"The microplastic footprint Helene left behind was pretty substantial." A new study co-authored by GCC affiliate Dr. Austin Gray found microplastic deposition increased three to 22 times at three Western North Carolina sites during the storm. Article: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Hurricane Helene deposited nearly one-fifth of annual microplastics at one North Carolina site

Microplastics are often linked to urban areas near roads and development, but a new study shows that wind and rain carry them from the atmosphere into remote headwaters — a process intensified by…

news.vt.edu

Research co-authored by IGC alum Dr. Ben Kligman describes a previously unknown 209-million-year-old flying reptile discovered in Arizona and provides new insights into the origins of pterosaurs. More: www.ecoportal.net/en/north-ame...

Arizona fossil reveals previously unknown 209-million-year-old flying reptile from North America

Discover North America's oldest pterosaur, *Eotephradactylus mcintireae*, and a lost Triassic world filled with unique prehistoric creatures.

ecoportal.net

Congratulations to GCC affiliate Dr. Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, whose project, “Next-generation sensing of environmental contaminants,” was selected for the College of Engineering's 2026 Major Grants Initiative. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

College of Engineering's Major Grants Initiative funds interdisciplinary research

With topics from infrastructure and critical minerals to robotics, extended reality, and more, the 10 funded projects include both emerging collaborations and established teams.

news.vt.edu

IGC Fellow James Moloney shared his research with the New River Valley community at August's Science on Tap event, exploring mosquito biology, behavior, and the chemical signals mosquitoes use to locate plants and other resources. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

IGC Fellow James Moloney Brings Mosquito Science to Science on Tap

IGC fellow James Moloney shared his mosquito research at Science on Tap, helping community members learn how mosquitoes find food and navigate their environment.

globalchange.vt.edu

Explore the fascinating world of insects through hands-on activities, live exhibits, and opportunities to meet the experts who study them. Hokie #BugFest is happening at the Squires Student Center on October 10th from 10am-3pm. This is a free event for all ages! 🔗 shorturl.at/JEaNO

Should you rethink what belongs in the recycling bin? A recent TIME article features GCC affiliate Dr. Jennifer Russell on common recycling misconceptions, the pitfalls of "wish-cycling," and how informed choices can help reduce contamination. More: time.com/article/2026...

Stop Making These Recycling Mistakes

It's actually okay to recycle that greasy pizza box.

time.com

Community members enjoyed a hands-on look at paleontology during Virginia Tech's annual Fossil Unwrapping Party, facilitated by GCC affiliates Dr. Michelle Stocker and Dr. Sterling Nesbitt. Participants helped unwrap and identify fossil specimens. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Fossil Unwrapping Party Offers Hands-On Look at Paleontology

Community members gathered at Virginia Tech for the annual Fossil Unwrapping Party facilitated by GCC affiliates Dr. Sterling Nesbitt and Dr. Michelle Stocker.

globalchange.vt.edu

NASA-funded research involving GCC affiliates Dr. Cayelan Carey and Dr. R. Quinn Thomas will integrate Earth observation data into water quality forecasting models. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

The sky is the limit in water quality prediction

Tapping into a 13-year partnership, Virginia Tech's Center for Ecosystem Forecasting will work closely with the Western Virginia Water Authority on a new research project to integrate satellite data…

news.vt.edu

Using art & science to repurpose invasive species. Supported by an ICAT Roger and Debbie West Student Grant, a team including IGC Fellow Harrison Miles transformed invasive Tree-of-Heaven biomass into art paper. Story by @vt-invasivespecies.bsky.social: files.constantcontact.com/8fb82bc7401/...

Repurposing a Problem Into Art

This summer, an interdisciplinary graduate student team used support from the ICAT Roger and Debbie West Student Grant to transform Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven), a damaging invasive species in Southwest Virginia, into ecologically safe, handmade art paper.

files.constantcontact.com

Study emerging diseases in the Chilean Andes. A spring study abroad course led by GCC affiliate Dr. Luis Escobar combines coursework with a research expedition in Chile to explore how infectious diseases emerge across changing landscapes. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Study abroad takes students to the Andes to trace how diseases emerge

Led by disease ecologist Luis Escobar, a new spring-embedded course pairs classroom learning with field research across Chile’s coast, rainforests, and mountains. Learn about this and other study…

news.vt.edu

Climate change is increasing flood risks across Appalachia, but many communities lack the weather monitoring infrastructure needed to track extreme rainfall. The story features insights from GCC affiliate Dr. Craig Ramseyer. More: www.americanscientist.org/article/clim...

Climate Change Is Outpacing America’s Flood Data

Warmer air is fueling heavier downpours across the country, but the systems used to measure flood risk are outdated and unevenly distributed.

americanscientist.org

Congratulations to GCC affiliates Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis and Dr. J. Leighton Reid, recipients of the 2025-26 CALS Research Excellence Awards. Krometis was honored for applied research and Reid for basic research. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

GCC Faculty Honored with CALS Research Awards

GCC affiliates Leigh Anne Krometis and Leighton Reid earned the 2026 CALS Research Excellence Awards for outstanding achievements in basic and applied research.

globalchange.vt.edu

The Power of Giving Shorebirds a Little Space New research co-authored by GCC affiliate Dr. Ashley Dayer found that outreach campaigns encouraging beachgoers to give birds space reduced disturbance and allowed shorebirds to spend more time feeding and resting. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Giving shorebirds space on the beach makes a big difference

Community-based efforts led by Virginia Tech across Atlantic Flyway beaches are showing promising results for shorebirds.

news.vt.edu

FINAL CALL for GCC Undergrad Grants Projects addressing global change topics in science, engineering, social science, and the humanities are eligible for funding ranging from $250 - $1,000. Apply by TOMORROW September 25. More: globalchange.vt.edu/undergraduat...

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANTS

The GCC, with support from the FLSI, is proud to sponsor undergraduate students & their research projects that align with our mission for advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to…

globalchange.vt.edu

What can alligators teach us about American history? GCC affiliate Dr. Mark Barrow Jr. explores that question in Wild History, a new Substack featuring insights from his forthcoming book Gator!. Read: markvbarrowjr.substack.com/about

About - Wild History

Stories about people and wildlife in American culture, from the author of "Gator!". Click to read Wild History, by Mark V. Barrow, Jr., a Substack publication. Launched a month ago.

markvbarrowjr.substack.com

This summer, IGC Fellow Anu Rai joined the 2026 Summer School on Sustainability Governance at Rutgers University, where she explored interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability and connected with scholars from across North America. Full Postcard: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Postcard from the Field: Anu Rai's Summer School Experience

IGC Fellow Anu Rai shares a postcard about her summer school experience in sustainable governance.

globalchange.vt.edu

GCC affiliates Dr. Hannes De Deurwaerder and Dr. John Jelesko contributed articles to the spring edition of Virginia Forests, exploring the ecological importance of native vines and a closer look at poison ivy. Read More: digital-editions.todaymediacustom.com/virginia-for...

Virginia Forests Spring 2026

digital-editions.todaymediacustom.com

Congratulations 2026-27 IGC GSO Officers! Thank you to our outgoing GSO members for their service, and welcome to the new officers who will help support the IGC community through educational, social, and organizational initiatives. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Congratulations to New IGC GSO Officers for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

The IGC GSO exists to benefit the IGC community as a whole through student contributions and activities.

globalchange.vt.edu

IGC Fellow Matthew Mair spent the summer in Linz, Austria, completing an internship with the Energieinstitut at Johannes Kepler University Linz. While there, he contributed to research on how energy policies influence household electricity use. Postcard: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Postcard from the Field: Matthew Mair's Summer Research Experience in Austria

IGC Fellow Matthew Mair shares a postcard from his fellowship at the Energieinstitut in Austria.

globalchange.vt.edu

How Bird Feeding Supports Human Well-Being Research by GCC affiliates Drs. Kelley Langhans, Ashley Dayer, and Dana Hawley finds bird feeding is often associated with positive emotions, deeper engagement with nature, and a greater sense of meaning. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Why feeding birds can make you feel better

A research team led by Virginia Tech found that people connected feeding and watching birds with positive emotions, engagement, and a sense of meaning.

news.vt.edu

The GCC Fall Welcome Reception brought together more than 100 affiliates for an afternoon of connection and collaboration. Read more about this year's event: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

GCC Community Reconnects at Fall Welcome Reception

The GCC kicked off the new academic year with the annual Fall Welcome Reception at the Peggy Lee Hahn Horticulture Garden.

globalchange.vt.edu

The ISC enjoyed presenting to graduate students and faculty at the weekly Fish and Wildlife Noon Seminar (FAWNS). A big thank you to Dr. Robert Cooper for the invitation! 🐟🐗 #CNRE #VirginiaTech #InvasiveSpecies

Join us in welcoming the 2026-27 IGC Curriculum Committee! We are grateful to the GCC faculty and IGC fellows who recently completed their terms and look forward to working with our new and returning members. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Announcing the 2026-27 IGC Curriculum Committee

Meet the newest members of the Interfaces of Global Change Curriculum Committee (IG3C)!

globalchange.vt.edu

How does pollen move once it leaves a field? A study including GCC affiliate Dr. Hosein Foroutan combined drone sampling, ground measurements, and atmospheric modeling to establish a new approach for tracking and forecasting airborne pollen movement. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Research seeks better understanding of pollen movement from ground to sky

In a new study, researchers established an accurate methodology for tracking, measuring, and forecasting pollen dispersal of genetically engineered switchgrass at both the ground and atmospheric…

news.vt.edu

FINAL CALL for Ph.D. students interested in joining the IGC IGEP! Email Steph McBride by TOMORROW, September 11, to join the prospective fellows list and receive information about two required info sessions. More: globalchange.vt.edu/graduate/int...

Apply to the IGC IGEP

Ready to Apply? Start here!

globalchange.vt.edu

The ISC recently hosted a Lunch & Learn with our inaugural Mentoring Program cohort! Attendees enjoyed lunch & had the opportunity to network with their small peer mentoring groups before transitioning into a panel discussion on building meaningful partnerships 🤓

Join us in congratulating this year's Global Change Scholars! Through a partnership between the GCC and MAOP, these undergraduate students are recognized for excellence in academics, research, and community engagement. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Global Change Scholars!

The GCC is excited to congratulate our two Global Change Scholar award recipients!

globalchange.vt.edu

A $2M NIH award will support GCC affiliate Dr. James Weger-Lucarelli's research on how infected cells determine when to survive, die, and communicate with neighboring cells. More: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

NIH bets $2 million on a virologist studying how cells decide to die

Inside every infection, a microscopic war plays out with sacrifice, deception, and last-minute warnings between cells. A Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine virologist recently won a…

news.vt.edu

How is climate change affecting Southwest Virginia? At April's Science on Tap, GCC affiliate Dr. Craig Ramseyer discussed changing patterns of drought and precipitation and how forecasting tools can help communities prepare. More: communicatingscience.isce.vt.edu/news/Center_...

Science on Tap: Environmental changes in your backyard

June 12, 2026. Have you ever noticed environmental changes right in your own backyard? That question set the stage for a talk led by Katie Burke and three guests featured in her recent series, “A…

communicatingscience.isce.vt.edu

Introducing the 2026-27 GCC Advisory Committee Welcome to the new members who will help shape GCC policies, goals, and directives through 2028. Thank you to our outgoing members for their service and contributions over the past two years. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

Thank you and Welcome! 2026 GCC Advisory Board Transitions

Several Global Change Center faculty members will complete terms on the GCC Advisory Board this summer. Each member has shown great leadership through their research, teaching, and guidance of the…

globalchange.vt.edu