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May 2026 Newsletter

May 19, 2026
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Southeast CASC News

There’s still time to register for our May science seminar on Assessing patterns of subterranean biodiversity and microclimates to inform cave management and conservation with Skylar Hopkins tomorrow May 20 at 1pm ET.

2022-23 Global Change Research Fellow Christina Perella co-authored an article on Setting Boundaries for Social Ecological Systems Research.

2025-26 Global Change Research Fellow, Andrew Balder, shares his work on coastal wetlands in his researcher spotlight.

Global Change Research Fellows Sarah Grace Lott (2025-26) and Jenero Knowles (2023-24), took home the 1st place and People’s Choice Awards respectively at the NC State Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering 3-minute thesis competition. 

Erin Seekamp and 2025-26 Global Change Research Fellow Peizhe Li are co-authors on a Climate Adaptation Planning of Historic Structures at Cape Lookout National Seashore Partner Organizations’ Member Survey Report.

Brett Scheffers was named as one of the 2026 University of Florida Research Foundation Professors.

Caren Cooper is among four NC State faculty members to win the 2026 Outstanding Research Award.

Community News from the Southeast

The Wildlife Management Institute is running a survey seeking feedback on the Foundational Elements of Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative has released state roadmaps targeting salt marsh conservation. 

The North Carolina State Climate Office has put together a Southeast Heat Monitor and hosted a webinar on New Advances in Research and Tools for Heat Health Planning.

North Carolina SeaGrant is calling for presentations for the 2026 NC Sea Grant Coastal Conference by June 1.

NAISMA is offering a forest pest and pathogen short course.

The Miccosukee Tribe held a 24-hour fishing tournament with the aim of ridding the waterways of exotic swamp invaders.

The Native American/Indigenous Student Alliance at Duke University held their 25th annual powwow.

The Lumbee Tribe held a federal recognition celebration at UNC Pembroke.

Visit USET Climate Change Headlines for highlights from across the USET region

Gatherings

Webinars

Events

Find more events on our calendar.

Resources and Publications

Resources

  • US Fire Weather Days. Climate Central has examined historical trends in fire weather, a combination of hot, dry, windy conditions, across the U.S. They examined historical data from 1973-2025 and compiled graphics and interactive data sets.

Publications

More than reason: the roles of emotion in nature conservation decision-making processes. Oryx

In this article, the author conducted semi-structured interviews, a workshop, and asked conservationist professionals to engage in the diary method to see if and how their emotion is involved in decision-making and whether external structures influence this involvement. The author found that emotions played a role in decision-making by acting as a way of knowing, as a (de)motivator, and as a relationship shaper. They also highlighted the influence of organizational culture in these processes.

Turning the tide on invasives: A global meta-analysis of native revegetation strategies for effective restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology

The authors conducted a global meta-analysis of native plant revegetation-based restoration experiments to assess their outcomes. They found that removing invasive plants before revegetation with native plants significantly increased the native plant community in the area and reduced the non-native plant community. They go on to provide practical guidelines for effective restoration strategies aimed for enhancing invasion-resistance in plant communities.  

The effects of soil burn severity and slope steepness on post-wildfire hillslope runoff and soil erosion using a portable rainfall simulator in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Soils and Sediments

In this paper, the authors used a portable rainfall simulator at various wildfire-impacted sites to compare field conditions influencing runoff and soil erosion post-wildfire. They found that soil burn severity explained increases in runoff and erosion rates more than slope steepness. This can have important implications for making management and recovery decisions for protecting downslope aquatic ecosystems and water resources. 

Opportunities

Student Announcements

The National Parks Service Scientists in Parks program is accepting applications for the winter cohort. Apply by June 14.

Grassroots Ecology is accepting applications for their Habitat Restoration Internship. Apply by June 14. 

The North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies is seeking two student interns to work on AI & climate applications projects. Open until filled.

Hiring Announcements

William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science are seeking a Water Quality Project Coordinator. Apply by May 25.

The UN is seeking a communications specialist consultant for the Third World Ocean Assessment. Submit by May 25.

The University of Michigan is seeking an Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow. Apply by May 30.

Duke University Marine Lab at Beaufort is seeking a Research Technician III. Open until filled.

The Nature Conservancy is hiring a Global Director of Biodiversity Science. Open until filled.

The Global Water Security Center and the Climate Measurements Center of Excellence are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in Water Metrics. Open until filled.

Lynker is hiring an Evaluation Specialist. Open until filled.

Funding Announcements

The NASEM Gulf Research Program and NOAA Office of Education request proposals for Resilience Education projects. Due by June 10.