Gary B. Blank

Professor Gary B. Blank is a faculty member in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, part of the College of Natural Resources. His academic career includes a B.S. from Frostburg State College (1972), M.A. from University of Idaho (1975), and Ph.D. from NCSU (1992). He specializes in environmental impact assessment, forest history, and science communication. His research focuses on forest ecosystem dynamics, urban-rural land use conflicts, lichen community responses to pollution, and rare plant conservation.

• Education:
  • B.S., Frostburg State College, 1972
  • M.A., University of Idaho, 1975
  • Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1992

His teaching includes courses like FOR 248 (Forest History, Technology and Society) and NR 484 (Environmental Impact Assessment). He has secured over $1.3M in grants, including projects on wetland predictive modeling, conservation corps impact analysis, and silvicultural practices in bottomland hardwood forests. Recent grants include the EPA-funded 'Innovation in Environmental Protection' symposium series and a DOE initiative for student energy internships.

Research outputs span environmental policy, ecological restoration, and education innovation. Notable projects assess highway pollution effects on lichen communities and evaluate conservation corps contributions to trail quality and ecosystem health. His work emphasizes bridging scientific research with practical applications in environmental management and policy.