Pivotal research on these big fish began right here in eastern North Carolina. 50 years … Read more
Carolina Public Health (Gillings School of Global Public Health The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Spring 2021)

The year 2020 was unlike any other. COVID-19 touched every corner of our lives, forcing us all to make pivots both large and small. For the first time, Carolina Public Health magazine is digital first, although we did do a … Read more
Well-researched investment in renewable energy can improve global equity (UNC GILLINGS SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH | July 6, 2021)

In many low- and lower middle-income countries, great natural wealth contrasts with a desire for economic development. Noah Kittner, PhD, is an assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he … Read more
Carolina’s drone lab takes off (UNC News | June 28, 2021)

Recently launched to provide a hub for innovative drone and sensing technologies at Carolina, CARDNL serves as a collaborative resource for faculty and student researchers to use for a host of research endeavors.
Researchers work to improve flooding issues related to Hurricanes (WITN | June 24, 2021)

In recent years hurricanes have wreaked havoc on North Carolina, including storms like Florence, Matthew, and Dorian. The massive destruction these hurricanes left behind has spurred a team of researchers to look into ways to improve the region’s resistance to … Read more
Leave it to beavers (Endeavors | June 17, 2021)

UNC senior Elizabeth Farquhar carefully climbs down the muddy bank and into the stream below with a strange circular device, about 2 feet around, in tow. The flowing water comes up to her knees, and the mud makes walking in … Read more
What researchers are learning about air pollution and the pandemic shutdown (WHYY News | June 16, 2021)

When the pandemic shutdown began in spring 2020, causing a sharp reduction in traffic — and with it, a decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions worldwide — researchers like Sally Ng saw a unique opportunity. A recent study published in Environmental Research … Read more
Reusing Downed Branches and Leaves to Beautify Carolina (Tar Heels Together | June 15, 2021)

When trees, limbs and leaves come down at Carolina, they never actually leave campus. They are transformed to beautify the landscaping in a new way and keep 360 tons of material out of landfills each year.
Scientists Show How Electric Big Rigs and Buses Will Save Thousands of Lives (Inverse | June 13, 2021)

It makes sense that big trucks would pollute more than little cars. A larger engine, hauling more weight equals more pollution. But how much pollution and how many people does that pollution affect? And, ultimately, where should elected officials focus … Read more
waterloop #102: Picking Up The Pace On Beach Testing with Rachel Noble (waterloop | June 13, 2021)

Dr. Noble (IMS, MASC, IE, ESE) was a guest on a recent episode of the national podcast, the Waterloop, chatting all things beach water quality. Rachel explains that most states have not adopted the rapid testing for beach water quality … Read more
Vehicle Pollution Caused an Estimated 2,000 New Yorkers’ Deaths in One Year: Study (City Limits | June 10, 2021)

More than 2,000 New Yorkers are estimated to have died prematurely in a single year from the effects of pollution from vehicle emissions—even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published Tuesday. At least 1,400 of those deaths were in … Read more
Study: Hundreds in Maryland die prematurely from vehicle emissions (WTOP | June 10, 2021)

An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, … Read more
State Roundup: Cardin Says U.S. Must Improve Equity with Investments into Small Business (Maryland Reporter | June 10, 2021)

STUDY: VEHICLE EMISSIONS CAUSE PREMATURE DEATHS: An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland, Josh Kurtz reports … Read more
Study: Hundreds in Md. Die Prematurely From Vehicle Emissions (Maryland Matters | June 10, 2021)

An academic study released Tuesday finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — including 664 in Maryland. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, … Read more
New study estimates 485 Virginians died prematurely in 2016 as a result of transportation emissions (Virginia Mercury | June 10, 2021)

A study by researchers from the University of North Carolina and Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health released this week calculated that 485 premature deaths in Virginia in 2016 were due to ozone and fine particulate matter emitted … Read more
Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (Berkshire Eagle | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more
McCarthy acknowledges political limits on climate (Politico | June 9, 2021)

Morning Energy examines the latest news in energy and environmental politics and policy. Tailpipe-related pollution caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in 2016 in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, with much of that pollution crossing state lines, according to a new study … Read more
Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (Daily Hampshire Gazette | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more
Report estimates 2016 tailpipe emissions led to 620 deaths in Mass. (WHDH | June 9, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more
Vehicle Pollution Leads to Thousands of Early Deaths and Costs Billions in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, Study Says (The Weather Channel | June 9, 2021)

Pollution from vehicle emissions caused thousands of premature deaths and led to billions of dollars in health care costs in a single year in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, even affecting those who don’t live near the source, according to a … Read more
Car pollution killed hundreds in Mass. and thousands across 12 states, researchers say (Boston Globe | June 8, 2021)

Ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions claimed approximately 7,100 lives in 12 states and Washington, D.C., in 2016, including about 620 in Massachusetts, a new study from Harvard and the University of North Carolina found.
Study demonstrates premature deaths and healthcare costs of vehicle emissions in RI (Uprise RI | June 8, 2021)

A new study finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in 2016 led to an estimated 119 premature deaths and inflated health care costs by over $1.2 billion in Rhode Island. Researchers at the University of North … Read more
Vehicle emissions led to more than 1,000 NJ deaths in one year, study finds (New Jersey 101.5 | June 8, 2021)

Vehicle pollution contributed to 1,175 premature deaths in New Jersey in the span of just one year, according to a study published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters. Researchers noted that vehicle emissions in New Jersey were also responsible for hundreds of … Read more
N.J. ranks high in number of pollution-related deaths, study says (NJ.com | June 8, 2021)

A study published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters found that motor vehicle emissions caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in 2016, with New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania the three states with the highest death tolls.
Report Estimates 2016 Tailpipe Emissions Led to 620 Deaths in Mass. (State House News Service | June 8, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more
On the edge of discovery (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 8, 2021)

Carolina alumna Stacy Zhang first got her feet wet in marine ecology as an undergrad. Now a postdoctoral researcher with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, she is on the frontlines of helping navigate challenges facing North Carolina’s coast.
Tailpipe Emissions Led to 620 Mass. Deaths in 1 Year, Study Finds (NBC 10 Boston | June 8, 2021)

A new report released the same week Connecticut became the latest state to back away from a regional vehicle emission reduction pact found that 2016 tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 7,100 deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including 620 … Read more
Study warns of danger by wind-carried car emissions (E&E News | June 8, 2021)

Vehicle tailpipe emissions are traveling across state lines and killing thousands of people in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, according to new research published today.
Harvard Study: Car Pollution in NYC Claims 1,400 Lives, Billions in Costs (StreetsBlog NYC | June 8, 2021)

Researchers say that the New York City metro area suffers roughly 1,400 premature deaths every year, and loses billions in health costs, strictly because of pollution caused by tens of thousands of trucks, cars and buses that traverse the area … Read more
The Ripple Effect of Water Power Changemakers (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy | June 8, 2021)

Longstanding maritime industries like shipping, commercial fishing, and offshore drilling have provided a solid foundation for global economies and coastal communities over many decades. However, potential opportunities for new marine energy markets are as vast as the ocean itself.
Study suggests heavy-duty trucks not primary source of vehicle pollution deaths (Land Line Media | June 8, 2021)

There is a vehicle pollution problem in the Northeast, and trucks are not the main culprit. A study published on Tuesday, June 8, looked into deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions caused by ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle … Read more
Study: Vehicle emissions claimed 2,000 lives in NY in 2016, cost state billions (Staten Island Advance | June 8, 2021)

New research suggests that New York suffers thousands of yearly deaths and spends billions in health care costs because of air pollution started by vehicles that move through the state. The Harvard University and University of North Carolina study, which … Read more
Reusing downed branches and leaves to beautify Carolina (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 7, 2021)

When trees, limbs and leaves come down at Carolina, they never actually leave campus. They are transformed to beautify the landscaping in a new way and keep 360 tons of material out of landfills each year.
Experts Worry About Hurricanes’ Effect In Coastal Areas (Goldsboro Daily News | June 7, 2021)

Hurricane season is here, and experts are already predicting above-average storm activity. But it’s not the increasing frequency of storms that are causing environmentalists to be concerned. Dr. Paerl’s (IMS, MASC, ESE) interview on the start of hurricane season was … Read more
UNC professor, state track COVID-19 trends in wastewater (NC Health News | June 5, 2021)

Researchers at University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences began more than a year ago tracking in wastewater the virus that causes COVID-19, just as the pandemic was beginning to sweep across the globe.
Drought Conditions Helping The Neuse River Return To Normal (Public Radio East | June 4, 2021)

Dr. Nathan Hall (IMS, MASC) makes an appearance on Public Radio East talking about recent drought conditions & how that impacts the Neuse. Until this week, Eastern North Carolina has gone months without a significant amount of rainfall. In fact, 55 … Read more
UNC professor, state track COVID-19 trends in wastewater (Coastal Review | June 4, 2021)

Researchers at University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences began more than a year ago tracking in wastewater the virus that causes COVID-19, just as the pandemic was beginning to sweep across the globe. That research led to the … Read more
AI Accelerated Solar Energy Research Team Selected for Creativity Hubs Award (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | June 4, 2021)

New award will support a team from the 2020-2021 competitive funding round seeking to revolutionize solar energy research and solar fuel production. A Creativity Hubs award has been presented to the AI Accelerated Discovery of Solar Energy Materials Hub — … Read more
Great Lakes algae threatens air quality (Great Lakes Echo | June 4, 2021)

Paerl lab Ph.D. student Haley Plaas (ESE) spoke with the Great Lakes Echo about the aerosolization of harmful algal blooms. Toxins from harmful algal blooms are known to pollute water, but now researchers are looking at how they harm Great … Read more
North Carolina’s shoreline estuaries are transforming into “ghost forests,” but why? (WHQR | June 3, 2021)

Dr. Chris Voss (IMS) spoke with WHQR Public Radio in Wilmington about ghost forests. Along the coastal barrier islands of the Atlantic coast, maritime forests are home to mammals, reptiles, insects, plants, and migrating birds. They’re vital to coastal and storm … Read more
One of a kind Oyster Reef installed in Beaufort (WITN | June 3, 2021)

WITN story about the collaborative project between Dr. Lindquist (IMS, MASC), a sculptor, and a local fisherman involving a 50-foot octopus oyster reef sculpture. You don’t want to miss this for the visuals alone!
North Carolina launches wastewater monitoring network in collaboration with Noble lab, others (Carteret County News-Times | June 2, 2021)

North Carolina has launched a statewide wastewater monitoring network that is tracking COVID-19 trends through the use of wastewater sampling, and a local research lab is playing a key role in the effort. Dr. Noble (IMS, ESE, MASC, IE) speaks … Read more
ENC experts concerned over environmentally-damaging hurricane trend (WITN | June 1, 2021)

Environmentalists have been noticing a trend of more frequent storms that have brought more rain farther inland, which washes environmental concerns back to our coasts. Dr. Paerl (IMS, ESE, MASC) discusses the upcoming hurricane season and what wetter hurricanes mean for … Read more
Spring 2021 Sustainability News with Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler (The Sustainable Carolina Podcast | May 28, 2021)

I’m Vik Agabekov, the Program Manager for Sustainable Carolina and this week I am joined by our Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, Mike Piehler. We are going in depth on the flurry of … Read more
Clear Skies Ahead Podcast: Conversations about Careers in Meteorology and Beyond (The American Meteorological Society | May 26, 2021)

We talk to Sarav Arunachalam, Deputy Director at the Institute for the Environment and Acting Director for the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about about his early work in … Read more
Scientist behind forecast tool warns of rip current dangers (Coastal Review | May 27, 2021)

Rip currents are the No. 1 public safety risk at the beach in the U.S. and worldwide, Dr. Greg Dusek, senior scientist for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained to Coastal … Read more
UNC Institute of Marine Science pioneering rapid water testing in ENC (NewsChannel 12 | May 27, 2021)

The UNC Institute of Marine Science is in Morehead City, pioneering a technique to test water quality more quickly and accurately. Dr. Rachel Noble says the rapid water testing is the same technology used for rapid COVID-19 testing and provides … Read more
College launches new earth, marine and environmental sciences department (College News | May 26, 2021)

The departments of geological sciences and marine sciences, together with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, will merge into a single academic unit within the College of Arts & Sciences on July 1, becoming the new Department of Earth, Marine … Read more
Back to the Beach: Using oysters instead of sea walls to combat coastal erosion and sea-level rise (Fox 46 Charlotte | May 26, 2021)

Jana Haddad is a coastal and physical oceanography PhD student at UNC studying how waves crash along our coast. “It might look like nothing out there but there’s actually a lot of energy. It doesn’t show up until the waves … Read more
Back to the Beach: Nearly 3 years later, Florence survivors still aren’t home (Climate Central & FOX 46 Charlotte | May 26, 2021)

Three years later, some survivors of Hurricane Florence still aren’t home, but the damage was not evenly distributed. Flooding highlighted disparities, and today the most vulnerable of us continue to be at the highest risk of rising seas that increasingly … Read more
Rising Oceans Part 1: Sea-level rise is already reshaping North Carolina’s coast (Spectrum News | May 26, 2021)

Signs of rising sea levels can be dramatic on the North Carolina coast. Stronger storms push storm surge up into oceanfront communities like Ocracoke, breaking records as the sea washes through the dunes, through homes and businesses, making the barrier … Read more
Back to the Beach: NC scientists use 2-hour rapid tests, self-driving boats to keep local waters clean (Fox 46 Charlotte | May 25, 2021)

Waves crashing, we can hear the welcoming sounds of summer and scientists in North Carolina are hard at work to keep our coastal waters clean.Waves crashing, we can hear the welcoming sounds of summer and scientists in North Carolina are … Read more
Seventh year in a row for early start to hurricane season (WITN | May 24, 2021)

For the seventh year in a row, hurricane season in the Atlantic has begun before the official start date on June First, after subtropical storm Ana formed over the weekend. WITN Meteorologist Phillip Williams explained, “Ana formed over the weekend, … Read more
Study focuses on beach nourishment’s impact on organisms; long-term implications still unknown (Carteret County News-Times | May 24, 2021)

Decades of beach nourishment have significantly altered the habitat, numbers and distribution of large and small animals on Bogue Banks, but it’s too soon to determine whether the long-term impacts will be positive, negative or neutral.
Clams Can Boost Seagrass Restoration: Study (Coastal Review Online | May 7, 2021)

Coastal seagrass beds are critical parts of ecosystem function. Seagrasses are a foundation species, providing essential habitat for fish and birds, protecting against erosion and improving water quality.
How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint (The Well | May 6, 2021)

When it comes to helping in the fight against climate change, reducing your carbon footprint is a regularly suggested tactic — both for individuals and organizations. Researchers at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences are helping the University do just that with … Read more
UNC Kickstarts New Sustainability Efforts with Champion Sustainability Fund (Chapelboro | Apr. 28, 2021)

UNC has received a $1 million investment from the Champion Athleticwear brand to kickstart a series of efforts aimed at creating a more sustainable campus and facilitating the continued innovation of new strategies by the university community. The brand, as … Read more
UNC Revised Climate Action Plan Aims For Net-Zero Emissions by 2040 (Chapelboro | Apr. 26, 2021)

UNC recently announced its new Climate Action Plan detailing new initiatives to accelerate the university’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The original plan from 2009 contained 15 strategies whereas the 2021 draft plan identifies 25 – divided into eight categories. Categories in the 2021 … Read more
UNC moves carbon-neutral deadline up a decade, to 2040 (The Daily Tar Heel | Apr. 25, 2021)

UNC is pledging to be carbon neutral by 2040 — a decade earlier than its last goal — with its new Climate Action Plan. The plan, announced by Sustainable Carolina on April 16, comprises 25 different strategies to lower the University’s … Read more
Carolina launches innovative sustainability programs thanks to new Champion Sustainability Fund (UNC News | Apr. 22, 2021)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will soon get a big boost as it works to create a more sustainable campus. A $1 million investment from the Champion Athleticwear brand, part of the North Carolina-based HanesBrands’ portfolio, will … Read more
How Carolina is reducing its carbon footprint with oyster shells and marsh grass (Discover UNC-Chapel Hill | Apr. 21, 2021)

Researchers at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences are helping the University do just that with a blue carbon habitat in Morehead City. This human-made habitat collects and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and serves as a carbon emission offset for … Read more
Of the people, for the planet (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2021)

At Carolina, environmentalism and sustainability are priorities every day, and in honor of Earth Day this Thursday, we’re celebrating the Tar Heels who are making our University greener, conducting research, launching programs and leading change to protect habitats across our … Read more
Carolina announces new Climate Action Plan, seeks public input (UNC News | Apr. 16, 2021)

Today the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the University’s new Climate Action Plan, detailing strategic new initiatives to accelerate the University’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan, which can be found on the Sustainable Carolina website, also … Read more
Scientists urge caution around algae blooms ( WITN | Apr. 15, 2021)

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) -As the weather warms up it’s time for pet owners to once again pay attention to the water in which their dogs are playing. Every year around this time conditions become favorable for harmful algae to … Read more
Earth Day Feature! April 22 | LIVE: Life After the Storm: Building Resilience in North Carolina

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

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

From energy shortages to water scarcity, Carolina is tackling environmental problems with expertise from every discipline. Building on the collaborative spirit of UNC-Chapel Hill, we offer multidisciplinary programs in research, education and service while integrating environmental studies and outreach opportunities … Read more
Lindsay Dubbs to discuss clean energy education and empowerment for LWV’s ‘Hot Topic’ (The Coastland Times | Apr. 11, 2021)

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

IE Cleantech Corner has exciting events taking place this month! April Webinars: Career Development Series Pt 2: Post-graduate Opportunities in Europe – Wednesday, April 7th at 2:00 – 3:30 pm A Day in the Life of a General Motors EV … Read more
Paying Tribute to Female Trailblazers in Waterpower (National Hydropower Association | March 2021)

Meet Lindsay Dubbs, PhD, who was honored in late 2020 by the U.S. Department of Energy with a U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Initiative (C3E) Award. Dr. Dubbs is the associate director of the Coastal Studies Institute’s North Carolina Renewable … Read more
National Weather prediction models get major upgrade (WITN | Mar. 29, 2021)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Hurricane Season is approaching, and ahead of the season, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration upgraded its Global Forecasting System called GFS. The upgrades to the GFS model mean the forecast will better track and predict … Read more
Case closed on decades old mystery of American bald eagle deaths (Chemistry World | Mar. 26, 2021)

Chemical forensic work has solved the decades-old mystery of why bald eagles and other US wildlife have been dying of a severe neurodegenerative disease. The scientists have determined that the culprit is a neurotoxin produce by cynanobacteria that grow on … Read more
Clean Energy Plan Target Attainable: Study (Coastal Review Online | Mar. 23, 2021)

The electric power sector is changing, and North Carolina is in the position to shift to cleaner, cost-effective energy production that can reduce pollution, according to a report released earlier this month. Prompted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan, the … Read more
Piehler to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on flooding and resiliency in NC

Tune in at 11 a.m. Mar. 23, 2021 to watch Michael Piehler, UNC Institute for the Environment Director + University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chief Sustainability Officer, testify on flooding and resiliency in North Carolina before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on … Read more
ELEVATING RESILIENCE PLANNING TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Mar. 12, 2021)

The Coastal Resilience Center, in partnership with UNC’s Department of City and Regional Planning, recently hosted American Planning Association’s (APA) Joe DeAngelis and Texas A&M’s Jaimie Masterson for a presentation on “Using Local Planning Tools to Build Community Resilience.” The first … Read more
Gillings School graduate receives leadership award in clean energy field (The Daily Tar Heel | Mar. 7, 2021)

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health graduate Lindsay Dubbs was one of eight women recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for their leadership in the field of clean energy. The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative … Read more
Lianna Koberoski, A Nonformal Educator in Haywood County Completes Her Environmental Education Certification (Teachable Moments NC | Mar. 1, 2021)

Lianna Koberoski, a nonformal educators in Haywood County completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Lianna has been teaching youth informally for the last few years and recently transitioned to a landscaping and garden maintenance position where she says the plant … Read more
National Leaders in Clean Energy Education Convene Virtually to Kick Off Efforts to Foster an Equitable Clean Energy Economy (eSchool News | Feb. 5, 2021)

Leaders in clean energy education– the KidWind Project, REpowering Schools, and CE – Clean Energy. Bright Futures – are hosting the first virtual national Renewable Energy Education Summit today, February 4, 2021, from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm ET. During … Read more
Dubbs to use prestigious award from U.S. Department of Energy to promote women in clean energy

Research associate professor and Outer Banks Field Site director Lindsay Dubbs recently received a prestigious award from the United States Department of Energy. The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Initiative (C3E) honored nine women from a range of clean … Read more
Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Endeavors | Feb. 12, 2021)

What comes to mind when you think of air pollution? Long lines of cars pumping out grisly, grey exhaust? Dark plumes of smoke from a manufacturing facility? What about the trees in your neighborhood park, or the pristine blue waters … Read more
Simple Tips to Go Green During the Pandemic (Coulture | Feb. 25, 2021)

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

In this episode Greg Characklis explains the financial risk to society from variability in the environment, including rainfall, water levels, and temperature, as well as extreme weather events. He discusses the increased attention on the risk from lenders, investors, insurance … Read more
Building Resilience for Storm-Battered N.C. (Endeavors | Jan. 21, 2021)

The record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season included 30 storms, and while North Carolina managed to dodge the 12 hurricanes that made landfall, that won’t always be the case in the future. A team of interdisciplinary researchers at UNC is combining … Read more
Hobby turns into something for Carteret County woman to help neighbors during pandemic (WNCT | Jan. 24, 2021)

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) — A Carteret County woman is helping neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic with something she started as a hobby. Megan Hunter of Atlantic Beach began crocheting blankets a year ago to get over the post-holiday blues. … Read more
Noble lab studying spread of COVID-19 through wastewater (Carteret County News Times | Jan. 20, 2021)

MOREHEAD CITY — A local researcher is at the forefront of studying how wastewater can be used to detect and track the novel coronavirus, helping public health officials in North Carolina better understand COVID-19 and how it spreads throughout communities. Dr. … Read more
Mask pollution threatens waterways and marine life (WITN | Jan. 4, 2021)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – More than 1.5 billion masks may pollute our oceans, according to a report from OceanAsia. Mayor Rett Newton of the town of Beaufort says masks are already washing up on the waterways. “This is unsustainable. We … Read more
COVID-19 face masks, to-go containers could impact marine life (WCTI | Jan. 4, 2021)

MOREHEAD CITY, Carteret County — Efforts to stay safe from COVID-19 may be putting marine life at risk. Researchers say lifestyle changes such as restaurant takeout are generating more plastic than before in the form of to-go containers and wrappings. Reusable … Read more
Exploring the Impact of Septic Systems on a Coastal Community (Pumper | Jan. 2021)

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

2020

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

Next year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will analyze what North Carolinians and residents of a handful of other states flush down their toilets in an effort to detect the coronavirus. With the help of government funding, North … Read more
Institute Teams With ASU to Track COVID-19 (Coastal Review Online | Dec. 18, 2020)

Think of it as a link in a chain. This one starts below the streets of a college campus, where people wrapped in personal protective equipment collect human waste from pipes snaking from student dormitories. Just 24 hours after those … Read more
Looking for COVID-19 in college sewage (Carolina Public Press | Dec. 18, 2020)

Think of it as a link in a chain. This one starts below the streets of a college campus, where people wrapped in personal protective equipment collect human waste from pipes snaking from student dormitories. Just 24 hours after those … Read more
Dubbs recognized by U.S. Dept. of Energy for leadership in clean energy (Energy.gov | Dec. 1, 2020)

Congratulations to our own Lindsay Dubbs, co-director of our Outer Banks Field Site! Dubbs is 1 of 9 women to be recognized by U.S. Department of Energy for her achievements and leadership in clean energy as part of the U.S Clean … Read more
UNC Marine Scientists examine our record breaking hurricane season (WITN | Nov. 13, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WITN) – There’s still a bit of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season left, and it’s already been one for the record books. The season is marked with an unprecedented amount of storms and several major hurricanes. Experts … Read more
Use An Instant Pot To Clean Your Face Masks (simplemost | Nov. 10, 2020)

It’s clear that wearing face masks during the pandemic could save countless lives and that caring for reusable masks properly is essential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing cloth face masks anytime they get dirty, and every day at the least. Nobody wants to put … Read more
Focus Carolina: Mike Piehler (The Well | Nov. 9, 2020)

An environmental scientist and noted researcher, Mike Piehler is Carolina’s chief sustainability officer. Piehler oversees the University’s sustainability enterprise, which is distributed throughout operations and academic units, and brings them together to provide maximum value to the University in this … Read more
Leading Coastal Ecologist, UNC Professor, and 1994 Pew Marine Fellow Dies (Pew | Nov. 9, 2020)

Thanks to Charles H. “Pete” Peterson, a generation of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in North Carolina—along with untold numbers of citizens around the U.S.—have a better understanding of coastal science and how it relates to the broader field of … Read more
UNC Researchers Receive NSF Grant to Study Extreme Weather Events with Interdisciplinary Approach (UNC Research | Nov. 2, 2020)

There’s still one month left of the 2020 hurricane season, and meteorologists are well into the Greek alphabet, with Hurricane Zeta making landfall as a Category 1 storm on October 26 in the Yucatán Peninsula north of Tulum, Mexico. Zeta … Read more
Giving new life to historic trees (UNC News | Nov. 2, 2020)

When poor health led to the demise and felling of a giant post oak near Old West two years ago, it would have been easy to think that the tree’s 240-year tenure on Carolina’s campus was over. But thanks to … Read more
Marine sciences community mourns the loss of Pete Peterson (College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 29, 2020)

Charles H. “Pete” Peterson, Ph.D., 74, distinguished professor emeritus at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, passed away Oct. 24 surrounded by family in his Pine Knoll Shores home. “Pete will be greatly missed at IMS and throughout the … Read more
Research at the coast (UNC Chapel Hill | Oct. 23, 2020)

Not all Carolina researchers spend their days in Chapel Hill labs. For some, like associate professor Johanna Rosman, research means heading out to the Outer Banks and getting your feet wet. Rosman, a physical oceanographer at the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more
A Terrific Trio (College of Arts and Sciences | Oct. 19, 2020)

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

The Transportation, Equity, Climate and Health (TRECH) study is a multi-institution ongoing study at IE, in partnership with 3 other schools of Public Health at Harvard, Boston University and Columbia. This study, funded by the Barr Foundation is in support … Read more
Interviewers to seek islanders’ thoughts on extreme weather (Ocracoke Observer | Oct. 10, 2020)

Eastern North Carolina has experienced many storms in recent decades.
Study Finds Regional Pact To Reduce Transportation Pollution Could Yield Major Health Benefits (WBUR | Oct. 6, 2020)

A preliminary analysis of the health impacts of the regional Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) found that the plan that would reduce greenhouse gases the most would also yield the biggest health benefits, helping to avoid about 1,100 deaths and nearly 5,000 asthma cases, and … Read more
Study: N’East Pollution Pact Will Save Black and Brown New Yorkers and Cut Health Costs (StreetsBlog NYC | Oct. 6, 2020)

New Yorkers know in their lungs that getting out of polluting cars and onto bikes and mass transit will promote public health and help save the climate and lives in our region — especially in communities of color, which suffer … Read more
New TRECH Project Research Update on Health Benefits of TCI Policy Scenarios (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE | Oct. 6, 2020)

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States and in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions at about 28% and 30%, respectively (EPA 2020, TCI 2010). Cars, trucks, and buses also emit tons of conventional … Read more
Doing COVID-19 Dirty Work (Endeavors | Sept. 8, 2020)

Employing wastewater epidemiology — proven useful in outbreaks of polio and opioid use — UNC microbiologist Rachel Noble is leading a state-wide collaboration tracking novel coronavirus outbreaks across North Carolina, gaining insight that testing individuals does not offer. Preliminary results … Read more
Addressing Pandemic Problems (Endeavors | Sept. 17, 2020)

Sarav Arunachalam is quantifying how reduced vehicular air emissions due to stay-at-home orders have affected air quality and public health. “At the end of the day, I think there’s a lot more to be done. There’s so much information coming … Read more
Storm Surge expert explains danger of slow-moving storms with heavy rain (WBTV | Sep. 17, 2020)

Storm Surge expert explains danger of slow-moving storms with heavy rain
Landing the Best Fish Consumption Advisory Signs for Sport and Subsistence Anglers (Applied Ecology News | Sep.9, 2020)

New research finds that simpler is better when it comes to letting people know which fish are contaminated with harmful pollutants and unsafe to eat. Where and how to communicate fish consumption advisories is complicated. Advisories can be specific to … Read more
Doing COVID-19 Dirty Work (UNC Endeavors | Sep. 8, 2020)

UNC research technician Tom Clerkin and graduate student Mark Ciesielski turn off a gravel road and into the Beaufort Wastewater Treatment Plant. They jump out of their truck, greeted by the scorching sun and an aroma that is so unique … Read more
Michael Piehler named chief sustainability officer (The Well | Sep. 3, 2020)

Longtime faculty member Michael Piehler (BS ’90, MSPH ’94, Ph.D. ’97) is Carolina’s chief sustainability officer and special assistant to the chancellor for sustainability, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced in a campus email sent Wednesday.
Piehler named Carolina’s chief sustainability officer (UNC News | Sept. 2, 2020)

In his new role, Mike Piehler will provide leadership and coordination of broad sustainability efforts on campus, develop a consistent plan to reach short- and long-term goals and serve as chair of the University’s Sustainability Council.
A way to make a difference:’ UNC junior opens dialogue for environmental change in new book (The Daily Tarheel | Sep. 1, 2020)

Growing up in Apex, UNC junior Jessica Reid witnessed the destruction of forests in her community — and she felt compelled to do something about it. At the age of 19, she started writing a book about how to discuss … Read more
IDEA 2020 Summer Research Summary: Emily Robinson (UNC College of Arts and Sciences | Aug. 26, 2020)

Sampson County, NC, is pretty high up on the hog leaderboard- it’s one of the top counties in a state that already leads the nation in hog production (North Carolina is second only to Iowa). This wasn’t a claim to … Read more
Coffee with MC and Dr. Rachel Noble, Microbiologist at UNC Institute of Marine Sciences (Facebook, Aug. 21, 2020)

Tuned in Friday morning at 9:30am for tangible tips and tricks to navigate cleanliness and stay healthy during this unique back-to-school season with a local, distinguished professor and microbiologist, Dr. Rachel Noble (who was recently a guest on Good Morning … Read more
Big cities track COVID-19 in the sewers. A UNC professor helps small towns do it, too. (The News & Observer | Aug. 15, 2020)

Many cities are now testing their sewage for signs of the coronavirus, to track and hopefully stop outbreaks of COVID-19 before they get out of control. A UNC professor is working to ensure these techniques can reach all communities. Rachel … Read more
Algal blooms pose possible respiratory threat (The Well |Aug. 14, 2020)

Haley Plaas hits the road before sunrise to get an early start on the drive from Morehead City to Edenton, North Carolina. After two hours of farmland views along country backroads, she finally arrives at her destination — a small … Read more
Strengthening flood resilience (The Well | Aug. 13, 2020)

Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian caused billions of dollars in economic losses over the past four years. Six of the seven largest rainfall events over the last 120 years in North Carolina have occurred in the last 20 years. These … Read more
Researchers working to protect shark population, food sources in North Carolina (WITN | Aug. 13, 2020)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – With 50 species of sharks that can be found right in North Carolina waters, researchers are working hard to protect the ocean’s top predators and their food sources. And early morning surveys out in the Back … Read more
Strengthening flood resilience (The Well | Aug. 13, 2020)

Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian caused billions of dollars in economic losses over the past four years. Six of the seven largest rainfall events over the last 120 years in North Carolina have occurred in the last 20 years. These … Read more
Does ocean water kill germs? You can get some infections from contaminated ocean water (Business Insider Australia | Aug. 8, 2020)

There are some germs that can survive in the ocean and cause infection. Some of the infections that you could contract from swallowing contaminated ocean water include cryptosporidiosis, shigellosis, and E. Coli. If you swim with an open wound, you … Read more
Shark Week: Carteret County scientists research, educate year-round (Carteret County News-Times | Aug. 8,2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — While shark enthusiasts get ready for the Discovery Channel’s 32nd annual Shark Week to begin Sunday, for some researchers based in Carteret County, every week is shark week. Sharks are the research focus of several scientists and graduate … Read more
The past, present and future of shark research (The Well | Aug. 7, 2020)

The survey methods may be the same, but the science has evolved — and so have the stakes. Since 1972, researchers from the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) have used baited longlines to capture and release sharks in order to gather … Read more
‘Spontaneous de-doping’ for 17.8%-efficient perovskite mini-module (PV Magazine | Aug. 6, 2020)

Perovskite solar cell technology has come a long way in a relatively short time, but there are still plenty of issues that need to be ironed out to support large-scale production. Scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) say that one of … Read more
Sewage Sampling May Preview Virus Trends (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 6, 2020)

We see the numbers every day. New cases. Percentage of the population that’s been tested. Presumed recoveries. Hospitalizations. Deaths. This is how the nation is keeping its finger on the pulse of a pandemic with no definitive end in sight. … Read more
Coastal researchers studying hurricane impacts on North Carolina shorelines (WITN | Aug. 6, 2020)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -Marine Scientists in Eastern North Carolina study many different aspects of our coast and the creatures that inhabit it. When a hurricane is approaching, they work ahead of the storm taking measurements and collecting data on how … Read more
Experts Warn Hurricane Season Is Just Beginning (WHQR | Aug. 6, 2020)

Hurricane Isaias barreled through the Cape Fear Region earlier this week and crews and residents are continuing their cleanup efforts. But as WHQR reports, forecasters are saying it’s likely another storm might be heading our way. At a Tuesday press … Read more
Sewage Sampling May Preview Virus Trends (Coastal Review Online | Aug. 6, 2020)

We see the numbers every day. New cases. Percentage of the population that’s been tested. Presumed recoveries. Hospitalizations. Deaths. This is how the nation is keeping its finger on the pulse of a pandemic with no definitive end in sight. … Read more
Beachgoers face increased rip current risk following Isaias (WITN | Aug. 5, 2020)

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) – While many across the east are picking up the pieces left from Hurricane Isaias, leaders in at least one beach community along the largely-spared coast now face concerns about increased rip currents after the storm. … Read more
The Hurricane Questions (The Carolina Mercury | Aug. 2, 2020)

Good morning, veteran hurricane reporter here. Of course you shouldn’t lose track of how powerful a storm is. That said, please don’t concentrate on categories and windspeed. North Carolina has been devastated by repeat disasters, major storms, but almost none … Read more
A Smarter American Grid: What is Stopping Us? (Energy Central | July 29, 2020)

Terms like “smart grid” and “modern grid” are unavoidable in conversations about the future of the American electrical grid; but what do these umbrella words mean for the future of utility companies and energy consumers? Jonas Monast, Assistant Professor at … Read more
Scientists explain how Hurricanes are tracked (WITN | Jul 31, 2020)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -While we continue to track Hurricane Isaias and any potential impact to Eastern Carolina, experts are giving us insight into the data that is collected to help produce the models that show us what the storm is … Read more
Local Scientists Explore New Way To Test For COVID-19 (PRE | Jul. 31, 2020)

Scientists at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City are conducting research that may change the way Covid-19 infection rates are measured. PRE’s Jamie Rodriguez has more.
Department of Energy funds milestone North Carolina-led initiative to advance solar energy research (UNC: University Communications | Jul. 31, 2020)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide $100 million in funding to new artificial photosynthesis research projects, including a $40 million award to the North Carolina-based Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE) to accelerate fundamental research of the production of fuels from sunlight. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads the CHASE … Read more
Algal Blooms Pose Possible Respiratory Threat (UNC Research | Jul. 29, 2020)

Haley Plaas hits the road before sunrise to get an early start on the drive from Morehead City to Edenton, North Carolina. After two hours of farmland views along country backroads, she finally arrives at her destination — a small … Read more
Two Universities make face shields for local teachers (WITN | Jul. 28, 2020)

UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences in partnership with the Duke University Marine Lab are using their 3-D printers to create face shields. Since April the two Carteret County-based schools have been working overtime to make as many shields as possible, … Read more
Record Year for Research at UNC-Chapel Hill as New Grant Awards Top $1 Billion (UNC Research | July 21, 2020)

For the first time in the University’s history, annual new awards for research conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have exceeded the $1 billion mark. The record amount in new grants, contracts, and awards received in … Read more
From livestock to nanoparticles: COVID-19 research runs the gamut at NC universities (Jul. 21, 2020)

Can food animals, like cows and pigs, harbor the coronavirus? Could nanoparticles protect surfaces from COVID-19 contamination? What social factors determine who is willing to wear a mask, and who is not? These are among the questions N.C. researchers are … Read more
Researchers, town leaders working to improve water quality concerns (WITN | Jul. 20, 2020)

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) – Even with the common afternoon showers during the mid-summer months, it’s been a relatively dry period across the east. But despite the lack of rain, a number of water quality advisories have been issued, leaving researchers … Read more
Lab continues water sampling amid pandemic, reports ‘excellent’ quality at beaches (Carteret County News-Times | Jul. 20, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — As people take to Carteret County’s beaches and waterways in near record numbers this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic, they should rest assured it is generally safe to do so, both in terms of water quality and risk … Read more
Carolina launches “Carolina Together: The Roadmap for Fall 2020”

This roadmap places the safety and well-being of our campus community paramount to all other considerations, and was created with this perspective and these guiding principles and goals in mind. During this time, we must adopt community standards and behaviors that will help promote a healthy campus and be prepared for some … Read more
The climate change impact on hurricanes (WTVD-TV | Jun. 18, 2020)

This story is part of our 2020 hurricane special Storm Ready 2020: Preparing in a Pandemic The climate change impact on hurricanes We’ve had our share of extreme weather events here in North Carolina, especially when it comes to hurricanes. … Read more
In Shutdown, Less Traffic Doesn’t Mean Cleaner Air (UNC Research | June 10, 2020)

As the U.S. economy slowed this spring due to the novel coronavirus, an avenue of inquiry is how air emissions changed. One finding is that while passenger vehicle use decreased dramatically, freight traffic increased in some large cities. “The demand … Read more
A Resilient North Carolina: Preparing Our State For Hurricanes (UNC News | Jun. 3, 2020)

North Carolina is one of the states most susceptible to hurricanes. With a coastline that juts out into the Atlantic, the state is like a catcher’s mitt, catching the storms as they move north. And as climate change transforms the … Read more
ENC braces for active season in the tropics (WITN | Jun. 3, 2020)

EASTERN CAROLINA, NC (WITN) With the third named tropical system of the year it is expected to be an active season in the tropics and experts are talking about what that means for us here in the east.
Protecting North Carolina’s seagrass (UNC News | Jun. 1, 2020)

North Carolina possesses extensive seagrass meadows, creating a dynamic habitat that supports vibrant wildlife like flounder, grouper, snapper, blue crabs and shrimp. “It’s a really important habitat for many of the little fish and crabs that people care about when … Read more
Area marine labs host summer courses online (Carolina Coast Online | May 29, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY/BEAUFORT — While state officials have been easing restrictions put in place due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, local university-led marine research labs aren’t going to have in-person classes this summer. Since May 8, state officials have been relaxing restrictions … Read more
FROM THE BLOG: How Will We Feel the Effects of Global Warming?

Our climate is rapidly changing, so what repercussions will our local economy face? Haywood County relies on a unique blend of agriculture and tourism to financially support the region. This support is being threatened by the national scientific consensus between … Read more
Where Storms Are Lore, Folks See Change (Coastal Review Online | May 28, 2020)

While hurricanes are woven through the history of Down East Carteret County, a remote string of communities on the central North Carolina coast known for its fishing and boatbuilding traditions, Hurricane Florence was a turning point.
Signs Of Change Are Clear, If Language Is Not (Coastal Review Online | May 27, 2020)

A series of record-breaking hurricanes over the past four years has led to changes in how coastal North Carolina residents and state and elected officials talk about climate change and sea level rise.
Carbon emissions down 17 percent during COVID-19 pandemic (ABC 11 WTVD | May 20, 2020)

Another dramatic number is coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world’s carbon emissions decreased by 17 percent at the beginning of April. “It was somewhat expected given that the global economy has come to a grinding halt,” said Dr. … Read more
IE’s Gray served on panel releasing recommendations to guide North Carolina’s response to suspected cancer clusters (News from Lineberger | May 19, 2020)

An advisory panel established by the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the mandate of the North Carolina General Assembly to develop strategies for assessing cancer incidence and mortality rates and patterns over time and geography, has released a report with … Read more
Do’s and don’ts for wearing and cleaning masks (ABC News | May 14, 2020)

The CDC advises all masks should allow for breathing without restriction, fit snugly but comfortable and include multiple layers of fabric.
How Counting Caterpillars Can Help Scientists Understand Climate Change (Discover | May 12, 2020)

Kids and adults both coo at the sight of a crawling caterpillar. We imagine that this hungry caterpillar may flutter past someday as a beautiful butterfly. Caterpillars and other insects with segmented bodies are called arthropods. And scientists need your … Read more
American Planning Association adopts Scorecard tool developed by CRC researchers (Coastal Resilience Center | May 4, 2020)

Past years have brought an increase in intense, landfalling hurricanes, loss of property from expansive wildfires and coastal flooding on days both rainy and sunny. These events have put greater emphasis on community resilience – and on making adjustments to … Read more
Tiny Particles, Big Discoveries (Campaign for Carolina | May 3, 2020)

Whether Will Vizuete is investigating pollution caused by wildfires in the southeastern U.S.; marijuana cultivation facilities in Denver, Colorado; diesel combustion facilities in the Galápagos Islands; or wood-burning cookstoves in low- and middle-income countries — he works to improve our … Read more
New community website helps build digital relationships (The Well | Apr. 27, 2020)

Residents of Chapel Hill and beyond now have a source for hyperlocal University information directed to the community. The University launched communityrelations.unc.edu today. The site connects neighbors and community members with information relevant to them, including news about public events, how to … Read more
Carolina ranks second in the US, 22nd in the world in 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (UNC Campus News | April 23, 2020)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks second in the United States in the 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure sustainability among institutions of higher education. The 2020 rankings, released April 22, placed Carolina at 22nd overall … Read more
UNC Researchers Successfully Remove PFAS Chemicals from Water (UNC Research | Apr. 22, 2020)

Working across disciplines, UNC-Chapel Hill environmental engineer Orlando Coronell and chemist Frank Leibfarth have developed a filtration resin that has thus far been successful in removing most PFAS from water. PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of over 5,000 chemicals. They are … Read more
Guskiewicz establishes University Sustainability Commission (The Well | Apr. 22, 2020)

The commission, led by Mike Piehler, will align sustainability efforts across the University and support the work of the Three Zeros Environmental Initiative. A new University-wide commission will oversee and advise on Carolina’s sustainability efforts, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced … Read more
Protecting the Galapagos Islands (UNC News | Apr. 20, 2020)

For generations, the islands’ ecosystems lived in isolation, preserving the environment and its ecosystem. But now, the islands are also home to 35,000 Ecuadorian residents and the destination of hundreds of thousands of travelers, creating a human-environment system that alters … Read more
How to make sure your mask fits properly (WRAL | Apr. 20, 2020)

How to make sure your mask fits properly as you use them to protect yourself from germs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Coastal fish populations didn’t crash after the Deepwater Horizon spill – why not? ( The Conversation | Apr. 16, 2020)

When the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released 4 to 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, some early projections estimated that the toll on fisheries could reach US$5-10 billion by 2020. Chemicals in crude oil may affect fish and … Read more
Marine science students continue studies amid outbreak (Carteret County News Times | Apr. 15, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY — While marine science students’ fieldwork has been put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, their learning continues with data analysis, writing and online courses. In Carteret County, there are three marine research facilities dedicated to teaching and … Read more
What to clean, how to clean, UNC professor explains (WRAL | Apr. 14, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Rachel Noble is a UNC professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. She has a PhD in marine biology and studies how viruses interact with the world. When the coronavirus outbreak started, she created … Read more
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MOBILIZE US TO CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS? (Well + Good | Apr. 13, 2020)

Nearly a month after President Trump declared a national state of emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic, many of us remain sheltering in place to slow the virus’ spread. COVID-19 has threatened our livelihood and, accordingly, triggered a wordwide crisis-mode … Read more
UNC/Duke Marine Lab 3-D print face shields (WNCT | Apr. 13, 2020)

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) – Schools on the Crystal Coast are helping emergency personnel stay protected as they serve coronavirus patients. Duke and UNC Marine Lab are working with a Beaufort Middle School teacher to make face shields with a … Read more
Fewer cars, cleaner air? Scientists study this byproduct of COVID-19 (ABC11 | Apr. 10, 2020)

If all you’ve done lately is get some fresh air in your backyard or take short jaunts for essentials, you may not realize traffic in the Triangle is virtually non-existent even at rush hour. And for that kind of scene … Read more
Natural Hazards Resilience Speakers Series: Phil Berke, UNC-Chapel Hill (Coastal Resilience Center | Apr. 9, 2020)

Dr. Philip Berke’s work focuses on the relationship between community resilience and urban planning with specific focus on methods, theory and metrics of local planning and outcomes. He is the lead co-author of an internationally recognized book, Urban Land Use Planning (University … Read more
The best ways to clean fabric face masks (Popular Science | Apr. 9,2020)

The Centers for Disease Control and Protection has encouraged people to wear cloth masks at all times while outside. Research shows that although they’re not great protection against airborne COVID-19 particles, they’re better than nothing.
How to disinfect to kill a virus (UNC Research | Apr. 9, 2020)

Disinfecting your home is a critical part of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and a University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences professor has created an infographic to help get the word out. Rachel Noble, a professor of public … Read more
Professor’s Graphic Simplifies Disinfecting (Coastal Review Online | Apr. 9, 2020)

Disinfecting your home is a critical part of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and a University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences professor has created an infographic to help get the word out. Rachel Noble, a professor of public … Read more
Dos and dont’s: How to wear a mask properly (WRAL | Apr. 7, 2020)

The CDC now recommends a mask or face covering for everyone who goes out, but it won’t work if it’s not put on properly.
Tips from remote field researchers on life in isolation, tough environments (UNC News | Apr. 6, 2020)

Marine science researchers in Carolina’s College of Arts & Sciences have worked in many of the world’s most remote spaces: Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys, Alaskan glaciers and Arctic icebreaker research vessels. The lessons researchers learned while working in cramped quarters and without … Read more
Three Zeros Roadmap Will Chart the Way Forward For a More Sustainable Carolina (Three Zeros | Apr. 6, 2020)

How does Carolina set sustainability goals for campus? The University will publish the Three Zeros Roadmap later this spring, which will serve as a guide for faculty, staff and students to help identify high-potential projects and programs, evaluate and report … Read more
Mayor Newton speaks with Dr. Rachel Noble about Covid-19 (Apr. 5, 2020 | Facebook: Town of Beaufort, NC))

Mayor Rett newton updated residents regarding recent effects of COVID-19, adjustments and future plans.
Taking a seat with Carolina’s researchers (UNC News | Mar. 27, 2020)

Behind Carolina’s research mission and its dedication to serving all North Carolinians are the University’s graduate students. From Morehead City to Burlington and beyond, graduate students are delving deep into major issues impacting our state and are coming up with … Read more
Focus Carolina: Greg Characklis (The Well | Mar. 16)

“The purpose of the center is to help a lot of groups and businesses that experience financial risk as a result of extreme environmental events.” Dr. Greg Characklis is the Philip C. Singer Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental … Read more
Dana Haine – Mixing Research with Creativity to Appeal to Learners (NIH News | Mar. 12)

Dana Haine works with researchers, K-12 teachers, and students to make the newest scientific research digestible for classrooms and communities. As the K-12 science education manager for the Center for Public Engagement with Science within the University of North Carolina … Read more
UNC Clean Tech Summit ignited conversations about the future of sustainability (The Daily Tar Heel | Feb. 23, 2020)

Campus community members interested in the future of sustainability gathered at the UNC Clean Tech Summit, which took place on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.
Air pollution kills thousands of Americans every year – here’s a low-cost strategy to reduce the toll (The Conversation | Feb. 21, 2020)

About 1 of every 25 deaths in the U.S. occurs prematurely because of exposure to air pollution. Dirty air kills roughly 110,000 Americans yearly, which is more than all transportation accidents and shootings combined. When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency … Read more
Duke Energy testing alternative batteries as storage uncouples from wind and solar (Charlotte Business Journal | Feb. 21, 2020)

Some details about the technology were shared at the UNC Clean Tech Summit in Chapel Hill
UNC Clean Tech Summit spotlights trends shaping clean energy economy (WRAL TechWire | Feb. 18, 2020)

CHAPEL HILL – This week, UNC-Chapel Hill’s seventh annual Clean Tech Summit will convene hundreds of students, faculty and staff members, professionals, executives and government representatives—all passionate about the future of the clean energy industry. The event features two days … Read more
Taking Research to New Heights (Endeavors | Feb. 11, 2020)

From surveying glacial melt to managing wildfires, there are endless ways drones can be used in research. Over winter break, UNC faculty and students completed a drone workshop — the first of its kind at the university — developing aeronautic … Read more
UNC: Extreme Heat & Air Quality: Implications for Human Health (Train Learning Network | Feb. 6, 2020)

This module was developed to inform public health professionals like community health workers, case managers, nurses and other professionals in the public health sector about how extreme heat can exacerbate air pollution. This module was developed by the Community Engagement … Read more
ECL Professor Bland Simpson Coteaches Seminar on Coastal Ecology (UNC College of Arts and Sciences)

Last semester, Bland Simpson, a professor in the Department of English & Comparative Literature, and Brent McKee, a professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, offered a new interdisciplinary class last semester entitled “The Changing Coasts of Carolina.” The course … Read more
Decades of U.S. air quality improvements may be slowing, and these areas have it the worst (Popular Science | Feb. 4, 2020)

For decades, America has made progress on air quality. With emission regulations and advances in clean air technologies, the days of smog so thick it burned your eyes and lungs are virtually over. But even with our gains, air pollution … Read more
Vaping research uncovers new dangers (WPSD | Feb. 3, 2020)

RALEIGH, N.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to investigate the outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarettes, surveys show a record number of teens continue to … Read more
Europe’s Rivers Are the Most Obstructed on Earth (Eos | Jan. 31, 2020)

Dams and locks dot many of the world’s waterways, effectively fragmenting river systems. Researchers now have conducted a global survey of large rivers and found over 35,000 of these obstructions. This inventory can be used to better understand a landscape’s … Read more
There are 20 to 30 species of shark off the NC coast (WRAL | Jan. 30, 2020)

According to Ocearch, a non-profit organization that tracks great white sharks and other large predators and keystone marine species, there are many different types of sharks off the North Carolina coast. Researchers think the warmer weather is a factor.
TAR HEELS, BALL CORPORATION INTRODUCE RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CUP AT SPORTING EVENTS (ACCN | Jan. 30, 2020)

CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina Department of Athletics and Ball Corporation announced today a partnership to bring Ball’s infinitely recyclable aluminum cup to fans at Tar Heel sporting events, beginning with Saturday’s men’s basketball game at the … Read more
Focus Carolina: John Bruno (Focus Carolina | Jan. 27, 2020)

John Bruno is a marine ecologist and professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research is focused on the impact of climate change on the ocean and marine ecosystems. His lab … Read more
New-Age Nicotine (UNC Endeavors | Jan. 22, 2020)

Dana Haine, a science educator for the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and K-12 science education manager for the Center for Public Engagement with Science within the UNC Institute for the … Read more
Carolina Ranks No. 3 among U.S. Schools in 2019 GreenMetric Sustainable Campus Survey (UNC Three Zeros | Jan. 21, 2020)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked No. 21 globally and No. 3 nationally in the 2019 Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric World University Rankings. The annual GreenMetric Ranking ranks campus sustainability worldwide. The 2019 survey was the largest … Read more
Unseen Science (UNC Endeavors | Jan. 21, 2020)

Sometimes the most powerful things in life are those we can’t see. Atoms. Oxygen. Love. Radio waves. Faith. And the internet. What appears in your web browser is just the top layer of the sprawling, invisible tangle of pathways and protocols that makes a worldwide network of electronic … Read more
The Timber Chronicles ( UNC Endeavors | Jan. 16, 2020)

On a shelf in Erika Wise’s office sits a foot-long specimen, only about half a centimeter in width. Marked by alternating shades of rich amber and sepia, this unassuming sample is a tree core and contains about 300 years-worth of … Read more
Blue-Green Algae Produce Methane (The Scientist | Jan. 15, 2020)

ABOVE: A colony of cyanobacteria from Lake Stechlin PROF HANS-PETER GROSSART. Cyanobacteria are found in almost all aquatic and terrestrial environments on Earth and, through photosynthesis, supply a large portion of the planet’s oxygen. According to a study published in … Read more
Sandbar Oyster Company promotes ecological balance in the face of climate change (WRAL TechWire | Jan. 13, 2020)

MOREHEAD CITY – Sandbar Oyster Company has learned to embrace climate change while also working to fight it to help the living shorelines off the coast of North Carolina. Dr. Niels Lindquist, a researcher at the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more
Exploring the changing coast of North Carolina (UNC News | Jan. 10, 2020)

There is a very big gap in the hard sciences between learning those sciences and communicating them well with people,” said Sydney Thomas, a junior biologymajor. A College of Arts & Sciences course called the Changing Coasts of Carolina aims … Read more
Coastal Research: Would You Swim Here? (Coastal Review | Jan. 9, 2020)

University of North Carolina undergraduates at coastal campuses spent the fall semester undertaking projects to answer pressing environmental questions, making their capstone presentations in December. This is the second of two reports stemming from presentations on water quality. Read the … Read more
Earth Is Losing Its River Ice Cover And Obviously, Global Warming Is To Blame (Mashable India | Jan. 3, 2020)

More than half of Earth’s rivers freeze over every year. These frozen rivers support important transportation networks for communities and industries located at high altitudes. Ice cover also help to regulate the amount of greenhouse gasses released from rivers into … Read more
New study estimates the global extent of river ice loss as Earth warms (UNC News | Jan. 2, 2020)

More than half of Earth’s rivers freeze over every year. These frozen rivers support important transportation networks for communities and industries located at high latitudes. Ice cover also regulates the amount of greenhouse gasses released from rivers into Earth’s atmosphere. … Read more
Study measures river ice loss caused by global warming (United Press International | Jan. 1, 2020)

Many communities and industries utilize frozen rivers for transportation purposes during the heart of the winter, but new research suggests the planet’s rivers are likely to spend fewer and fewer days frozen solid each year as temperatures continue to rise.

2019

Wake towns that drink from Jordan Lake should help pay to clean it, UNC report says (News + Observer | Dec. 23, 2019)

Towns in Wake County that take drinking water from Jordan Lake should help shoulder the costs of cleaning it up, says a new report from UNC-Chapel Hill. The recommendation to spread the costs of Jordan Lake’s clean-up was included in a … Read more
As coral die, protected areas aren’t enough (Knowable Magazine | Dec. 17, 2019)

Healthy coral reefs host vibrant communities of fish and other marine animals, from time worms to hulking sharks. They protect coastal communities by breaking up large storm waves before they hit shore.
Message from Carolina BOT Chair Richard Stevens on Kevin M. Guskiewicz (UNC News | Dec. 13, 2019)

Guskiewicz is deeply committed to the University and its mission, prioritizing student success, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing the critical needs of North Carolina and the world.
8 Most Popular College Majors – Marine Science (The Onion | Dec. 10, 2019)

The field of marine science has seen a boom in recent years following Niels L. Lindquist’s publication of his study “Oyster Reefs Can Outpace Sea-Level Rise” in Nature Climate Change, prompting high school students across the country to attempt to … Read more
How a Small Stretch of Ocean Stirred a Conservation Movement (Associated Press | Nov. 25, 2019)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — From the surface, these 22 square miles of water are unexceptional.
CEOs Are Facing Fierce Pressure on Climate Change—From Their Own Kids (Fortune | Nov. 25, 2019)

When it comes to getting major companies to act on climate change, CEOs increasingly list pressure from their shareholders, their customers, and their own employees. But for many executives, the pressure is also coming from another, particularly powerful source: their … Read more
Puerto Rico’s Next Big Crisis Is Water (Huffpost | Nov. 23, 2019)

SALINAS, Puerto Rico ― It was a late August afternoon when the rain finally came, first as a drizzle that beaded on the plaza’s magnolia trees, then a downpour, darkening the dusty bricks and forming murky rivulets along the curbside.
Eating Healthy Might Cause More Harm then Good as Caesar Salad is Believed to Cause E. coli Infections (Nature World News | Nov. 21, 2019)

At least 17 people from eight states felt ill due to E. coli infection, according to public health officials. There is no reported death, but seven were hospitalized. Two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure … Read more
UNC researcher working to make solar energy more affordable (WRAL TechWire | Nov. 19, 2019)

CHAPEL HILL — If someone asked you to wager a guess on when solar energy first came of age, and you said the seventies, you’d be correct – but only if you meant the 1870s.
Carolina ranks 17th among U.S. universities for study abroad in 2019 ‘Open Doors’ report (UNC News | Nov. 19, 2019)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 17th among U.S. higher education institutions for the number of students earning credit for study abroad for the second year in a row, according to the Institute of International Education’s 2019 … Read more
Solar that Sells (Innovate Carolina | Nov. 18, 2019)

Professor Jinsong Huang is working to change the renewable power industry with his perovskite solar cell method that will make solar energy more affordable.
New Tools For Shark Research (UNCTV | Nov. 15, 2019)

The UNC Institute of Marine Sciences manages the nation’s longest running coastal shark survey- going on 45 years. New research into shark tissues will provide new insights into the shark’s life history, movement, diet, and where it fits in the … Read more
Carteret County students get hands on learning Volume 90% (WITN – Greenville, NC | Nov. 14, 2019)

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (WITN) Nearly 100 middle school students in the east had the chance to leave their classroom behind for the day and instead spend time at a local university and on an island getting some hands on learning.
Toxic Algal Blooms Are Worsening with Climate Change (Earth & Space Science News | Nov. 13, 2019)

Every summer, vast blooms of harmful algae erupt in freshwater lakes across the United States. This year, blue-green mats of algae blanketed more than 1,500 square kilometers of Lake Erie’s surface by August; toxic algae forced officials to close New … Read more
Testing Well Water for Contamination (American Scientist | Nov. 7, 2019)

After the 2014 coal ash spill into North Carolina’s Dan River, the state required water testing around each of the Duke Energy coal ash storage facilities. The tests showed groundwater contamination, but testing wasn’t expanded beyond those sites. So people … Read more
Helping a coastal town monitor water quality (College of Arts & Sciences | Nov. 6, 2019)

Adam Gold’s lab space resembles more of a garage workbench than a water research facility. Drills, screwdrivers, soldering irons and circuit boards cover the countertops. Gold, an Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) Ph.D. student in the Environment, Ecology and Energy … Read more
Living Shoreline Proponents Tout Examples (Coastal Review Online | Nov. 6, 2019)

BEAUFORT – As a covered sightseeing tour ferry circled the Sandbar Oyster Co.’s shellfish lease at the mouth of the Newport River, David Cessna gestured and told the about three dozen aboard that “On the starboard side of the boat, … Read more
UNC researchers work toward safer water across the globe (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 31, 2019)

UNC professor Theo Dingemans is working with a team of researchers on a membrane-based water purification tool with the goal of providing safer water for populations across the globe.
The Impact Of Hurricanes On Valuable Seagrass (UNC-TV | Oct. 17, 2019)

Seagrass provides crucial habitat for fish, it filters the water and stabilizes shoreline. But until now, researchers have never looked at how much damage a hurricane does to this valuable coastal habitat. A team from the UNC Institute of Marine … Read more
IMS scientists give close-up look at Neuse River research (New Bern Sun Journal | Oct. 17, 2019)

Faculty members from UNC-Chapel Hill got a first-hand look at the work done by the school’s Institute for Marine Sciences (IMS) in Morehead City during a tour of the Neuse River Thursday.
Girls dive into science at IMS (Carteret County News-Times | Oct. 12, 2019)

MOREHEAD CITY — It was all about science and technology for area high school girls Saturday at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences.
Girls encouraged to pursue STEM during weekend science camp (WITN – Greenville, NC | Oct. 9, 2019)

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (WITN)A science camp this weekend at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City is hoping to encourage high school girls to pursue a future in a STEM field.
Oyster reefs are making a comeback–by protecting coasts from the ravages of climate change (CNBC | Oct. 9, 2019)

GOVERNORS ISLAND, N.Y. — They are salty, sumptuous and often served opulently on ice. They are also now on the front lines in the fight to protect coastal real estate from climate change. Oysters — more precisely, oyster reefs.
Jones County man contracts Vibrio while cleaning crabs (ABC News | Oct. 8, 2019)

POLLOCKSVILLE, Jones County — After one North Carolina man died from contracting Vibrio from eating a raw oyster, a Jones County family is opening up about their ordeal with the potentially deadly bacteria.
#GDTBATH: Allie Omens (UNC News | Oct. 7, 2019)

Environmentalism and sustainability have been engrained in Carolina senior Allie Omens for as long as she can remember.
Sustainable steps (UNC News | Oct. 7, 2019)

In 2016, after Carolina’s Sustainability Office worked with stakeholders across campus to research and develop a campus sustainability plan, the University identified three ambitious sustainability goals: net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Biosolids: mix human waste with toxic chemicals, then spread on crops (The Guardian | Oct. 5, 2019)

Residual sludge from treating waste water has been turned into a money-spinner but what are the costs to health of ‘the most pollutant-rich manmade substance on Earth’? By some estimates, Americans send about 300m pounds of feces daily from the … Read more
Growing Cannabis Could Lead To More Air Pollution (Science Friday | Oct. 4, 2019)

Between water and electricity, Colorado’s legal cannabis industry already has a big environmental footprint. But what about Front Range air quality? Could the plant itself be contributing to air pollution?
Climate Game-Changers (Endeavors | Oct. 3, 2019)

Moss-covered molehills pepper the landscape, each a different shade of autumn. Some are mustard yellow, others evergreen. Upon closer inspection, petite red buds peep through the growth while spindly, fingerlike plants called lycophytes grow long and tall on the mounds’ … Read more
Column: How environmental and economic justice work together (Triangle Business Journal | Oct. 3, 2019)

People of color and low-wealth individuals and families are at the greatest risk of exposure to both natural disasters and technological hazards in our state.
Frogs, Butterflies, Sharks, oh my! (UNCTV | Oct. 3, 2019)

Animals can’t survive without places to breed and feed. The endangered Carolina gopher frog. Monarch butterflies. Sharks. Meet the conservationists trying to give these species a boost using habitat conservation. And learn how bobcats and fox are responding to coyotes—a … Read more
Moisture Variability Extremes Could Threaten Southwest Forests (KJZZ – Phoenix, AZ | Oct. 2, 2019)

Warming due to climate change is driving shifts in Earth’s hydrological cycle.
12-state coalition targets fuel-generated carbon emissions (Enterprise News | Oct. 1, 2019)

BOSTON – A coalition of Eastern states trying to cut carbon emissions from transportation has decided to focus on gasoline and on-road diesel, which together account for over 80 percent of carbon emissions in the region.
Fuel suppliers at heart of transportation initiative (The Herald News | Oct. 1, 2019)

BOSTON — The coalition of eastern states developing a program to drive down carbon emissions from transportation has decided to focus on motor gasoline and on-road diesel, two sources of pollution that account for over 80 percent of carbon emissions … Read more
The Latest Carbon Market Developments: Part 1 (Law 360 | Oct. 1, 2019)

This article is part one of a two-part series addressing domestic and international developments related to carbon pricing and related programs aimed at regulating or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Regional coalition outlines path to curb vehicle emissions in Virginia and 12 other jurisdictions (Virginia Mercury | Oct. 1, 2019)

From Maine to Virginia, carbon capping may be coming — this time for cars.
States unveil plan to curb transportation emissions (Boston Globe | Oct. 1, 2019)

Massachusetts and 11 other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states released a framework agreement Tuesday for a “cap-and-invest” system to curb transportation emissions, the nation’s largest source of greenhouse gases.
Eastern States’ Clean Transportation Plan Takes Shape (NRDC | Oct. 1, 2019)

To solve the climate crisis, we need bold leadership across the economy, especially in transportation, which is the United States’ number one source of climate pollution. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is heading in reverse by protecting polluters over people and … Read more
Massachusetts joining 11 other states to cut back on carbon emissions from regional transportation, new draft policy shows (Masslive | Oct. 1, 2019)

Massachusetts and 11 Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states are jointly looking to scale back on gasoline and diesel emissions as part of an effort to implement a regional “low carbon” transportation policy, according to a draft policy framework released on Tuesday … Read more
UNC partners with upcycle company, providing sustainable products on campus (The Daily Tar Heel | Oct. 1, 2019)

UNC has partnered with Reborn Clothing Co., a Raleigh-based upcycling company, to reuse and upcycle unwanted or outdated textiles into new products.
More frequent and intense tropical storms mean less recovery time for the world’s coastlines (The Conversation | Oct. 1, 2019)

Tropical cyclones – storms that bring strong, rotating winds and rain, and which can intensify into hurricanes or typhoons – affect coastal regions around the world. Our research team, centered at the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences, … Read more
Morehead Planetarium wins multi-year $2.86 million grant for new exhibits, programs (WRAL, “Go Ask Mom” blog | Sep, 20, 2019)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — As Morehead Planetarium and Science Center undergoes a major renovation and expansion, it’s also celebrating a big infusion of money that will help it build new exhibits for visitors and participants in its traveling programs.
Is Pot Part Of Denver’s Ozone Headache? That’s What Researchers Want To Find Out By Michael Elizabeth Sakas September 30, 2019 (Colorado Public Radio | Sep. 30, 2019)

Between water and electricity, Colorado’s legal cannabis industry already has a big environmental footprint. But what about Front Range air quality? Could the plant itself be contributing to air pollution?
Donald Fejfar (Endeavors | Sep. 25, 2019)

Don Fejfar is a junior and Morehead-Cain Scholar majoring in biostatistics within the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. He studies how disease relates to food and water quality, security, and accessibility on Isabela Island in Galápagos, Ecuador.
Old Growth, New Life (Endeavors | Sep. 24, 2019)

Taking root around 1780, perhaps thanks to a colonial ancestor of today’s campus squirrels, a mighty tree predated UNC by a decade or more. For approximately 240 years it stood sentinel, its branches climbing slowly upward as the world around … Read more
Puerto Rico’s Breaking Point (Endeavors | Sep. 20, 2019)

After Hurricane Maria swept across Puerto Rico in 2017, millions of people lost power — some for nearly a year. But the blackout wasn’t just the work of a powerful hurricane. Decades of debt, economic dependence, and bad financial deals … Read more
Coastal Flooding From Tropical Cyclones On The Rise In NC (WUNC | Sep 19, 2019)

Coastal flooding from hurricanes and other tropical storms is getting worse, according to a recent studyby researchers at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. Scientists looked at more than 120 years of data on tropical cyclones … Read more
A Solution for Seagrass (Endeavors | Sep. 17, 2019)

After a short boat ride across the Oscar Shoal, near Harkers Island in Beaufort, a team of marine scientists arrive at their field site. They zip up wetsuits and strap on weighted belts and snorkels, as if preparing for a … Read more
Get the Lead Out: Nonprofit pushes for testing of drinking water in NC schools (WRAL | Sep. 16. 2019)

Parents and clean water advocates in North Carolina are pushing for more lead testing at schools and daycares statewide.
UNC Study: Storms with heavy rainfall are the new normal (WRAL | Sep. 16, 2019)

All caused significant damage due to flooding, and it’s a trend a recent study from UNC shows could be caused by a changing climate.
Despite Seasonal Floods Now, Experts See Risk of Mekong Drying Up (WRAL | Sep. 13, 2019)

Two leading experts on water issues in Asia warn that parts of Vietnam’s fertile southernmost areas bordering Southeast Asia’s longest river, the Mekong, are in danger of drying up.