The History of UNC Research
Time and tenacity — two essential components for successful research endeavors at UNC-Chapel Hill. With more than 200 years of research under its belt, Carolina houses an ever-growing list of discoveries and inventions, many of which span several decades.
From 1793 to Today
Eyes in the Sky
Ever since the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina has proudly proclaimed to be “first in flight.” Less well-known is Carolina’s connection to deep space — from the first astronomical observatory on a college campus, to the first planetarium in the South, to one of the first administrators at NASA. Read more…
The Cure Code
When Fred Sanger figured out how to sequence DNA in 1975, the world changed — and so did UNC. Since its founding in 2000, the UNC Department of Genetics has continuously made the top-five list of NIH program funding and has grown to include 80 faculty, who have taken the world of research and medicine by storm. Read more…
From Turmoil to Triumph
The major political events of the 1960s set the stage for the founding of the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, which forever changed education research and practice. Read more…
The ABCs of Early Childhood Education
Smarter. Healthier. Better prepared for the world. Those are just a few of the benefits early childhood education can have over the course of a lifetime — benefits made evident by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute’s Abecedarian Project researchers, who have spent the past 45 years following up with their original research subjects. Read more…
The Nursing Pioneer
After becoming founding dean of the UNC School of Nursing in 1950, Elizabeth L. Kemble recruited faculty, oversaw construction of a building and dormitories, and even handpicked the first class of students. She spent the next 18 years dedicating her life to this school. Read more…
Kings of Chemistry
How an unexpected discovery transformed the world and made Morehead, Venable, and Kenan household names at UNC-Chapel Hill. Read more…
Through the Looking Glass
UNC’s computer science department laid the groundwork for 3-D computer-generated graphics and continues to push the boundaries of virtual environments today. Read more…
Hedging High Stakes and Human Behavior
How the UNC Highway Safety Research Center changed America’s driving behavior — saving lives and making our roadways safer. Read more…
Blood, sweat, and tears
UNC began treating blood disorders in 1947 — setting the stage for major breakthroughs in hemophilia and HIV. Read more…