UNC institute of Marine Sciences

Trapped on the Surface

September 10, 2019

In the past decade, the Cape Fear River has become more susceptible to algal blooms — a potential public health concern for more than 1.5 million people relying on the river as a drinking water source. UNC researcher Nathan Hall thinks droughts and slow flows are the culprit, and aims to predict when future blooms will occur.

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.

Career Aquatic

January 12, 2018

At the end of his 40-year career at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, Dive Safety Officer Glenn Safrit reflects on the most important lessons he learned — and taught — in the ocean.

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.

Avery Paxton

August 3, 2016

Avery Paxton is a marine ecologist, conservation biologist, and doctoral candidate at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. Her research uses a combination of field, laboratory, and analytical methods to address fundamental, mechanistic questions in marine ecology, such as how species use their habitat and how communities are structured.

The Scientist and the Fisherman

March 29, 2016

What do you get when you combine new science with decades of knowledge from local fishermen? A lot of homegrown North Carolina oysters. A whole lot.

Woman On Board

March 14, 2016

Deborah Dexter, the first person to earn a PhD at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, reflects on a lifetime of travel, teaching, and trailblazing.

What’s Hiding in Our Coastal Waters?

December 12, 2014

Marine science researchers at UNC have found that estuaries generate natural defenses against the effects of global warming—until a hurricane hits.