Aquaculture Education Makes a Splash with Reading at the Helm

a gray-haired man with a beard examines fish samples with a student in a lab

Dec 9, 2025

Aquaculture Education Makes a Splash with Reading at the Helm

Benjamin Reading’s passion for fish and aquaculture has fueled more than 20 years of teaching and research at NC State. Earlier this year, the American Fisheries Society honored him for his contributions to fisheries education.

fish swim among the wreckage of a sunken ship in the Atlantic ocean

Oct 27, 2025

The Graveyard of the Atlantic: From Shipwrecks to Sanctuaries for Sea Life

Bethany Wager, a doctoral student in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology, is investigating the haunting afterlife of sunken ships off the coast of North Carolina.

Sep 26, 2025

Pollinator Research Takes to the Skies with NASA Grant

As a North Carolina Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow, Gwen Kirschke is shooting for the stars — but not in the way you might think. At the Rocky Mountain Biological…

Jun 16, 2025

Fortifying the Future for Bees

With multiple projects focused on the behavior, health and environment of bees, researchers in the Department of Applied Ecology are dedicated to supporting the well-being of these important pollinators.

May 15, 2025

Laney Recognized for Decades of Dedication to Wildlife Conservation

Fisheries biologist Reid Wilson Laney, fondly known by friends and colleagues as Wilson, has been a part of NC State University since he earned his master’s and subsequent Ph.D. in zoology…

a woman with gray hair wearing a shortsleeved moss green shirt stands in front of a brick building

Apr 22, 2025

Youngsteadt to Study Urban Bee Movement With Support From Kriz Endowment

With funding from the George J. and Rhoda W. Kriz Study Leave Award, applied ecology researcher Elsa Youngsteadt will travel to the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, to develop new methods to track the movements of bees in urban environments.

three men look at holding tanks next to a pond

Mar 24, 2025

Research Advances the Next Wave of Aquaculture

Researchers in the Department of Applied Ecology are using an innovative method for rearing striped bass, aiming to make aquaculture of the species more efficient.

Mar 11, 2025

Guidance for Gardeners: trimming perennial stems

Gardening practices are an important aspect of a successful pollinator garden, including winter clean-up. Applied Ecology Associate Professor Elsa Youngsteadt with colleagues from Entomology & Plant Pathology, NC State Extension and…

Feb 7, 2025

Cold Stun: Mathematical Models Aim to Advance Fisheries Management

To fortify the future of North Carolina’s fishing industry, doctoral student Johnna Brooks is using biomathematics to quantify the effect of winter cold stun events on spotted seatrout.

Michelle Kirchner (left) assists a friend while tree climbing in Madagascar.

Jan 14, 2025

Ants Have Lasting Impact for Entomologist Alumna

Arboreal ants helped march CALS alumna Michelle Kirchner to a career in entomology, conducting research with the Agricultural Research Service.

Heather Frantz