Summer Undergraduate Research Program’s digital switch proving successful

SURP Goes Digital - The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Western Carolina University is taking a different approach this year, a recalibration for the times.  

Explore the Research  

Alumna Helping Local Wildlife

Anyone who has ever traveled along Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge near the North Carolina-Tennessee border knows how dangerous that stretch of highway can be. With its narrow lanes, twisting and winding curves through the mountains, rockslides, and speeding drivers, that portion of highway has been notorious for accidents. Well, just imagine what it must be like for wildlife living in those beautiful mountains that make up Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Pisgah and Cherokee national forests.  

Highlands Biological Station begins bird banding project

In conjunction with an international effort, the Highlands Biological Station has initiated a bird banding project in the high-elevation mountain community.  

The Historical Significance and Contemporary Relevance of Juneteenth

Adam Thomas is an assistant professor of history at Western Carolina University whose research examines questions of slavery, anti-slavery warfare, emancipation, race, gender, memory, childhood and kinship in colonial North America and the early U.S. We asked Dr. Thomas to provide some insight into the historical significance of Juneteenth and what the event means during these times of civil unrest and protest.  

Fire Ant Problems Increase in Mountains, Including Higher Elevations of the Region

Move over murder hornets. Fire ants, those vicious insects with a painful sting and destructive ways, are becoming more pervasive in the mountains, according to research from the Highlands Biological Station of Western Carolina University.  

Assistant professor seeks volunteers for study on obtaining, evaluating COVID-19 information

Scott Eldredge, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, is seeking volunteers to participate in a research study exploring how people obtain and assess information about the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Fire ant problems increase in mountains, including higher elevations of the region

Move over murder hornets. Fire ants, those vicious insects with a painful sting and destructive ways, are becoming more pervasive in the mountains, according to research from the Highlands Biological Station of Western Carolina University.  

Annie Vasquez: The Value of People

Annie Vasquez, a graduating senior studying Spanish, was drawn to Western Carolina University by its close-knit community and the importance the university places on every student. She knew that becoming a Catamount would mean that she would be more than just a number in a system, rather she would be valued as a person.  

Summer Undergraduate Research Program makes scholar team selections

Selections have been made for the 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Program, an intensive eight-week scholarly activity at Western Carolina University that this year will be implemented with distance learning and online research components.