The Wave Whisperer
Jana Haddad uses physics to study how living shorelines affect ocean waves and could stem the tide of coastal erosion.
UNCRS Category: Natural Sciences
The Sediment Scientist
Anne Smiley maps coastal habitats and nitrogen levels to assess water quality and coastal ecosystem health, protecting communities hit by major storms.
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.
Capturing the Lives of Sea Creatures
Liah McPherson records the lives of dolphins and whales — from Hawaiʻi to Antarctica.
Bewitched by Invertebrates
Jared Richards studies bizarre and beautiful sea creatures over 480 million years old.
Thirst for the Search
How Brian Coffey’s love for hunting objects unearthed a dinosaur in Durham and led him to a career in the energy sector.
Stephanie Caddell
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 to protect the earth.
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.
Disassembling Evolution’s Engine
When a research project centered on evolution within spadefoot toads fell through, Emily Harmon shifted her focus to microscopic swimmers called rotifers. The biology PhD student is studying an animal’s ability to adapt in one generation, which could inform conservation efforts in the face of climate change.