Research

Our Research

Fieldwork, Data, and Discovery

Faculty and students in Earth, Environment and Planning work in the field, lab, and community to study the forces shaping land, water, climate, and the places people call home.

Explore Research Areas Student Research
Student conducting marsh fieldwork at a groundwater monitoring station

Many Disciplines. One Department.

EEP brings together researchers working across atmospheric science, geography, geology, environmental studies, geospatial data science, and community and regional planning. Our work links field observation, laboratory analysis, spatial technologies, community-engaged research, and policy-relevant science.

25

Full-Time Faculty

Active

Research Labs

Local to Global

Impact

Hands-on

Student Experiences

Explore Our Research Areas

Faculty often work across more than one area. These six themes give students, collaborators, and community partners a clear place to start.

GIS & Remote Sensing

Spatial data, remote sensing, drones, GIS, modeling, and Earth observation.

7 faculty

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Hydrology & Water Resources

Groundwater, surface water, watersheds, water quality, and environmental geology.

5 faculty

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Coastal & Marine Sciences

Coasts, estuaries, wetlands, fisheries, shorelines, marine systems, and coastal hazards.

9 faculty

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Climate & Hazards

Weather, climate, disaster recovery, adaptation, mitigation, and community resilience.

17 faculty

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Geology & Geophysics

Earth materials, geologic history, structural geology, geochemistry, and geophysical methods.

10 faculty

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Planning & Sustainability

Land use, housing, transportation, environmental justice, policy, and sustainable communities.

11 faculty

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How We Study Earth, Environment and Communities

Fieldwork

Collecting data in natural and built environments.

Lab Analysis

Testing materials, chemistry, water, and earth systems.

GIS & Remote Sensing

Mapping and analyzing change with spatial tools.

Modeling & Data

Using models and data science to test ideas.

Community Research

Working with partners on shared questions.

Policy Analysis

Connecting research to planning and decisions.

Research Area Spotlights

Each spotlight pairs field imagery, a short area summary, and faculty who work in that theme. Faculty may appear in more than one area.

Students working with a Weather in a Tank apparatus

Research Area

Climate & Hazards

Work in this area spans atmospheric processes, climate variability, tropical systems, disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, and the planning choices that shape resilience.

Climate variability
Weather systems
Hazard mitigation
Community resilience

Faculty who study this area

Beth BeeDr. Beth BeeMeg BlomeDr. Meg BlomeStephen CulverDr. Stephen CulverRosana FerreiraDr. Rosana Ferreira
Stu HamiltonDr. Stu HamiltonGuangxiao HuDr. Guangxiao HuEduardo LeorriDr. Eduardo LeorriAlex MandaDr. Alex Manda
Anuradha MukherjiDr. Anuradha MukherjiNadine HeckDr. Nadine HeckKiera O'DonnellDr. Kiera O’DonnellJeff PopkeDr. Jeff Popke
Steven RichterDr. Steven RichterThomas RickenbachDr. Thomas RickenbachMatthew SirianniDr. Matthew SirianniHannah SirianniDr. Hannah Sirianni
Hong-Bing SuDr. Hong-Bing Su
Green Careers panelists speaking with students

Research Area

Planning & Sustainability

Faculty study land use, housing, transportation, environmental justice, sustainability, public policy, livelihoods, and the everyday work of building stronger communities.

Land use and housing
Environmental justice
Community development
Sustainability policy

Faculty who study this area

Beth BeeDr. Beth BeeStu HamiltonDr. Stu HamiltonGuangxiao HuDr. Guangxiao HuMisun HurDr. Misun Hur
Andrew JacobsDr. Andrew JacobsAnuradha MukherjiDr. Anuradha MukherjiNadine HeckDr. Nadine HeckKiera O'DonnellDr. Kiera O’Donnell
Jeff PopkeDr. Jeff PopkeAndrea PresottoDr. Andrea PresottoSteven RichterDr. Steven Richter

Centers and Facilities

EEP is home to two research and service centers that connect faculty expertise, student training, and community partners across eastern North Carolina.

Center for Geographic Information Science

The center provides GIS analysis, mapping, and geospatial project support for university, government, and community partners while training students in applied geospatial work.

Visit the Center

Water Resources Center

The center advances research, education, and outreach on groundwater, surface water, and water quality, helping communities understand and manage the region’s water resources.

Visit the Center

Student Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research

Build research experience through coursework, independent study, internships, and faculty projects.

Graduate Research

Work with faculty mentors on thesis, non-thesis, and applied research projects.

Field and Lab Work

Collect samples, use instruments, process data, and learn research methods directly.

GIS and Data Projects

Map, model, visualize, and analyze real data from communities and environments.

Community Projects

Partner with local agencies, nonprofits, and residents on applied research questions.

Research in Action

Students and faculty conducting environmental science fieldwork

ECU faculty lead STEM students in immersive environmental science research

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Students and community members at an internship event

Internship program fuels student growth, community success

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Student working outdoors in a natural resources setting

Jonah Dickerson finds passion and purpose in protecting natural resources

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People in a boat passing under a bridge

New Department of Earth, Environment and Planning prioritizes environment, communities

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Housing research meeting in Dare County

ECU faculty, students perform Dare County housing study

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Rural community capacity program participants

ECU celebrates graduates of Rural Community Capacity program

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Connect with EEP Research

Whether you are a prospective student, community partner, agency, nonprofit, or researcher, EEP faculty collaborate on projects that address environmental change, geospatial challenges, water resources, coastal systems, planning, and community resilience.

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