UNC Asheville Environmental Science

08/28/2026

Welcome back UNCA Bulldogs! We are so excited to be back with our ENVS students and everyone else on campus! Happy ice cream day!

08/27/2026

Over the next few weeks, we are going to highlight some of the internships our ENVS students have completed. They have done some really amazing work! First, we have Lucy Alva!

Lucy Alva
Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC)
Major: Environmental Science (Ecology) with a minor in Chemistry

During my summer internship with Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC), I had the opportunity to help protect and manage conserved lands in North Carolina. My responsibilities included monitoring Eastern Bluebird nest boxes, checking nests, eggs, and young birds throughout the nesting season, rerouting hiking trails to reduce erosion and improve long-term sustainability, flagging future trail locations, identifying and marking preserve and easement boundaries, and assisting with other land stewardship projects. Through these experiences, I learned how conservation organizations balance public recreation with habitat protection while protecting wildlife and preserving natural areas for future generations.

This internship allowed me to apply many of the concepts I have learned in my Environmental Science courses at UNC Asheville. While working in the field, I gained a better understanding of ecology, habitat management, soil erosion, invasive and native plant identification, and the importance of long-term conservation planning. I strengthened my field observation, GPS navigation, data collection, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills by working alongside experienced land managers. Seeing how classroom concepts are used in real conservation work helped me connect my coursework to practical environmental stewardship and gave me a greater appreciation for the work involved in managing protected lands.

One of my favorite parts of the internship was monitoring the Eastern Bluebird nest boxes because I was able to observe the entire nesting process, from nests and eggs to newly hatched chicks and growing young birds. It was rewarding to see the direct impact of our monitoring efforts on local wildlife conservation. Another memorable experience was working in the woods while rerouting trails, where we frequently encountered Eastern box turtles in their natural habitat. These moments reminded me why protecting natural areas is so important. Overall, this internship strengthened my passion for conservation, increased my confidence working in the field, and confirmed that I want to pursue a career focused on protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems.

Photo 1: Monitoring Eastern Bluebird nest boxes throughout the nesting season, from nests and eggs to baby birds. One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to watch the young birds develop while helping support bluebird conservation.

Photo 2: Rerouting trails to reduce erosion and improve long-term sustainability. One of my favorite parts of working in the woods was seeing so many Eastern box turtles throughout the preserves.

08/16/2026

Our faculty had a busy and fun summer but we can't wait to be back with our students tomorrow! Photos: Dr. King speaking at the Everybody’s Climate Series at the San Francisco Public Library (followed by swimming!), Dr. Jeff working at one of his wetland sites, flame azaleas from Dr. Rossell, Ed Schwarzman and students surveying rare species in the Cherokee National Forest, and Dr. Jackie geologic mapping along the Tuckaseegee River.

06/26/2026

Abby Sgan (ENVS '24) successfully defended her M.S. thesis in hydrogeology (Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences) at Clemson today. (Dr. Jeff was on her master's committee). Congrats Abby!

05/21/2026

05/09/2026

Well that's a wrap! Today was the usual mix of bittersweet feelings as we wished our graduates well on their next journey. Go Bulldogs!

04/28/2026

It is that time of year again! Our mineralogy students are competing for the annual mineral cup! .mincup

You can vote here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy0XhSjrgn-34wlOFiJN2gC6YjSpnYlNIdKfLt3KrsfFORNw/viewform

04/25/2026

Junior Anele Saige and senior Anaya Harry traveled to Vermont with Dr. Rossell to attend the Northeast Natural History Conference. They presented their undergraduate research on green alder, visited a bioremediation site on Lake Champlain, met a conservation dog, and experienced April snow in the North Country!

04/21/2026

Today we proudly celebrate our undergraduate research students! They worked hard and displayed some insightful findings from their work. Great job everyone!

04/13/2026

You are invited to a lecture by our guest, Jennifer Bauer, from Appalachian Landside Consultants this Thursday! Appalachian Landslide Consultants, PLLC