News

A white banner image featuring the logos for NC Space Grant, NC Sea Grant, and WRRI

Dec 18, 2023

NC WRRI, Sea Grant and Space Grant Seek Communications Director

Three statewide federal partnership programs based at NC State University are seeking a communications director. The application process is detailed in the full posting at jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/194665.

Nov 20, 2023

NC WRRI’s 2023 Faculty Researchers Announced

North Carolina’s Water Resource Research Institute (WRRI) is pleased to announce newly funded faculty researchers for 2023. This biennial request for proposals is jointly supported by the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The researchers are investigating a wide variety of water resources needs, including methods to improve wastewater…

Background image of researcher and community member talking outside the house of the community member. Text reads, "Community Collaborative Research Grant - Apply by January 26, 2024." At bottom are three logos: NC Water Resources Reseaerch Institute; NC Sea Grant; Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology, and Science.

Nov 1, 2023

Accepting Proposals for 2024 Community Collaboration Research Grants

Contact: Kaitlin Tucker, ktucker@ncsu.edu North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), NC Sea Grant, and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science (KIETS) are accepting proposals for the Community Collaborative Research Grant (CCRG) program for projects to start in May 2024. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on January 26,…

"NC Water Resources Research Institute 26th Annual Conference; March 20-21, 2024; Now Accepting Abstracts"

Oct 5, 2023

NC WRRI Calls for 2024 Conference Abstracts

UPDATE December 4, 2023: The abstract submission deadline has been extended to December 17. Now Accepting Abstracts WRRI’s annual conference brings together students, faculty, and practitioners from multiple sectors and disciplines working in water resources across North Carolina. The 2024 event will take place on March 20-21 in Raleigh. NC WRRI is accepting abstracts until…

The main street of Conover, NC, a small southern town. Small shops line the street on each side, and light green water tower is visible in the distance.

Oct 3, 2023

Free Mapping Tool Will Help Small NC Towns Meet Water Quality Requirements

The world is digitized. From data to images to maps, they can be found in a digital format. One NC group is working to make that true for NC’s water utilities boundaries. A collaborative research team led by Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability is working to lessen the digital divide for…

In a brightly lit room, someone fills up a clear glass with water from the sink.

Sep 27, 2023

NC WRRI Fellows Work to Improve Well Water Quality Through PFAS Research

BY EMMA SCARDINA Graduate students Tiffany VanDerwerker of North Carolina State University and Charlotte Robbins of UNC Chapel Hill are supporting rural communities through their research on PFAS in well water. VanDerwerker’s research considered an alternative water source for homes that have contaminated well water. Robbins’ project analyzes how PFAS leaks from landfills into surrounding…

Marsh at sunset. Sky appears in bands of pink, blue, and purple. Green marsh grass in the middle, and blue water at the bottom, with reflections of marsh grass.

Sep 18, 2023

Now Accepting Applications for Mountains to Sea Graduate Research Fellowship

For immediate release Contact: John Fear, jmfear@ncsu.edu or Kaitlin Tucker, ktucker@ncsu.edu The NC Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) and North Carolina Sea Grant are seeking applications for graduate student research projects. Graduate students in good academic standing and currently enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in North Carolina are eligible to apply by 5 p.m.…

A screenshot showing a cartoon animation of two students talking. Off to the right side, large text states, "What makes water renewable, and how can we keep it that way?"

Aug 7, 2023

“Keeping Water Renewable” Lesson Plan Receives National Award

This year’s APEX Awards for Publication Excellence have honored Keeping Water Renewable: 5E Lesson, a free, standards-aligned lesson on renewable water for middle and high school students. The interactive blended lesson provides a thorough explanation of the water cycle, including how climate change and human interference affect water quality and availability and contains enough material for 10 to 12 class periods. The lesson was developed by PBS NC, in partnership with NC Water Resources Research Institute, North Carolina Sea Grant, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality. It is available on the PBS NC website.

Jul 19, 2023

The Road Less Traveled: An Academic Journey from Undergrad to Professor

Emine Fidan, former NC WRRI and NC Sea Grant Joint Funding recipient defended her dissertation in November 2022 and began her appointment as a professor in January 2023. When asked what advice she would give to other graduates, she said, “I would just say not to be discouraged by your failures in research. And that’s because I had so many. A huge part of my Ph.D. was just trying something new, finding out that it didn’t work, trying something else, and then reaching another obstacle.”

May 3, 2023

NC WRRI Releases New Strategic Plan, Highlights Research and Engagement Initiatives

The North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute recently released a new strategic plan to guide the program’s investments toward effective responses to the state’s immediate and long-term needs in water resources management. The updated plan is available on the NC WRRI website, along with a document highlighting research and engagement initiatives. “This plan represents input…