University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

“To tackle the big environmental challenges, we need culture change, and to change culture in an organization or in society in general, that is a hugely hugely difficult thing to do. Bombarding people with more facts and figures is not the way to do it,” Dr. Russell Hill says. “Artists have a very important role to play if we’re going to really have a culture change in the way we think about the environment, and we think about issues like carbon neutrality, sustainability, and biodiversity in the long run.”

Wendy Mitman Clarke spoke with several UMCES researchers and the visual artists they've worked with to paint a picture of art and science at UMCES. Read more: https://www.umces.edu/news/the-art-of-science/

Image credit in order of appearance: Julie Trommatter (turtle), Talia Mastalski (acclusion/erosion), Lisa Moren and Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff (water), Julie Devine (algal mats)

08/27/2026

Last month, smoke from wildfires in Ontario, Canada caused air quality problems as far south as Washington, D.C. The United States is no stranger to wildfires, but why are areas so far away from the fires experiencing smoke effects? UMCES' Dr. Mark Cochrane is an expert on wildfires. He spoke about this year's fires, why we're seeing more widespread smoke events, and what can be done to mitigate these risks in a warming climate. Read more:

As seen again this year, the United States is no stranger to wildfires, at least in the West. But why are areas so far away from the fires experiencing smoke effects?

08/24/2026

Want to keep up with UMCES over email? Our monthly Environmental Insights newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest news and research across all of our labs across Maryland. Subscribe today!

This monthly e-newsletter features news and research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. We highlight our most important work and how our scientists are working to solve environmental problems facing Maryland, the region and the world. Subscribe to the Environmental Insig...

08/22/2026

On Monday, educators from all over Maryland came to IMET for this year's Horseshoe Crab in the Classroom workshop. This program, led by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, provides teachers with the education and supplies needed to bring horseshoe crab eggs and juveniles to their classrooms. Students will learn about the crabs and watch them grow all year, and then release them at Sandy Point State Park in the spring. Good luck, little crabs! Special thanks to IMET's Dr. Sook Chung, whose lab provided the horseshoe crabs this year.

08/19/2026

UMCES Professor Emeritus John Hoogland just published "Prairie Dogs: Ecology and Social Behavior" with Princeton University Press. The book synthesizes forty-five consecutive years of Dr. Hoogland’s pioneering field research on these remarkable animals, including many far-reaching discoveries published here for the first time. Congratulations, Dr. Hoogland! Learn more and get a copy: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691199764/prairie-dogs

08/12/2026

Looking to expand your education or advance your career? Look no further than a certificate in Environmental Management for Sustainability from UMCES! This introductory, self-paced program includes four courses across multiple topics, from storytelling to modeling and more. Enroll now:

Environmental stewardship and sustainability are becoming guiding principles for all forward-thinking organizations. The University of Maryland Center f

08/10/2026

Chesapeake Biological Laboratory has had some distinguished visitors this summer: large groups of pelicans have been spotted sunning themselves on the pier! Photos courtesy of Trish Royer.

08/07/2026

July's Critter of the Month was the river otter! These adorable creatures really are as playful as their reputation says, and they're making a comeback in the Chesapeake Bay region. Read more about river otters and see how you can report sightings of them in your area. Original artwork by Julie Trommatter. https://conta.cc/3UhXSs6

08/05/2026

August 5th is National Oyster Day! If you're celebrating at a raw bar today, remember: you can recycle the empty shells through Horn Point Laboratory and the Oyster Restoration Partnership. By recycling oyster shells, you can make sure a baby oyster being farmed via aquaculture will have a place to call home!

You can now bring used oyster shells to a recycling station at the Oyster Restoration Partnership site at the Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge. Station hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. The drop-off location is about a half-mile down the driveway of the Horn Point Laboratory campus. Bin...