Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

10/23/2026

🌿🔎 What can you learn by looking under a board in the forest?

Earlier this month, students in our Wildlife Ecology and Conservation program got hands-on experience with salamander monitoring. By carefully checking beneath cover boards, students practiced a field-based wildlife survey technique used to document salamander presence and better understand patterns in forest biodiversity.

For us, this is what applied conservation science looks like: learning how to survey wildlife, collect ecological data, and use observations from the field to build a clearer picture of the health and diversity of an ecosystem.

that nearby Shenandoah National Park is home to 14 species of salamanders and newts, including the endangered Shenandoah salamander, found nowhere else in the world!? Monitoring amphibians helps researchers better understand these often-overlooked animals and the habitats they depend on. 🌲🦎

10/22/2026

Undergrads, the website to apply for our Summer 2027 REU program will go live in just a couple of weeks! Make sure to follow us to stay up-to-date!
➡️🗓️

This summer, as part of a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation, 10 undergraduates came from around the country to spend the summer immersed in field- and laboratory-based conservation research at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Bio...

10/21/2026

Our Conservation, Biodiversity, and Society undergraduate cohort recently visited the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) to explore how scientists study ecosystems and address today’s environmental challenges.

Led outdoors by Kristen Goodhue, students explored SERC’s research-rich landscape along the Chesapeake Bay. Indoors, they learned about research investigating how biodiversity, invasive species, water quality, and climate change affect coastal ecosystems, from forests and wetlands to the Bay itself.

These conversations offered a firsthand look at how scientists study the connections between human activity and the natural world, bringing key themes from their coursework to life. From understanding ecosystem health to exploring the challenges of protecting biodiversity, students saw how research can inform real-world conservation efforts.

A big thank-you to Kristen and the SERC team for welcoming our students and sharing their work! 🌎🔬

10/19/2026

🥜🌿 A little food for thought—and a lot of trail mix!

Mason Dining recently joined our students and staff during lunch for a hands-on demonstration on making healthy trail mix. Led by George Mason's Registered Dietician Sarah Geller, guests explored how to choose nutritious ingredients, consider shelf life and food storage, and create a tasty snack that’s perfect for life on the go.

And for our conservation-minded students, the trail mix theme was especially on point! 🌎 Just like in conservation, thoughtful choices about ingredients and resources can make a difference.

A big thank-you to Mason Dining for sharing their knowledge and helping our students connect everyday choices with healthy habits. 🥜💚

10/16/2026

🌿 Highly recommend: Shenandoah, a documentary from VPM and OF Productions.

Shenandoah National Park is more than a beautiful place to explore. It’s an outdoor classroom, a fieldwork destination, and a source of wonder, discovery, and connection for our students and our wider community.

The documentary Shenandoah offers a remarkable look at the ancient Appalachian landscape and the incredible life it sustains. From elusive wildlife and hidden underground worlds to the region’s geology and human history, the film reveals the complexity of an ecosystem that is constantly changing, all the while reminding us why protecting this resource matters. We recommend this film to anyone who loves Shenandoah, studies the natural world, or wants to deepen their appreciation for the landscapes we’re so fortunate to learn from and explore.

A special thank-you to Shenandoah National Park Trust for helping make this film possible, and to everyone working to protect and share the stories of this extraordinary place. 💚

🎬 Watch Shenandoah: https://www.vpm.org/shows/shenandoah/

10/15/2026

POV: Nature is so good at its job that people think it’s AI. 🦋

Just a few more monarch moments in the field with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation undergrads. 💛

And yes, that last photo is completely unedited. Nature did THAT. 👀

10/14/2026

These tiny stickers are a big deal for monarchs! 🌿

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation students recently got hands-on experience with monarch butterfly tagging!

Monarch tagging is an important part of community science that helps researchers learn more about the incredible migration of monarch butterflies. Each butterfly is carefully captured, briefly handled, and fitted with a tiny, lightweight sticker on its wing before being released. If the tagged monarch is later recovered, information on the tag helps researchers better understand their migration, including the routes they take and the distances they travel.

🏷️ We use tagging stickers provided by Monarch Watch, a research, education, and conservation program based at the University of Kansas. Their tagging program connects people across the monarch's range and helps build a broader picture of monarch migration.

For our students, this is conservation in action: learning field techniques, contributing to scientific research, and getting a closer look at one of nature's most remarkable migrations. 💛🦋

10/13/2026

🌿 Conservation, Biodiversity, and Society participants are getting their feet wet in field research (while keeping them dry in their waders!).

Out in the pond, students are exploring biodiversity and learning how to survey wildlife in the field. From dipnetting and pond surveys to stream transects and cover boards, they're building hands-on skills to study amphibians like frogs and salamanders, as well as other aquatic life, including macroinvertebrates. 🐸🔎

By learning how to identify species and assess their presence, distribution, and abundance, students are gaining valuable tools for understanding ecosystems and supporting conservation efforts.

10/12/2026

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation students recently had an incredible hands-on learning opportunity exploring sora rail conservation in Maryland's Patuxent River marshes!

Expert Greg Kearns shared his knowledge of these fascinating, secretive marsh birds, while SMSC alum Sebass, now a Research Assistant with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, helped demonstrate bird banding, introducing students to the many ways researchers and conservationists work to protect soras and the wetland habitats they depend on.

Soras may be small, but they're impressive travelers! They migrate long distances and rely on healthy wetlands for food and shelter along the way. Through bird banding, researchers can track their movements and learn more about their migration and ecology, which, in turn, helps guide conservation efforts that protect the birds and their marsh habitats.

Conservation comes to life when we connect classroom learning with real-world research, field techniques, and the people working to protect wildlife. We're grateful to Greg for sharing his expertise and to Sebass for bringing our alumni community into the field!

10/09/2026

Conservation starts with curiosity, careful observation, and a desire to make a difference. 🌿

This summer, high school students explored how field research and scientific illustration can deepen our understanding of the natural world.

We're proud to be part of George Mason University's commitment to hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that inspires the next generation of conservation leaders and empowers students to help shape a more sustainable future.

Read more about how George Mason's summer programs are connecting students with solutions for a changing climate:

🔗

From solving climate challenges through research to preparing the next climate leaders, George Mason University is developing leadership and talent to produce solutions for our global community.