Appalachian Laboratory

05/14/2026

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory is delighted to announce during National Public Garden Week that the Laurel Garden Club has been selected as the 2026 winner of the Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award. Through its many outreach and education activities with community members, K-12 students, and local colleges and universities, the Club exemplifies the principles of conservation, stewardship, and education valued by Dr. Johnson and recognized through the award named in his honor. The award will be presented at a ceremony later this summer; invitations will be sent.

Learn more about the Club's work at https://www.mountainlaurelgardenclub.com/.

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Home website for the Mountain Laurel Garden Club of Garrett County, Oakland and Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

05/12/2026

Welcome to our new members of the UMCES Board of Visitors! We appreciate the time and expertise you offer on behalf of the institution and our students.

UMCES recently welcomed three new members to its Board of Visitors: Federico Basañes, Ellington Churchill, and Eric Schwaab were formally appointed to the board following recommendations from President Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm and Board Chair Gary Epstein. The Board of Visitors advises the UMCES President on the center's mission and identifies strategic opportunities to enhance its research, education, and public service. Read more about these new board members: https://conta.cc/4tjjQqB

05/08/2026

The month of May brings with it warmer weather, blooming flowers, and, for many regions of the United States, peak bird migration. Researchers at the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are exploring how birds time their trips and communicate with each other during these epic journeys.

Learn more about how our favorite backyard visitors travel at https://www.umces.edu/news/umces-research-finds-climate-change-and-species-declines-are-reshaping-communities-of-migrating.

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04/22/2026

Did you know that some of our earliest ecological studies were written with the descriptive flair of literature? This Earth Day we’re celebrating the natural world by exploring the connections between nature and language with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science AL alum Grace O’Hara. If you love the intersection of environmental science and storytelling, you'll want to read her March 2024 Maryland Sea Grant blog post examining creativity in science writing:

https://www.mdsg.umd.edu/fellowship-experiences/place-creativity-science-writing

My lab mates and I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts so widely used across the field of ecology today. What we uncovered in the book was unexpected: not just the roots of ecology, but the trove of wonderful descriptions that jump-started the scientific field of ecology.

04/14/2026

We are honored to officially announce Thelma Louise Grogg as the recipient of the 2026 Appalachian Laboratory Inspiration Award.

This award recognizes her significant contributions to STEM education at Frankfort Middle School, and her unwavering commitment to students.

Please join us in congratulating Thelma on this well-deserved achievement. The award will be formally presented at a ceremony and reception in June 2026. Invitations will be sent.

Learn more about Thelma's programs and the Inspiration Award at https://www.umces.edu/al/inspiration-award.

Mineral County Schools WV University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

04/11/2026

Beautiful day today on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park canal path for what is becoming the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory’s annual volunteer clean up event! What a fun, collaborative way to celebrate Earth Day 2026 a few weeks early. More photos to follow.

04/03/2026

Early signs of spring are on display at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory in the mountains of western Maryland!

03/23/2026

We are now accepting nominations for the 2026 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award. The Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award honors those who mentor and inspire our future leaders in environmental science and stewardship; recognizes excellence in environmental education and in the research and public service that supports environmental education; and enhances environmental education opportunities for students of all ages. Winners receive a monetary award intended to support continued environmental education activities and are recognized at a ceremony and reception held in August.

Nominees are limited to those who have made a noteworthy impact on environmental education in Allegany and Garrett Counties. Past winners include K-12 teachers, non-profit groups, volunteers, and natural resource managers.

Visit www.umces.edu/al/johnson-environmental-education-award to learn more about the award and to submit a nomination.

of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

03/20/2026

Know a K-12 student already interested in STEM careers who wants to learn more? Looking for some fun science activities to spark an interest in STEM in students who may be unsure? If so, join us tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, from 10-3 at Allegany High School for the 2026 STEM Like a Girl event presented by Allegany County Public Schools and Rocky Gap State Park (Maryland Department of Natural Resources) . University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science AL will be there, so be sure to visit our tables!

03/18/2026

We’re a about 1 month away from our next edition of Lab Notes, AL’s quarterly e-newsletter. Sign up to receive the Spring 2026 edition in your inbox: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/jpnD2rg

Find additional ways to stay connected with AL at https://www.umces.edu/al/getinvolved.

From the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, scientists conduct research on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in many parts of the world, with an emphasis on the rich and diverse environments of Western Maryland and the broader Appalachian region. Founded in Frostburg in 1962, Appalachian Laboratory....

03/16/2026

A recent article by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory researcher Dr. Mark Cochrane and his colleagues has recently been selected as an Editor’s Highlight in Eos, the digital magazine of science news published by American Geophysical Union (AGU): https://eos.org/editor-highlights/satellite-view-of-the-california-wildfires-of-january-2025.

Satellite observations of the southern California wildfires of 2025 reveal that almost all the burned areas were reached by fire within 24 hours, and wildfires in residential areas burned more intensely than nearby natural vegetation fires at night.