The Sustainable Carolina Podcast

As the Carolina campus grows, special attention is placed on design, construction and renovation. As the oldest public University in the United States, there's a balance that comes with maintaining historic character while also creating efficient, modern buildings to support campus operations. It's urban planning at a University scale.Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Services Howard Wertheimer and Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler discuss Carolina's newest construction projects how how they're working to incorporate efficient, modern buildings onto UNC's campus.Then, Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability Executive Director Jeff Mittelstadt and Associate Director Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability present on UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School's new Bell Hall, designed to meet LEED sustainability standards.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

This is the second installment of our summer bonus episodes, which are re-releases of our webinar series. This second episode explores UNC's research enterprise and how labs on campus are incorporating energy and water efficiency efforts in their spaces. At UNC, campus labs are the largest consumers of these two resources, so making strides to lessen our environmental impact while implementing cost saving measures is beneficial for everyone.This webinar originally aired in October 2025, in celebration of University Research Week.Panelists include:Sustainable Carolina’s Melanie Elliott and Langley SmithBowles Center for Alcohol Studies Research Specialist Todd O'BuckleyRenewable Energy Special Projects Committee Co-chairs Max Nelson and Tommy ZuchinalliUNC Biospecimen Processing Facility Research Specialist Brent ChenSustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

We "wood" love to talk about forests and trees forever, but to wrap up the season, we're bringing you three bonus episodes of the Sustainable Carolina Podcast.The episodes are re-releases of our webinar series. This first episode comes from ourWelcome Back Webinar, which aired in fall 2025. It features Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler, Sustainability Analyst Melanie Elliott, and UNC Transportation and Parking. In it, we discuss the history of Sustainable Carolina, our current initiatives, athletics sustainability, and safe and efficient campus transportation.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

During her time at Carolina, Alexia Civit took full advantage of hands-on offerings at the UNC Institute for the Environment. She's traveled to the Currituck Sound, Morehead City, Amazon and Galapagos for hands-on environmental experiences.In this episode, she talks specifically about her experiences at the Outer Banks Field Site. Studying on the island, participating in field studies, and completing an internship opened her eyes to how truly vulnerable the Outer Banks are to our changing climate. Upon her return to Chapel Hill this spring, she had a better understanding of the intersection between policy and natural resource management. As a spring 2026 graduate, she looks forward to a career where she can create an impact and make change.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Fresh off an epic 2,200-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, Florencia Loncán began applying for her first post-grad job in spring 2025. She landed at the Triangle Land Conservancy, in a position she feels was made for her, where she could connect with the local community and get out into the field.Florencia is a double Tar Heel, having earned an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a master’s degree from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.For her, conservation runs deep. As a graduate student, she discovered her love for Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where she spent a summer working for Discover Life America. When summer came to a close she did not want to leave. Lucky for her, she found a way back the following spring, when she completed her master’s thesis project in the Park.The sum of these experiences makes our conversation with Florencia a dynamic one. Sometimes it’s hard to believe she’s just three years removed from graduate school.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Fran, UNC Grounds' green recycling program began. That's because the University inherited the grinder used during storm cleanup, which made wood chips from downed trees.Two decades later, University Arborist Tom Bythell asked administration to purchase a new grinder in order to continue green waste recycling program.And a few years after that, Carolina Tree Heritage came along. The nonprofit, housed within the UNC Institute for the Environment, aims to utilize the oldest, biggest fallen trees on campus. The program proved to be an excellent opportunity for Tom to recycle even more trees, specifically ones that were too large for the University's grinder.With these two methods of recycling trees on campus, the University recycles a majority of its landscape scraps.Join us for this episode with UNC Institute for the Environment Associate Director Susan Cohen and University Arborist Tom Bythell, who manage the Carolina Tree Heritage program.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Forests impact water and air quality, and our quality of life. That’s why we’re exploring forests and trees in this season of the Sustainable Carolina Podcast.In this episode we talk with Jay Leutze, a double Tar Heel, author and land trust professional. An unscripted childhood outside, a love for reading, and dedication to his community has led to a life of stewardship and leadership. Earning his degree from the UNC School of Law taught him humility and respect. Today, he works with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, where he helps buy land for the purpose of conservation and preservation. After watching the community he lives in go through Hurricane Helene, he saw people set aside their differences to help one another. He truly believes that nature and conservation is a space that unites us.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

The new season of the Sustainable Carolina podcast kicks off with a special episode, recorded live during a Carolina Engagement Week Panel. From Highlands, North Carolina to the highlands of the Galápagos, Carolina’s communicators have stories to tell. Venture outside the confines of Chapel Hill to learn about the students and faculty conducting community-based research projects for a better future. This episodes discusses light pollution in the Outer Banks, hemlock health in the Appalachian Mountains, water security in the Galápagos and much, much more. This episode features:Alyssa LaFaro, Research Communications Manager, UNC Office of Research Communications, Office of the Vice Chancellor for ResearchKelly Weaver, Deputy Director, UNC Center for Galapagos StudiesEmily Williams, Director of Communications, UNC Institute for the EnvironmentAbigail Brewer, Communications and Engagement Specialist, Sustainable CarolinaSustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Six million people living in the United States do not have access to safely managed sanitation. But Amy Kryston is cautiously optimistic that this public health problem can be solved in our lifetimes. In 2022, Amy began a deep dive into this staggering statistic. Through the UNC Institute for the Environment's Environmental Justice Graduate Research Award, she wrote a systematic review  on the social barriers to adequate wastewater treatment. Her work was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2024. She hopes the review can be a jumping off point for policymakers, municipalities and governments working to address this public health problem.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

"Anyone who thinks they're too small to make a difference has never met the honey bee." Nathan Halsey, co-president of the Carolina Beekeeping Club lives by this quote. As a high school student during the pandemic, he picked up beekeeping. When he arrived to Carolina, he knew he wanted to continue his business, Halsey's Hives. But he also wanted to make an impact on campus. In this episode, he shares how he balances running a business, building awareness for beekeeping at Carolina and succeeding in academics.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

On the fourth and final bonus episode, we learn about applying research out in the real world and engaging students in the process. First, UNC Department of Earth Marine and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Antonia Sebastian talks about her research on 100-year floodplains, urban development and the social implications of development. She also shares how her research influences the ways she engages with students at the UNC Sustainable Triangle Field Site.Then, Research Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science Kathleen Gray encourages students interested in pursuing research to engage with faculty at Carolina. She talks about the far-reaching efforts of CPES. The group partners with municipalities to share important data and also with schools to share the power of science.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

This third bonus episode explores water. First, we take to the skies with UNC Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Professor Tamlin Pavelsky. Pavelsky, who serves as the freshwater science lead for NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, shares findings from the Atlantic Coast to the Yukon Delta to the Kakhovka Dam. SWOT is visualizing rivers and lakes in ways we've never seen before.In the second half of the episode we hear from Anna Patterson, program director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center. Anna begins by sharing the challenges water utilities, especially those that are underfunded, face when trying to manage stormwater. She shares how green infrastructure can change the way we view stormwater and how utilities might go about paying for this type of infrastructure.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

This episode explores two topics in global public health, presented at our spring Sustainability Research Symposium. Both researchers begin their conversations by sharing how our changing climate impacts their research and respective fields of study.Lindsey Smith Taillie, Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Nutrition associate professor and associate chair of academics, shares research she's completed in Latin America and the United States. She talks about how Brazil is leading the way in incorporating sustainability into their dietary guidelines.Then, Abhishek Bhatia, a doctoral student in the Carolina Health Informatics Program, talks about analyzing post-disaster data to understand how countries respond to humanitarian crises. He compares and contrasts the work he did in two different countries — Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and India — after major flooding in 2018.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In the first of four bonus episodes this season, we have Mike Piehler and Chloe Hall's talks from our April 2024 Sustainability Research Symposium. The research presented in this episode takes place at two of the UNC Institute for the Environment's field sites. Piehler's episode looks at blue carbon storage at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences and Hall's research takes us to the Highlands Biological Station, where she studied microplastic particles in mountain streams.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Ileana Fenwick is both a marine scientist and a data scientist. Pursuing her doctorate in the UNC Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, she searches for patterns in fisheries ecology data. Because she strongly believes that greater data transparency and inclusion will help solve the climate change puzzle, she challenges herself to share her own data and code with other scientists. Outside of her research, Fenwick works to help other Black environmental and marine researchers feel less isolated in their work. With direction from Openscapes and a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, she leads the Pathways to Open Science Program. The remote, 6-part program brings in Black researchers and speakers to talk about data-intensive science with participants. This work is made possible through partner support from Black in Marine Science, Black Women in Ecology, Evolution and Marine Science and seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Ella Feathers, a senior at Carolina, wears many hats in the sustainability space at Carolina. She has served on the Carolina Sustainability Council and currently co-chairs the UNC Student Government Department of Environmental Affairs. She also works as a science communicator for the Data Driven EnviroLab, led by Angel Hsu. In her episode, Ella talks about recognizing burnout, carrying a mindset of progress and  showing up in the sustainability space. Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

On Earth Day 2024, Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler gives an update on the University's sustainability initiative, Sustainable Carolina. He walks through Carolina's Climate Action Plan, Water Plan and progress made from 2020 - 2024. This audio comes from a video, shared on the UNC Institute for the Environment's YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/HpjasYF_IaM?feature=sharedSustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Between his day job and his passion projects, Will Freund gets the best of both worlds. As the community engagement specialist for Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, he leads programs for adults, teens and our youngest North Carolinians. And every April when Morehead's Science Expo rolls around, he runs the show. Freund has a natural curiosity for the world around, and it's contagious to those around him. His debut documentary explores perceptions surrounding climate change; his second gets personal, as he travels with his father to Blue Glacier in Olympic National Park. Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Julie Jacobson Vann made her way down to North Carolina to pursue her passion — and Ph.D. — in public health. She grew up in Wisconsin knowing the importance of water quality and recycling. So when she began her career at the UNC School of Nursing, it only made sense that she would incorporate environmental health and sustainability into the courses she taught. Most recently, her interest, advocacy and volunteerism led her to be named the sustainability liaison at the UNC School of Nursing.Join us for this episode to learn about the greening of health care and why it's important we teach the next generation of health leaders about the importance of sustainability.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In this episode, Assistant Professor and Voit Gilmore Fellow Amanda DelVecchia talks about her lab's work in understanding greenhouse gas flux — the natural release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere — in rivers and streams. Then Drew Coleman, chair of the UNC Environment, Energy and Ecology (E3P) program talks about balancing Earth's ecosystems. Specifically, he talks about his partnership with the NC Collaboratory exploring how mining companies can be more sustainable in their extraction processes. Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In the third of four bonus episodes, we bring you a conversation about water and air quality from two centers based out of UNC Institute for the Environment.  First, Megan Lane talks about the work the Center for Public Engagement with Science is doing, especially as it has to do with water quality. Then Sarav Arunachalam, director of the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development, talks about a case study his team conducted on the adoption of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks and what that could do to improve air quality.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In the second of four summer bonus episodes, we talk with Xuewei Wang of Data Driven EnviroLab and Noah Kittner of Gillings School of Global Public Health. The Data-Driven EnviroLab us using both large data sets and citizen science to analyze the impacts of urban heat islands within different communities. Kittner has also worked with the Data-Driven EnviroLab to think about ways to help emerging sustainability-related technologies available to households of varying socioeconomic statuses. _____Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

This is the first of our four summer bonus episodes. In this episode we hear from experts at the Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems (CoFiRES) and the Environmental Finance Center (EFC). With two different lenses, they talk about infrastructure, the environment and affordability of public services.Most of us don’t think about everything that has to happen before we flip on a light switch to turn on a light, or how we access water from the tap, but after listening to this episode, you may find yourself thinking more about these things!Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

John Richardson isn't sure his career path existed when he was in college. Inspired by his parents, who coupled environmental stewardship with municipal service in their careers,  Richardson earned a master's degree in urban and regional planning. Since 2007, he's been the Town of Chapel Hill's go-to person for sustainability. In the 16 years since he's been with the town, he's nurtured a robust relationship with UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, students and staff. In the past few years, his team has transformed to a team of one to an office of three.UNC-Chapel Hill Chief Sustainability Office Mike Piehler talks with Richardson for this town-and-gown episode of the Sustainable Carolina Podcast.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In 2022, UNC Institute for the Environment and UNC School of Law's Center for Climate, Energy, Environment & Economics (CE3) launched the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI). After just a few short months working for the ETI, Alex Hopkins became interim director. Mike Piehler guest hosts this episode of the Sustainable Carolina Podcast, in which Alex talks about strategies for engaging with policymakers and the University community. He also discusses the strengths of being housed within a University, and how he plans to bolster these strengths to help put Inflation Reduction Act dollars to good use in the energy transition. Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

When Melanie Elliott graduated from Carolina, she had no idea she'd be playing a big role in one of the University's greatest challenges: achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. In this episode, she talks about tracking campus emissions, understanding the latest trends in the energy transition, and working with students to pass on knowledge (and excitement) about sustainability.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

Green roofs enhance sustainability by slowing rainwater runoff, reducing energy consumption, and more. The Carolina Drone Lab (CARDNL), housed within the UNC Institute for the Environment, is taking a closer look at Carolina's green roofs through its Islands in the Sky project. The project, made possible through the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)/Lenovo Instructional Innovation Grants program, will reveal how well campus green roofs are performing. CARDNL Research Technician Peggy Mullin and EcoStudio Intern Steve Yoon ('23) join us to talk about this project and more. CARDNL facilitates the use of drones and sensors, on campus and abroad, to further research and innovation. Though the group has its own projects, they also collaborate with researchers across campus to give them a bird's eye view of geological features, archaeological sites, and changing coastlines — just to name a few. UNC Institute for the Environment Associate Director Susan Cohen leads the lab.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In this episode, we sit down with David Gorelick, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems (CoFiRES). Gorelick and Abigail Brewer (podcast host) begin by reflecting on their time studying abroad together on the Galápagos Islands as undergraduate students. They discuss Gorelick's academic journey, and how, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't leave Chapel Hill. Then, they dig into a 2022 CoFiRES study that used supercomputers to model water demands and risks in the Research Triangle.  The study's findings can be applied to any place where water providers are allocating supplies to communities. This is especially important in terms of utilizing sustainable management strategies in the face of a changing climate.About Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems (CoFiRES)The Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems (CoFiRES) is jointly housed in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC’s Institute for the Environment. The Center, led by Greg Characklis, focuses on understanding the links between financial losses and drought, hurricanes and other extreme environmental events. About the Center for Galápagos StudiesBuilt on Darwin’s foundations, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito formed a strategic partnership in 2006 to address the challenges facing the Galápagos Islands. Today, the Center for Galápagos Studies coordinates Galápagos programs at the main Chapel Hill campus and all Carolina activities in the Galápagos archipelago itself. The Center also administrates the joint UNC/USFQ Galapagos Science Center, a state-of-the-art research center located on San Cristobal Island.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

*Please note: This episode contains discussions around anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.Some individuals are making food choices based on carbon footprint, according to Melissa Munn-Chernoff, assistant professor for the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (CEED) at UNC-Chapel Hill. After UNC CEED Founding Director Cynthia Bulik approached Munn-Chernoff about a study to better understand the correlation between climate change and mental health, the group began the Center's Eco-Concern & Eating Behaviors Research Study. On this episode, we hear from Munn-Chernoff and two students — Baiyu Qi (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health) and Emily Bulik-Sullivan (UNC School of Medicine).Links Mentioned in this EpisodeUNC Mental Health ResourcesHelp us Understand the Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health (UNC Exchanges | June 21, 2022) Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue (Pew Center | May 26, 2021)This is how much meat and dairy hurt the climate (Vox | February 1, 2022)Rapid global phaseout of animal agriculture has the potential to stabilize greenhouse gas levels for 30 years and offset 68 percent of CO2 emissions this century (PLOS | February 1, 2022)Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

In the first episode of the new season, Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler talks about the collaborations and partnerships that make campus sustainability work possible. Piehler discusses the significance of the team's two recently published plans, the Climate Action Plan and the Water Plan. The episode concludes with a conversation about how students can get involved on campus to build and balance societal well-being, ecological integrity, and economic prosperity now and into the future. Links mentioned in the episode:HanesBrands Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Fox talks people, planet, and profit at the 2022 CleanTech Summit. A list of student organizations is available on our website. Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

I’m Vik Agabekov, the Program Manager for Sustainable Carolina and this week I am joined by our Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, Mike Piehler. We are going in depth on the flurry of sustainability news that happened in April   and unpacking the transition to sustainable Carolina, outlining the Climate Action Plan Draft, and looking behind the scenes on the brand new Champion Sustainability Fund. Stay tuned and hear it on the sustainable Carolina Podcast!Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.