Pack Science Challenge

Through periodic challenges to participate in campus-based studies led by NC State investigators, the Pack Science Challenge engages students as collaborators in ongoing research about their environment. This project is a partnership between the Libraries and the Citizen Science Campus program.

Campus Canopy Census

Join the Tree Hugger Team and help NC State's Urban Forester manage our campus forest!

There are thousands of valuable trees scattered across campus requiring monitoring and maintenance for proper stewardship. All students are invited to contribute data to the Campus Canopy Census to help us learn about the health of our campus trees, the carbon they sequester, and reasons why they are important to you. Read how to participate.

Past Challenges

What have we learned so far? Check out our past challenges!

• Spring 2026: Fridge Factor—Students collected data to help understand the link between fridge habits, food disposal, and foodborne illness.
• Spring 2025: STATE H2O—Student teams collected and filtered water samples on campus to help validate a new, low-cost method to detect lead and other toxic metals in tap water.
• Spring 2024: Sound Around Town—We invited students and other members of the NC State community to explore the acoustic environment of campus by completing a listening task at multiple "listening stations" across campus.
• Spring 2019: Never Home Alone @ NCSU—Students on and near campus photographed insects and other life that they encountered in their home, dorm, or apartment. Read more about it here.
• Spring 2018: Where's Delftia?—We went on a treasure hunt for a microbe that lives all around (and on) us—Delftia acidovorans, the microbe that poops gold and laughs in the face of mouthwash!
• Spring 2017: Take a Walk on the Wild Side of the Triangle—Members of the campus community made observations of Triangle area plants, animals, and fungi for the City Nature Challenge.
• Fall 2016: Take a Walk on the Wild Side of Your Campus—Students, faculty, and staff used camera traps to make discoveries about the mammals living on campus. Read more about it here.

Get Involved

Learn about our Citizen Science Campus and join the Citizen Science Club at NC State.

If you have questions about the Pack Science Challenge, contact Karen Ciccone.