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Latest EVS News

  • Dr. Christine Li received a Community-based Learning & Scholarship for Spring 2025!
  • Dr. Meredith Hovis and Dr. Troy Frensley also received a Community-based Learning & Scholarship for Spring 2025!
  • Dr. Osku Backstrom's group led by Dr. Nikki Fogarty also received a Community-based Learning & Scholarship for Spring 2025!
  • Dr. Christine Li published in the Journal of Geography and Higher Education!
  • Dr. Osku Backstrom's work with the archaeology Gullah Geechee site was reported by The Guardian!
  • Dr. Osku Backstrom and his grad student Piper Whittington published in Natural Resources Conservation and Research!

December 23, 2024

The 4th issue of The Leaf Brief is now available online!

  • Dr. Kgosietsile Velempini published in Socio-Ecological Practice Research!
  • Dr. Monica Rother published in Forest Ecology and Management!
  • Dr. Meredith Hovis and UNCW were featured in the European Union of the Seas Future Leadership Forum publication!
  • Dr. Devon Eulie was awarded a CSE Research Reassignment for Fall 2024, the first person to get one in EVS!
  • Dr. Meredith Fovis, Dr. Troy Frensley, and Dr. Huili Hao received a $50k SAIL interdisciplinary teaching grant title “Conveying Critical Water Issues: An Interdisciplinary Approach”!
  • Dr. Huili Hao received a grant from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)!
  • Dr. Britt Moore and Dr. Meredith Hovis received a grant from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)!

June 11, 2024

International students with an F-1 visa who earned a UNCW bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM Designated Program, as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have the option to apply for a 24-month OPT extension after their first year of standard OPT. This means they may be eligible to obtain a total of 36 months of OPT work experience in the U.S. This now applies to all graduate and under graduate degree tracks in Environmental Sciences. For more information about the program and processes for international students studying in the U.S., please visit the DHS website.

June 6, 2024

UNCW environmental sciences students have made a positive impact to implement textile recycling across New Hanover County.

Recent graduates, Kate Gwatkin, Jessica Kotrick and Sarah Dent are soaring together!!! Their senior capstone project aimed to address the pressing issue of waste management, in light of the limited 26-year lifespan of our county landfill.

The trio advocated for implementation of textile recycling across the county, presented to Joe Suleyman, the director of New Hanover County Solid Waste and Recycling AND their recommendations were approved. Thus, textile recycling bins will soon complement existing recycling infrastructure throughout the county, marking a significant step towards sustainable waste management.

May 29, 2024

Dr. Backstrom won the award for Best Paper in the Coastal Sustainability Track at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration in Marrakesh, Morocco!

May 6, 2024

EVS major Diandre’ Richie, a recent graduate, was featured in Seahawk Stories. In his video interview, he discusses his experience from conducting research to studying abroad. His enthusiasm for research earned him the prestigious NOAA Hollings Scholarship. Diandre’ was awarded the William A. Bryan Senior Leader Award for his contributions as a campus leader. You can watch the video here!

May 1, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Roger Shew for being honored with the 2024 Charlie Maimone Faculty/Staff Sustainabilty Award! The award is given every year to a UNCW employee that exemplifies the principles and intersectionality of environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic vitality.

April 18, 2024

Dr. Monica Rother is this year's UNCW Rising Research Award Winner! The Rising Research Excellence Awards honor faculty who are emerging as leaders in their fields. These awards recognize faculty for their excellence in research, innovation and scholarship leading to the advancement of knowledge in their fields, discoveries with significant societal impact and the engagement of students in the process

February 1, 2024

The second issue of The Leaf Brief is now available online!

January 30, 2024

Amy Long was featured on an episode of CoastLine on WHQR Radio. The podcast, titled: "Disappearing grasslands major threat to biodiversity in coastal plain of SE NC", discusses how Long's work as a restoration ecologist is rehabilitating local tidal marshes, grasslands, and savannahs. She also discusses how strategic restoration can bring back biodiversity that was nearly lost, as evidenced by the New Hanover County Landfill property. The podcast is now available on Spotify, NPR, Apple Podcasts, and Play. You can also listen to it here!

January 23, 2024

Dr. Rachael Urbanek was featured on an episode of CoastLine on WHQR Radio. The podcast, titled: "UNCW Study raises questions about mental health and disconnect from nature", discusses Dr. Urbanek's work as a Certified Wildlife Biologist and takes a closer look at the changes we’re seeing in southeastern North Carolina and get some ideas on how we might better manage conservation, not just for the sake of the squirrels and raccoons, but, selfishly, for us! The podcast is now available on Spotify, NPR, Apple Podcasts, and Play. You can also listen to it here!

January 9, 2024

Dr. Stacy Endriss was featured on an episode of CoastLine on WHQR Radio. The podcast, titled: "Invasive Plants are changing NC westlands; soundscapes are helping scientists figure out how", discusses Dr. Endriss's work with exploring how invasive plants are affecting North Carolina wetlands. She’s also looking at creative approaches – including biocontrol – for dealing with the impacts. The podcast is now available on Spotify, NPR, Apple Podcasts, and Play. You can also listen to it here!

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