2023-2024 Endeavors Magazine
A NASA satellite measuring Earth’s water. A biostatistician using mathematical models to improve clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases. A PhD student studying the cultural history of vanilla at the New York Botanical Garden. This edition of Endeavors features these UNC-Chapel Hill projects and so much more.
This issue of Endeavors magazine received a silver Circle of Excellence Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing education to transform lives and society.
The magazine was recognized for its variety of stories, great imagery, and engagement with content beyond the print edition.
Stories in this Edition
Measuring Water from Space
A new NASA satellite is recording the first global survey of Earth’s water cycle with unprecedented accuracy — and Tamlin Pavelsky is verifying its data from North Carolina to New Zealand.
Science for the Future
With data spilling from all areas of life, students need tools and training to understand it. The UNC School of Data Science and Society is here to help.
Volleying Research and Life
From pickleball to LEGO, Carolina researchers engage in a variety of hobbies to escape stressors that come with a career in academia.
Teachers for Mental Health
By combining best practices in education and mental health care, Christina Cruz works to enhance interventions for elementary-aged patients before concerns become crises.
Extracting Extraordinary Things
Claire Bunschoten spent a year at The New York Botanical Garden unpacking the history and culture tied to one of America’s favorite flavors: vanilla.
Turning Trash into Treasure
Frank Leibfarth tests molecules to turn plastic waste into useful materials, diversifying options for recycling.
Math-Age Daydream
The mathematical puzzles that arise when modeling neurodegenerative diseases fascinate Tanya Garcia, who hopes to solve them to speed treatment development.
Particle Man
Aobo Li’s groundbreaking work using machine learning to detect neutrinos could shed light on the nature of our universe.
The Optimistic Nutritionist
Saroja Voruganti uses genetics to improve people’s nutrition — and she’s helping the next generation of scientists do the same.
Burdens of Paradise
A broad study looking at food and water insecurity in the Galápagos brings together a team of researchers to focus on an often-overlooked population.
Crouching Researcher, Hidden Sparrow
Four students spent their summer in Colorado stalking Lincoln’s sparrows in search of answers to fundamental biological questions.
The Coastal Engineer
Since 1987, Rick Luettich has been building systems to protect the coast from environmental hazards and extreme weather events.