Skip to main content
NC State Home
College of Sciences
Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Understanding Our Planet

The oceans, atmosphere and landscape all influence one another. Faculty and researchers in our department work across these environments to tackle the grand scientific challenges of today and tomorrow. MEAS is dedicated to excellence in research, teaching and promoting an inclusive environment that allows all members of the department to thrive.

Puerto Rico field trip

Undergraduate Students

Your studies in the MEAS department build a strong foundation for future graduate study or work in the field.

Discover our majors
Will McClure - Marine Science research

Graduate Students

Joining the MEAS department opens many opportunities for your academic and professional career.

See what we offer
Carli Arendt Explains Sea Level Rise Using Legos

Faculty and Researchers

Faculty, graduate students and other researchers represent a wide array of expertise in an ever-changing field.

Learn who’s who
Blue Economy Innovation Program

Entrepreneurship-
NC State’s Blue Economy Innovation Program

The Blue Economy Innovation Program is solving problems on North Carolina’s coast by innovating sustainable solutions for coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

Read more

95% Placement

Nearly all MEAS graduate degree recipients in the past five years found employment in their fields or went on to further graduate study.

Explore MEAS graduate studies

MEAS Monthly

Collage of three photos; one shows a selfie of Professor Karl Wegmann with a mountainous landscape in the background. One shows a student in front of a sign reading "Welcome Hollings Scholars, Orientation" and one shows two students taking a photo together at a field day event

MEAS Monthly | September

Two professors win exciting awards, we celebrate a new NOAA Hollings Scholar, our El Niño expert is in the news and MEAS Field Day returns!

Read the latest

Upcoming Events

All Events
Oct 26

Monday9:00 AM

MEAS Coffee and Treats
Oct 30

Friday3:30 PM

MEAS Seminar – Katelyn Gray
Nov 03

Tuesday9:00 AM

MEAS Coffee and Treats

What’s Happening

News and Features
Two-panel illustration of the the carbon source and weather (C-SAW) concepts. Left panel shows a blue sky with the sun out, plus trees and a green field with a river running through it. This panel represents dry conditions when a coastal river is not connected to its adjacent wetlands. The right panel shows the same image, but with a cloudy sky, muddier bank, and what looks like more mud flowing into the water. This represents wet periods, when extreme rainfall floods adjacent wetlands, hydrologically connecting them to the river and leading to enhanced export of color, DOM, and nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients (N + P). In dry conditions, the illustration shows phytoplankton and as light green rods and dots that are higher upstream. In wet conditions, these rods and dots are farther downstream.

October 12, 2026

Taking a Ride on the C-SAW

Professor Chris Osburn breaks down new research about colored dissolved organic matter and how its quality varies after storm events.
Vendela Gustafsson smiles as she looks at specimens from a plankton net under a microscope at the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

October 09, 2026

Using Physics to Study the Ocean: Q&A With Park Scholar Vendela Gustafsson

Vendela Gustafsson, a student in Professor Rouying He’s Observing and Modeling Group, spent her summer using physics to uncover the unknowns of the ocean.
Seven people standing and holding their awards

October 06, 2026

Alumni, Students Recognized by College at 2026 Awards Dinner

MEAS doctoral student Alyssa Griffin won the college’s Student Leadership Award for her exceptional management of Feed the Pack Food Pantry and her development of scientific decision-making resources.

In the News

Recent Research