UNC Research Stories
The Shellfish Sleuth
Colin Eimers, a PhD student at the UNC Institute for Marine Sciences, is working with oyster farmers to discover why oysters die off each year and what to do about it.
Science in Every Step
Jason Franz is helping older adults stay on their feet as they age by creating solutions to prevent falls and maintain independence.
UNC Visual Storytelling
Arraigada
Ángela Oviedo, a 59-year-old Peruvian immigrant, is making a life in Buenos Aires’ Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood, one of the city’s most underserved areas. While cultivating a home filled with love for her four grandchildren, she works in the community garden which reminds her of home and connects her with the earth. She reminds us that that in the face of hardship, it’s community, resilience, and love that really keep us going.
Pinball Famous
Samantha Bacon is pinball famous. She has risen through the ranks of women's pinball, tackling challenges from local competitions to the women's world championships. It's a journey of becoming and belonging — finding not just skill but sanctuary in a community that lifts her up, celebrates her wins, and stands by her truth.
After The Flood
When Hurricane Helene devastated rural North Carolina, Shelby Tramel faced unimaginable loss as her general store was swallowed by rising waters. Overwhelmed but determined, she chose to rebuild—not just her store, but a sense of hope for her tight-knit community. This documentary captures Shelby’s journey from and the stakes of reviving a vital hub in a small town that refuses to be washed away.
Zooming In
Michelle Itano is the director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Neuroscience Microscopy Core. She works with researchers to scan images of their cell samples under powerful microscopes. She has always been a scientist but she’s found a passion in helping other people see a whole new world through a microscope’s lens, driving forward the powerhouse of UNC Research.
This short documentary was produced for MEJO 582 Advanced Documentary Projects in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
Where Meaning Blooms
Johnson Greenhouses is a family-run florist in downtown Statesville, NC that is home to a talented crew of floral designers. They create beautiful, meaningful arrangements, bringing joy to the most important moments in life. Strong passion for their community and the fleeting beauty of flowers has kept their small shop running for generations.
This project was produced through Carolina Photojournalism Workshop, an annual immersive class where a group of multimedia students from UNC-Chapel Hill each produce a documentary film based on a story from a unique location in North Carolina.