Marine Science

On the Surface

Claire Johnson explains her studies of microbial communities living on seaweed mats in the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream and how they cycle nitrogen.

Algal Rhythms

Isabel Silva-Romero studies how ocean temperatures affect the food web on rocky reefs around the Galápagos Islands.

Mucking in the Marshes

Josh Himmelstein is getting knee-deep in marshes to understand the effects of sea-level rise.

Bringing Bivalves Back

Oysters have been dying off for the last century, and PhD candidate Mark Ciesielski wants to know why — and how to stop it.

The Coastal Engineer

Since 1987, Rick Luettich has been building systems to protect the coast from environmental hazards and extreme weather events.

Galápagos: A Gateway for Global Research

For more than 10 years, the UNC Center for Galápagos Studies has been a hub of collaborative research activity spanning many disciplines, with the potential to impact the globe. Diego Riveros-Iregui and Amanda Thompson, the center’s new interim co-directors, strive to use their own experiences from the islands to expand its reach and grow its reputation as a world-renowned research institution.

In Hot Water

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 animals to help fisheries better prepare for the future.

Hooked on Sharks

For the past 50 field seasons, researchers from the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences have collected valuable data on sharks off the North Carolina coast. The survey — among the oldest of its kind in the U.S. — has lasted for decades due to the dedication of UNC researchers, staff, and students.

Building Resilience for Storm-Battered N.C.

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 their expertise in areas like human health, ecology, and urban planning to create a long-term holistic plan helping vulnerable communities prepare for the next generation of extreme weather events.

An Active Storm Season

June 1 marked the start of the 2020 hurricane season — and it’s slated to be an active one. In this Q&A, UNC researcher Rick Luettich talks about this year’s above-average hurricane forecast, the impact these storms have on inland populations, and how COVID-19 may affect vulnerable communities.