NC State MEAS

For any student who’s taken one of her classes, it’s no news that Associate Professor Sarah Larson is an outstanding teacher. But now, it’s official! Larson earned NC State’s Outstanding Teacher Award for the 2025-26 academic year 🏆

This award recognizes excellence in teaching at all levels and honors recipients for their commitment to educational excellence.

In course evaluations and nomination letters, students praised Larson for her patience, empathy and emphasis on the real-world applications of class topics.

Larson said that she loves getting to help build the next generation of scientists.

“It feels great to be recognized for my teaching," Larson said. “I put a lot of effort into building real-world applications into my climate course and annually updating examples from recent events in my meteorology course. I’m so happy to know that my peers see the value in that and my students find it engaging and relevant.”

Larson’s recognition marks the 14th time a member of the MEAS faculty has received the award in the past 60 years. Recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award become members of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers for as long as they remain NC State faculty.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Larson on this well-earned award! Read more at https://meas.sciences.ncsu.edu/2026/06/16/professor-sarah-larson-meteorology-atmosphere-dynamics-climate-modeling-outstanding-teacher-award/

Around this time last week, our geology upperclassmen completed their last day of field mapping out in New Mexico 🌄 They handed in their last assignment, and for our summer graduates, it was their very last assignment at NC State.

Please join us in congratulating our summer graduates and cheering on our rising seniors 👏 Go Geology Pack!

Congratulations Shennah Preble and all other Fellows!

We are thrilled to share that Professor Chris Osburn has been named as the Goodnight Distinguished Chair in Sustainability!

Created in 2024 thanks to a gift from Dr. James and Mrs. Ann Goodnight, the professorship reflects NC State’s priority to recruit and retain outstanding senior faculty.

Osburn's professorship selection recognizes his creative teaching style and leadership in environmental research and discovery, community engagement, innovation and ocean sustainability. In addition to his role as a professor, Osburn serves as director of the Blue Economy Innovation Program and director of coastal research and innovation for the Climate and Sustainability Academy.

“We’re grateful to the Goodnights for helping us recognize and support talented faculty members like Chris Osburn,” said Lewis Owen, dean of the College of Sciences. “Our students benefit from his innovative teaching and our state and society benefit from his research.”

Learn more about Osburn’s research and this major accomplishment under our Latest News tab — link in bio 🔗

There's a whole world out there, and a geology degree can help you explore it.

Meet Jenna Holt, who will graduate with a B.S. in geology this summer.

“Geology is incredibly relevant in the world we see today,” Holt said. “The things we use every day, like cell phones, solar panels and cars, are made up of critical minerals.”

Geologists play a behind-the-scenes role in keeping our day-to-day lives running. The career opportunities are diverse and growing, and at NC State, you can shape your experience to suit your goals and passions.

Holt’s degree has taken her out to the deserts of New Mexico and into the forests of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. As an undergraduate, Holt has found a number of opportunities to advance her career. She’s served in leadership roles in the geology and paleontology clubs at NC State, worked in an on-campus research lab and interned at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

“There’s a lot out there that we still don’t understand and that could be waiting to be uncovered,” she said.

Learn more about Jenna Holt’s journey through the geology program and what your own degree could look like 🪨 🦕 https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/06/discover-our-majors-geology/?utm_campaign=discover-our-majors-geology&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=meas-push-1

Another look at the marine science summer field course, this time in Emerald Isle! 🏖️

And just like that, our geology students have completed their first week of field camp out west! 🪨🔨 In this first picture, they're at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet above sea level!

Every year after spring semester, rising geology seniors and soon-to-be graduates head out to New Mexico to explore the rich geology of the region. This field camp is a defining experience for our geology grads, allowing them to put their classroom knowledge to the test and see some amazing landscapes.

Over the course of a month, students learn how to create and interpret geologic maps. Geologic maps, a cornerstone of the science, provide crucial information about what lies beneath our feet, which can aid developers, environmentalists, policy makers and more.

Wishing our geology students all the Liquid IV and peanut butter honey sandwiches they could ask for as they head into this next week of camp 😎 rock on, and go pack!

Aaaaand they're off! Wishing our marine students all the best as they set out for their summer field course 🌊

Today marked the first day of the three-week marine science summer course, Field Investigation of Coastal Processes. Here's what Professor Paul Liu shared about the first day so far:

"We began our journey at the memorial site commemorating the Wright brothers’ historic first powered flight in 1903 — a milestone that forever changed human history and demonstrated the power of innovation, courage and perseverance.

It was an inspiring start to our field experience. One message from the exhibits especially resonated with me:

“Transform the impossible into possible.”

And another:

“There’s more to life than being a passenger.”

A reminder that the most meaningful journeys come from exploration, curiosity and the willingness to push beyond limits.

Looking forward to the learning, discoveries and experiences ahead with our students!"

A heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2026 🫶