Environmental Science

Unearthing Environmental Research

July 15, 2019

Environmental education and research have deep roots at Carolina, but a lot has changed since the natural sciences came to campus almost 200 years ago. From the creation of a sanitary engineering department to relationships stoked by the internet, environmental study at UNC has evolved into a hotbed of research, education, and community outreach.

Captain of the Coast

July 9, 2019

From the shores of New Jersey to the North Carolina coast, Pete Peterson has always loved the ocean. He's spent nearly five decades researching its marine life, fighting for its protection, and guiding the next generation of marine scientists to do the same.

Artifacts of Alteration

May 9, 2019

Most visitors return from Jordan Lake with a tan, a photograph, or maybe a unique bird feather. Ayla Gizlice collects something else entirely — chunks of clay, plastic bags, rocks, and dead fish. The UNC senior incorporates these materials into an art project addressing how human actions shape the physical environment.

Restoring Rural China

May 6, 2019

While the United States and China take up roughly the same amount of land mass, China’s population is over four times that of the U.S. — and more people means more change in vegetation growth. How do these factors connect to climate change? Conghe Song explores this relationship, pursuing a project that has led to his return to his birthplace: rural China.

A Deep Dive into Jordan Lake

May 17, 2017

Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and lab analyses, UNC researchers gather information on Jordan Lake.

A RAPID Response to Hurricane Matthew

May 10, 2017

In the months following one of the most destructive hurricanes of the past decade, UNC researchers had to act fast. Using a unique grant from the NSF, they’re testing water quality in Lumberton — one of the hardest-hit places during the storm.

Mejs Hasan

January 25, 2017

Mejs Hasan is a PhD student in the Department of Geological Sciences within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on using satellite data to monitor water resources and sediment/pollutant in rivers, wetlands, and estuaries.

Jenny Hughes

March 16, 2016

Senior Jenny Hughes is an undergraduate student majoring in environmental science with a minor in marine science. Her research focuses on the effects of hunger on the foraging behavior of mud crabs within the presence of predators that sit higher up in the food chain.