UNCW Center for Marine Science
@uncw-cms.bsky.social
UNCW is an internationally recognized leader in coastal and marine science research and education. Founding knowledge and solutions in coastal and marine science
UNCW Leads Research in Flooding Risks & Coastal Resilience with Living Laboratory! Led by Lynn Leonard & Phil Bresnahan with support from the UNC System, the project features high-tech sensor stations tracking weather & water resources on campus. Classes, Sustainability team & more use the data.
November 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
UNCW Leads Research in Flooding Risks & Coastal Resilience with Living Laboratory! Led by Lynn Leonard & Phil Bresnahan with support from the UNC System, the project features high-tech sensor stations tracking weather & water resources on campus. Classes, Sustainability team & more use the data.
Haunting Ghost Forests! We've all seen them! Ever wondered, "What killed all the trees?” UNCW research conducted by Andrea Hawkes, Monica Rother, Kendra Devereux and team seeks answers to questions of saltwater intrusion on freshwater ecosystems. 📸 courtesy of Monica Rother bit.ly/4oLCplK
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Haunting Ghost Forests! We've all seen them! Ever wondered, "What killed all the trees?” UNCW research conducted by Andrea Hawkes, Monica Rother, Kendra Devereux and team seeks answers to questions of saltwater intrusion on freshwater ecosystems. 📸 courtesy of Monica Rother bit.ly/4oLCplK
Award-winning - A Map of the World in Time - premiered at the Raw Science Film Festival in NYC, spotlighting UNCW’s pivotal role in the 2023 BADEX expedition to Greenland. Led by Assoc. Prof. Shannon Klotsko and an intern'l team who explored the retreat of the Greenland Ice Sheet. bit.ly/BADEX_Map
November 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Award-winning - A Map of the World in Time - premiered at the Raw Science Film Festival in NYC, spotlighting UNCW’s pivotal role in the 2023 BADEX expedition to Greenland. Led by Assoc. Prof. Shannon Klotsko and an intern'l team who explored the retreat of the Greenland Ice Sheet. bit.ly/BADEX_Map
Curious about the ethics of science? Genetic engineering debates? How does research sit at the intersection of biology, tech and culture in the modern world?
Join us for our Planet Ocean Seminar with Dr. Nathan Crowe, UNCW History Dept. Nov. 11 6:30 p.m.
In-person: CMS_EA@uncw.edu
lnkd.in/enM6gFvK
Join us for our Planet Ocean Seminar with Dr. Nathan Crowe, UNCW History Dept. Nov. 11 6:30 p.m.
In-person: CMS_EA@uncw.edu
lnkd.in/enM6gFvK
October 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Curious about the ethics of science? Genetic engineering debates? How does research sit at the intersection of biology, tech and culture in the modern world?
Join us for our Planet Ocean Seminar with Dr. Nathan Crowe, UNCW History Dept. Nov. 11 6:30 p.m.
In-person: CMS_EA@uncw.edu
lnkd.in/enM6gFvK
Join us for our Planet Ocean Seminar with Dr. Nathan Crowe, UNCW History Dept. Nov. 11 6:30 p.m.
In-person: CMS_EA@uncw.edu
lnkd.in/enM6gFvK
Our OPEN HOUSE welcomed 1,000+ to explore the many aspects of why science matters! UNCW's Center for Marine Science had a beautiful day for all ages to support science.
October 8, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Our OPEN HOUSE welcomed 1,000+ to explore the many aspects of why science matters! UNCW's Center for Marine Science had a beautiful day for all ages to support science.
Congrats to Prof. Joanne Halls, Earth & Ocean Sciences, on her most recent paper published in "Remote Sensing." The paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the contribution of river sediment to the different rates of sediment build-up in tidal wetlands across the U.S. doi.org/10.3390/rs17...
September 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Congrats to Prof. Joanne Halls, Earth & Ocean Sciences, on her most recent paper published in "Remote Sensing." The paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the contribution of river sediment to the different rates of sediment build-up in tidal wetlands across the U.S. doi.org/10.3390/rs17...
New paper by Dr. Joe Pawlik, Biology & Marine Biology, & alum Dr. Steve McMurray in "Ecology." "Competition for waterborne food resources among tropical shallow-water sponges." Sponges help link ocean surface waters to the seafloor by filtering LPOM & DOM. 📸 Mark Butler
doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
August 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
New paper by Dr. Joe Pawlik, Biology & Marine Biology, & alum Dr. Steve McMurray in "Ecology." "Competition for waterborne food resources among tropical shallow-water sponges." Sponges help link ocean surface waters to the seafloor by filtering LPOM & DOM. 📸 Mark Butler
doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
🚨New Pub in Nature! Highly collaborative work! This article describes the anatomical features associated with a functional glymphatic system in bottlenose dolphins. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@uncwtiftlab.bsky.social
@uncwtiftlab.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
🚨New Pub in Nature! Highly collaborative work! This article describes the anatomical features associated with a functional glymphatic system in bottlenose dolphins. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@uncwtiftlab.bsky.social
@uncwtiftlab.bsky.social
UNCW's Michael Tift shares, "There are some critical cuts being proposed to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) by the current administration which could have devastating impacts." He discusses some of these impacts on marine mammals in North Carolina waters.
bit.ly/3JgVZXl
bit.ly/3JgVZXl
August 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
UNCW's Michael Tift shares, "There are some critical cuts being proposed to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) by the current administration which could have devastating impacts." He discusses some of these impacts on marine mammals in North Carolina waters.
bit.ly/3JgVZXl
bit.ly/3JgVZXl
Join us for the UNCW Center for Marine Science OPEN HOUSE on October 4, 2025! Tours, family-friendly with hands-on activities and science fun!
August 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Join us for the UNCW Center for Marine Science OPEN HOUSE on October 4, 2025! Tours, family-friendly with hands-on activities and science fun!
POV: then and now as we celebrate 25 Years at the Myrtle Grove location. Marine science research has been SOARING at UNCW for 54 YEARS!!! On the water 24/7/365!
August 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
POV: then and now as we celebrate 25 Years at the Myrtle Grove location. Marine science research has been SOARING at UNCW for 54 YEARS!!! On the water 24/7/365!
CONGRATS to Peng Gao, in UNCW's Earth and Ocean Sciences, who is one of 19 global experts contributing to a new article published in @nature.com, outlining how nature-based climate solutions (NBS) can be more effective in fighting climate change. bit.ly/GaoForest
August 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
CONGRATS to Peng Gao, in UNCW's Earth and Ocean Sciences, who is one of 19 global experts contributing to a new article published in @nature.com, outlining how nature-based climate solutions (NBS) can be more effective in fighting climate change. bit.ly/GaoForest
@insituphile.bsky.social recent paper: Water color & clarity: key indicators of aquatic health. New hand-held device—mini & midi formats—developed to measure parameters easily & ideal for citizen science. >900 devices thru 6 projects w/shared data. Methods. Data. Validation. doi.org/10.3389/fenv...
July 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
@insituphile.bsky.social recent paper: Water color & clarity: key indicators of aquatic health. New hand-held device—mini & midi formats—developed to measure parameters easily & ideal for citizen science. >900 devices thru 6 projects w/shared data. Methods. Data. Validation. doi.org/10.3389/fenv...
The TODAY new paper that is a collaboration b/w UNCW's DrugDiscovery & National Institutes of Health. They discovered aridomycin, a natural compound made by bacteria that strongly fights dangerous Staphylococcus aureus infections & the emerging fungus Candida auris. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
July 8, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The TODAY new paper that is a collaboration b/w UNCW's DrugDiscovery & National Institutes of Health. They discovered aridomycin, a natural compound made by bacteria that strongly fights dangerous Staphylococcus aureus infections & the emerging fungus Candida auris. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Alumna Liz Farquhar with Phil Bresnahan, PhD, recently published a paper on how to cost-effectively measure how much CO₂ moves between the air and the water for locally guided decisions. Contributors: Michael Tydings, Jessie Jarvis, Rob Whitehead & Daniel Portelli. www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25...
June 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Alumna Liz Farquhar with Phil Bresnahan, PhD, recently published a paper on how to cost-effectively measure how much CO₂ moves between the air and the water for locally guided decisions. Contributors: Michael Tydings, Jessie Jarvis, Rob Whitehead & Daniel Portelli. www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25...
Congrats to post-doc Kristy Syhapanha (1st-author) & Remington Poulin’s, Chem & Biochem, paper w/an intern'l team who looked at the impact of lab-based culture conditions of phytoplankton & how conditions influence chemically mediated competition amid naturally co-occurring species.
lnkd.in/eb4zsK_M
lnkd.in/eb4zsK_M
Context-dependent allelopathy in algal interactions: Insights from laboratory and natural phytoplankton communities
A key aspect of algal biology is the production of chemicals used for communication and regulation of interactions. Allelopathic chemicals can facilit…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Congrats to post-doc Kristy Syhapanha (1st-author) & Remington Poulin’s, Chem & Biochem, paper w/an intern'l team who looked at the impact of lab-based culture conditions of phytoplankton & how conditions influence chemically mediated competition amid naturally co-occurring species.
lnkd.in/eb4zsK_M
lnkd.in/eb4zsK_M
Congrats to the UNCW's Professor Patrick Erwin, Biology & Marine Biology, doctoral student Brenna Hutchings and Dr. Susanna Lopez-Legentil on the recent paper about how delayed preservation may change the diversity & comp of microbiome in marine invertebrates. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
June 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Congrats to the UNCW's Professor Patrick Erwin, Biology & Marine Biology, doctoral student Brenna Hutchings and Dr. Susanna Lopez-Legentil on the recent paper about how delayed preservation may change the diversity & comp of microbiome in marine invertebrates. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
PNAS News published Matthew McLean's research on protecting the beauty of coral reefs. Reef beauty depends on number of species and colorful or uniquely shaped fish, highlighting the need for marine protection for fish species and economic benefits. 📸 Rick Stuart-Smith bit.ly/McLeanPNAS
June 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
PNAS News published Matthew McLean's research on protecting the beauty of coral reefs. Reef beauty depends on number of species and colorful or uniquely shaped fish, highlighting the need for marine protection for fish species and economic benefits. 📸 Rick Stuart-Smith bit.ly/McLeanPNAS
#TEALSHIPS Expedition #2! @tolarchaeota.bsky.social is at the forefront of research of the critical habitats that span from the NC coastal shelf to the Gulf Stream, ~50 miles. 🌊 Gulfstream
🐙 collected samples from 1400m below
🔬interdisciplinary science - multi-institutes & programs
bit.ly/TolarTEAL
🐙 collected samples from 1400m below
🔬interdisciplinary science - multi-institutes & programs
bit.ly/TolarTEAL
June 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
#TEALSHIPS Expedition #2! @tolarchaeota.bsky.social is at the forefront of research of the critical habitats that span from the NC coastal shelf to the Gulf Stream, ~50 miles. 🌊 Gulfstream
🐙 collected samples from 1400m below
🔬interdisciplinary science - multi-institutes & programs
bit.ly/TolarTEAL
🐙 collected samples from 1400m below
🔬interdisciplinary science - multi-institutes & programs
bit.ly/TolarTEAL
"Mongabay" article with important updates about the race with SCTLD. The article highlights @vibriosoup.bsky.social's research on identifying the cause of this disease. 🪸https://news.mongabay.com/2025/06/researchers-race-to-understand-new-disease-killing-caribbean-corals-at-unprecedented-rates/
Researchers race to understand new disease killing Caribbean corals at unprecedented rates
This May, divers found stony coral tissue loss disease on corals in Laughing Bird Caye National Park, Belize, for the first time. The team from Fragments of Hope, a nonprofit, regularly monitors the s...
news.mongabay.com
June 9, 2025 at 12:52 PM
"Mongabay" article with important updates about the race with SCTLD. The article highlights @vibriosoup.bsky.social's research on identifying the cause of this disease. 🪸https://news.mongabay.com/2025/06/researchers-race-to-understand-new-disease-killing-caribbean-corals-at-unprecedented-rates/
Another FIRST! Microbiologist Blake Ushijima @vibriosoup.bsky.social developed a probiotic paste treatment for SCTLD. The research team at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Fla. tested the paste in the wild with success! Here's the study! CONGRATS team!
Our study on the first probiotic treatments for SCTLD testing in the wild has been published!
www.sciencenews.org/article/prob...
www.sciencenews.org/article/prob...
Probiotics helped great star corals fend off a deadly disease
A probiotic paste prevented the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease, but the treatment is still a proof-of-concept, not a cure.
www.sciencenews.org
June 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Another FIRST! Microbiologist Blake Ushijima @vibriosoup.bsky.social developed a probiotic paste treatment for SCTLD. The research team at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Fla. tested the paste in the wild with success! Here's the study! CONGRATS team!
Discover Magazine features how Dr. Lori Schweikert, University of North Carolina Wilmington, & colleagues found that humpback whales can’t see as well as previously believed. It all started when undergrad Jacob Bolin, chose to research whale vision for his Honors thesis. bit.ly/DiscoverWhal...
Big Eyes, Blurry Vision: Why Humpback Whales Struggle to See Clearly
Learn more about why humpback whales can’t really see that well and how it is putting them in danger.
www.discovermagazine.com
June 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Discover Magazine features how Dr. Lori Schweikert, University of North Carolina Wilmington, & colleagues found that humpback whales can’t see as well as previously believed. It all started when undergrad Jacob Bolin, chose to research whale vision for his Honors thesis. bit.ly/DiscoverWhal...
Last week, grad student Ali Zelaya & members of Dr. Nikki Fogarty's REEF lab outplanted >300 preconditioned brain coral in the FL Keys. Changing the world one coral at a time… Zelaya shares, "The coral have been preconditioned and exposed to thermal stress in the lab (32°C)." www.nicolefogarty.com
May 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Last week, grad student Ali Zelaya & members of Dr. Nikki Fogarty's REEF lab outplanted >300 preconditioned brain coral in the FL Keys. Changing the world one coral at a time… Zelaya shares, "The coral have been preconditioned and exposed to thermal stress in the lab (32°C)." www.nicolefogarty.com
What BIG eyes! Study by Dr. Lori Schweikert & colleagues find new knowledge of the humpback whale eye, revealing that these iconic giants possess surprisingly limited visual acuity—raising important questions about how they see (or don't see) in their open ocean environment. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
May 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
What BIG eyes! Study by Dr. Lori Schweikert & colleagues find new knowledge of the humpback whale eye, revealing that these iconic giants possess surprisingly limited visual acuity—raising important questions about how they see (or don't see) in their open ocean environment. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Congrats to Dr. Andrea Hawkes, recent paper -"Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems," ‘Elemental Geochemistry of Tidal Marsh Sediment & Its Potential as an Indicator of Sea‐Level Change in Cascadia.’ Shows that elemental composition of marsh sediment reliably reflects tidal elevation. bit.ly/45kbrLc
May 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Congrats to Dr. Andrea Hawkes, recent paper -"Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems," ‘Elemental Geochemistry of Tidal Marsh Sediment & Its Potential as an Indicator of Sea‐Level Change in Cascadia.’ Shows that elemental composition of marsh sediment reliably reflects tidal elevation. bit.ly/45kbrLc