ECSU's Department of Geological, Environmental and Marine Sciences (GEMS) Remote Sensing Lab is presently conducting a three year NOAA funded project entitled " North Carolina Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Implementation Support through Directed Research and Remote Sensing". The project is a collaborative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), ECSU, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM), and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). ECSU is collaborating with agencies within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to develop appropriate implementation strategies as part of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP) process. Applications of remotely sensed data (both aerial photography and satellite imagery) are being used to better identify, quantify, protect and enhance critical fish habitats that support marine, estuarine and anadromous fisheries, particularly in the northeastern region of North Carolina and the southeastern portion of Virgina. Dr. San Juan is principle investigator and Liz Noble is project coordinator of the NOAA Environmental Entrpreneurship Program (EEP). Research Assistants include Jacklyn James, Shanna Chamblis, Reginald Bazemore, Emma Sawyer, Matthew Woolard, Richard Hewlin, Solomon Griffin, Heather Allen, and Aubrey Jones. 

Additional SAV research being initiated at ECSU includes work by Dr. Kathleen Fischer, Assistant Professor in the GEMS Department at ECSU. Dr. Fisher, a geochemist, is interested in understanding the environmental factors that trigger enhanced SAV growth in Albermale and Currituck sounds, particularly favorable climatic conditions, optimal dissolved nutrient levels and/or low suspended solid concentrations. This research proposes to monitor SAV distribution and duration during periods of low and high coverage by collecting data on SAV species compositon, water chemistry (dissolved oxygen and dissolved nutrient concentrations, temperature, salinity, clarity and trace metals), suspended sediment concentrations, bottom.
The Department of Geological, Environmental and Marine Sciences (GEMS) provides courses in Geology, Geography, Marine Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Environmental Science. The bacculaureate in Geology or Marine Environmental Science is designed to prepare students either for employment in related fields, or for graduate school. Minor programs are offered in Geology, Environmental Science, and GIS/Remote Sensing. A number of courses offered in the Department are designed to strengthen majors in related disciplines including Social Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Business, Technology Education and Computer Science.The Department of Geological, Environmental and Marine Sciences (GEMS) provides courses in Geology, Geography, Marine Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Environmental Science. The bacculaureate in Geology or Marine Environmental Science is designed to prepare students either for employment in related fields, or for graduate school. Minor programs are offered in Geology, Environmental Science, and GIS/Remote Sensing. A number of courses offered in the Department are designed to strengthen majors in related disciplines including Social Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Business, Technology Education and Computer Science.