An active volcano in northeastern Tanzania, known as Ol Doinyo Lengai, could threaten Engare Sero, a site of ancient Homo sapiens footprints recently studied by Appalachian State University geologist Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce.

The Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department may soon be getting some help from students of Appalachian State University in planning future improvements to the Covered Bridge Park and the nearby Edwards Island Park in downtown Elizabethton.

Appalachian State University women's track and field student-athlete, Tristin Van Ord, has been nominated for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award, as announced by the NCAA on Wednesday. The Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

At Appalachian State University’s June Board of Trustees meeting, preliminary enrollment numbers were released, board members were honored, new deans were welcomed and new opportunities for university properties were considered.

Meagan Goodspeed originates from Orlando, Florida where she developed a passion for the Film & TV industry. While studying Electronic Media & Broadcasting at Appalachian State University, she accepted an internship at ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ in NYC. Upon graduating in 2014, she moved to NYC to intern at ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ and pursue a life as a freelancer.

This August communities across the United States will witness a total solar eclipse for the first time almost 100 years. Host Frank Stasio talks about the science of the sun with astronomer Rachel Smith. Smith heads the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and is a professor of physics and astronomy at Appalachian State University.

The work days can be long. Sometimes they stretch to 12 hours dealing with mussel emergencies. But caring for and breeding baby mussels is some days not like work at all for Rachael Hoch, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Ticks can cause some major issues if you come close to them. According to the North Carolina Department of Human and Health Services, most of the tick-borne diseases from here are bacterial infection and can cause flu-like symptoms. Appalachian State University Biologist Dr. Steven Seagle is the resident expert on ticks and says there is some positive news when it comes to these creepy creatures.

Caroline McCrary, Science Teacher at Newton-Conover High School, was named the 2017 N-CCS Teacher of the Year at this year’s Staff of the Year Banquet. A graduate of the Teacher Education program at Appalachian State University, Caroline received both a Bachelors degree in Biology - Secondary Education and a Bachelors degree in Biology - Ecology and Evolutionary Sciences.