News

Dec 9, 2022

As TikToks About Antarctic Tourism Go Viral, Some Worry About the Environmental Costs

NBC News
A study by NC State researchers found that tourists "could be disturbing" the penguins on one of the continent's most popular islands. Human presence may cause penguins to be scared, distracted and temporarily abandon their chicks and eggs.

Dec 9, 2022

Ignore the Scare Stories: Supplies of Christmas Trees Meet Demand

The Wall Street Journal
“In North Carolina, we argue the numbers. A lot of growers underreport,” said Jeff Owen, an area extension forestry specialist at North Carolina State University, who works with growers in eastern North Carolina.

Dec 8, 2022

New Facility to Produce First Crop of Genetically-Improved Christmas Trees

NC State researchers are one step closer to harvesting the first crop of genetically-improved Fraser firs for growers to plant in their own fields. 

Dec 8, 2022

O Christmas Tree: NC State Researchers Are Trying To Engineer the ‘Perfect’ Fraser Fir

WCNC
Researchers from NC State are growing more than 1,000 trees with the best genetics.

Dec 7, 2022

Scientists Prepare for Exploding Christmas Tree Seeds

A new seed facility will help NC State researchers prepare for the next generation of Fraser fir Christmas trees selected for their superior traits.

Dec 7, 2022

Christmas Trees Are Pricier This Year Due To Inflation

WUNC
“Because of inflation, most places will see up to a 15% increase in the price of trees,” said Jeff Owen, extension forestry specialist at North Carolina State University.

Dec 7, 2022

The Influence Of YouTube Videos On Our Tolerance Of Sharks

Forbes
Lead by Ph.D. student Justin Beall of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management in North Carolina State University, a team of researchers conducted a case study to measure how social media consumption affected viewers' tolerance of sharks.

Dec 5, 2022

How Scientists Are Creating the Perfect Christmas Tree

NBC News
In a first-of-its-kind lab at NC State, Justin Whitehill leads a team of researchers working to create super trees, Christmas trees that grow in six years instead of ten. NBC News’ Kerry Sanders sees how four decades of research are paying off just as climate change becomes an urgent challenge.

Dec 2, 2022

5 Questions with Global Change Fellow Julianne Reas

Reas, a second-year graduate student in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, is working to better understand the drivers of conservation action on local and global levels.

Dec 2, 2022

Biz: Christmas Tree Prices Rise As Labor Costs Hit Growers

Triangle Business Journal
“As you look at the big picture, 10% is probably the average,” said Jeff Owen, an extension forestry specialist at NC State.