ECU faculty lead STEM students in immersive environmental science research
East Carolina University geological sciences faculty members led nine undergraduate students — mainly STEM majors from colleges and universities across the United States — through an immersive, educational summer research program.
Students use a salinity meter to monitor the change in groundwater salinity over time, shown by the red coloring, and in response to things like groundwater pumping that they can simulate with a model. (Photo by Dr. Matt Sirianni)
Dr. Matthew Sirianni and Dr. Alex K. Manda, faculty members in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, are lead investigators of the three-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation in fall 2024. The project, “Fresh Solutions to Salty Struggles: Unraveling Processes of Saltwater Intrusion and Soil Salinization in the Coastal Critical Zone,” explores saltwater intrusion along the North Carolina coast.
Seminars introduced student researchers to the societal importance of studying soil salinization and saltwater intrusion, which can impact plant species and ecosystems. They also provided students background on the methodologies commonly used to assess these issues. Students learned to use hydrogeological and hydrogeophysical instruments during field experiences in Hyde and Dare counties, at the Coastal Studies Institute on Roanoke Island and along the Virginia coastline.
“Coastal issues are deeply important to the people of eastern North Carolina, and there is a critical need for expertise to address the intricate challenges posed by soil salinization and saltwater intrusion,” said Sirianni. “Through pursuing these activities, we hope to help answer what controls the spatial and temporal distribution of soil salinization in coastal landscapes impacted by saltwater intrusion.”
Sirianni said this project benefits students because it emphasizes practical skill development that aligns with the increasing demand for professionals equipped to address dynamic environmental challenges.
“By empowering undergraduate researchers with hands-on experience, students develop a holistic perspective on the complexities of working in the coastal zone while also contributing to the advancement of knowledge in coastal regions vulnerable to soil salinization and saltwater intrusion,” he said.
Students on a boat in Hyde County collect salinity, temperature and other water quality parameters at three different depths in stations starting upstream in Rose Bay Creek, where the water is less salty, and ending at the mouth of Rose Bay in the Pamlico Sound, where the water is saltier. (Photo by Dr. Matt Sirianni)
Sophie Shoemaker, an environmental science major at Florida State University, said she was excited to be selected for the first of two summer research projects and was interested in confirming this as the right career path for her future.
“My favorite part was learning how to apply all the data we collected and how we can use it to fix problems,” she said.
Student researchers used handheld water quality monitoring instruments, electrical resistivity tomography (a geophysical imaging technique that measures the electrical resistivity of subsurface materials), electromagnetic induction surveys (a geophysical method used to map subsurface features by measuring the electrical conductivity of the ground) and wireless sensors to monitor surface water and soil salinity dynamics. They visited various sites, including marshland, agricultural land, forests and the ocean.
“This experience helped solidify my feelings about majoring in environmental science. Now that I have seen what my future may consist of — going out to beautiful field sites and learning more about how the Earth works — I am excited to work in this field,” Shoemaker said.
“I was interested in getting experience in the field, and this program offered a lot of hands-on work in a variety of locations,” said Madeleine Locke, an environmental studies major at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. “I am particularly interested in soil science and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, and this program fit well.”
“I liked learning to use the field instruments and learning the protocols, but seeing the data at the end was almost more exciting because we got to see the results of our hard work and analyze how the sites varied.”
Christine Quilloy is studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and majoring in natural resources and environmental science with a concentration in environmental science and management. She discovered the chance to work with Sirianni and Manda while searching for research opportunities on the National Science Foundation website.
“The ‘fresh solutions to salty struggles’ camp perfectly fit everything that I wanted in a summer internship experience,” she said. “I was very excited that I was chosen for the program. I felt like I was finally going to be a part of something that I’ve cared so much about my whole life.”
Dr. Alex Manda, center, guides students in using an auger to create a hole in the marsh at the Coastal Studies Institute on Roanoke Island, so they can place sensors at different depths underground. The sensors measure soil moisture, temperature and conductivity. (Photo by Dr. Matt Sirianni)
Quilloy said she learned about hydrology, soil sciences and geophysics while working with Sirianni and Manda. Specifically, she used a water level meter and soil moisture sensors to collect data on well and groundwater areas. She saw differences in salinity and conductivity from marsh to forest sites and along an agricultural field, and she also learned how to use computer programs to apply the data obtained from field sites into readable datasets.
“I appreciated how understanding Dr. Sirianni and Dr. Manda were throughout the whole experience. They gave us many opportunities to perform the tasks on our own, ask any questions we wanted and were very adamant that everyone was safe during field days,” Quilloy said. “I felt supported throughout the whole experience and would love to work in a similar setting in the future.”
Quilloy’s future goal is to research soil and water quality, and she wants a career that examines what the Earth relies on for its well-being.
“This experience has allowed me to see how salinization has had a large impact on soil and water quality, and as a result, directly affected vegetation and the well-being of plant species that exist in these salinized sites. It has allowed me to start thinking of possible solutions,” she said. “Without this experience, I wouldn’t have this understanding of environmental science in a real-life setting.”
In another closely related project, Manda and Sirianni are part of an additional research team that includes Dr. Stephen Moysey, professor in the Department of Earth, Environment and Planning and director of ECU’s Water Resources Center. They will continue the important work of assisting local communities by investigating how saltwater intrusion and soil salinization are impacting agricultural productivity in eastern North Carolina. Their work focuses on understanding how drainage ditches, field topography and subsurface geology influence the movement of salt into farmland.
“We’ll be collecting field data over the next several months and working closely with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension officers and local farmers to identify solutions,” said Manda. “The goal is to help communities better understand and manage the growing threat of saltwater intrusion to protect the long-term health of their soils and crops.”