Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center We’re the Smithsonian’s home for science on the coastal zone, in the Chesapeake and around the world! Legal: https://www.si.edu/termsofuse/ SERC.

Welcome to the official page of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, a.k.a. Please feel free to share thoughts about our posts, ask us questions, or tell us about your visit! While on-topic discussion is encouraged, we ask that you express yourself in a civil manner and treat other users with respect. The Smithsonian also monitors and may remove posts consistent with its terms o

f use, as described at http://si.edu/Termsofuse -gen. For our Privacy Policy, visit http://www.si.edu/privacy.

We love our teacher partners! This , we’re excited to feature the work done by educators through the Beach Surveyor Pro...
05/05/2026

We love our teacher partners! This , we’re excited to feature the work done by educators through the Beach Surveyor Project: Opening the Window to the Sea. These educators teamed up with SERC on a pilot project to survey beaches throughout the Americas with their students. Led by our MarineGEO and public engagement teams, they helped create and refine classroom guides to examine beach strandings, supporting scientists in better understanding ocean health. The final version of the Beach Surveyor Project guides are now publicly available in English and Spanish in SERC's eLearning Lab (https://learninglab.si.edu/org/serc).

“We gain freedom by understanding our environment and the ability we have to transform it," said educator Claudia Berea of Prepa Ibero Mérida in Mexico.

“It was an incredible honor to collaborate with scientists and educators across the Americas through the Smithsonian Institution on the Beach Surveyor Project,” said educator Katie Strait of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in Maine. “Working across languages and cultures toward a shared scientific goal was not only inspiring, but it reaffirmed the power of collective action in protecting our coastlines."

Below, we’ve highlighted a few of the fantastic teachers that have been part of the program. Thank you to research intern Ninoshka López Xalín for her work putting this together. Photos provided by the educators. Download the guides at https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/beach-surveyor-project/JoAYIKTiDf1UOXhr

Meet Dr. Allie Blanchette, our Fisheries Conservation Lab’s new postdoctoral fellow! 👋Allie’s research focuses on near...
05/04/2026

Meet Dr. Allie Blanchette, our Fisheries Conservation Lab’s new postdoctoral fellow! 👋

Allie’s research focuses on nearshore ecology. During her Ph.D., she worked in Bonaire studying coral restoration and farmer damselfish. Here at SERC, she's using acoustic telemetry to track key Chesapeake Bay species like bluefish, sheepshead and river herring. Learn what sparked her interest in marine biology and more about her work by reading the Q&A on our blog: https://sercblog.si.edu/allie-blanchette-nearshore-ecology-from-the-caribbean-to-the-chesapeake/

📸 by Henry Legett, Rassweiler and Lester Labs and Allie Blanchette

Join us on the water this Saturday, for the first River Days festival of 2026! We're teaming up with Anne Arundel County...
05/01/2026

Join us on the water this Saturday, for the first River Days festival of 2026! We're teaming up with Anne Arundel County Government for a half-day of nature-themed fun beside the Rhode River. All activities are free except purchases from food trucks. Activities include:

🚜 Hay rides
⚓ Boat rides
🔬 Hands-on science activities with SERC researchers
🐢 Live turtle talks with SERC educators
📜 1735 Woodlawn History Center exhibits, with a live talk on the Constitution at 2pm
🎶 Live music
🍟 Food trucks

Photos by the Anne Arundel County Executive's Office. Learn more at https://serc.si.edu/events/river-days-festival

We’re ! Are you interested in marine biology and estuarine science, with opportunities to work in the field and the lab...
04/30/2026

We’re ! Are you interested in marine biology and estuarine science, with opportunities to work in the field and the lab? Our SERC Marine Invasions Research Laboratory is looking for TWO technicians for trust-funded (non-federal) positions. Contracts are one year but may be extended. Apply by May 15!

1. Marine Biologist
This role supports field and lab research by collecting sediment samples of aquatic life from estuaries in Maryland, with occasional travel to other field sites. The technician will use microscopes to sort, identify and count aquatic organisms, and support analyses through data entry and quality control. See the full listing here at https://s.si.edu/4ehqnOW

2. Marine Invertebrate Analyst
This role supports field and lab research by collecting biological samples from sediments primarily in Maryland, with some travel to other sites. Other responsibilities include identifying benthic invertebrates using microscopes and processing samples for genetic analysis. See the full listing at https://s.si.edu/4eie44U

Meet one of SERC’s nesting ospreys, spotted at the docks by our Reed Education Center. If you’re lucky, you may catch ...
04/29/2026

Meet one of SERC’s nesting ospreys, spotted at the docks by our Reed Education Center. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of one this spring too...

are expert divers and feed almost exclusively on live fish (check out the second photo to see one in action). They’re sometimes known as “sea hawks” and can dive up to a meter underwater to catch their prey. A few additional fun facts:

• The Chesapeake Bay region hosts the largest concentration of ospreys in the U.S.— ¼ of the world’s breeding population.
• Ospreys mate for life and return to the same nesting site year after year.
• You can watch their eggs hatch live through the Chesapeake Conservancy's nest cameras each summer.

📸 by Mace Mayor, our science illustration intern

This Saturday: We're psyched to kick off the first River Days festival of 2026, with the Anne Arundel County Executive's...
04/28/2026

This Saturday: We're psyched to kick off the first River Days festival of 2026, with the Anne Arundel County Executive's Office! Join us for a half-day of hay rides, boat rides, live music and nature-themed fun with Smithsonian and Anne Arundel County Government staff. Free; no advance signup required. https://serc.si.edu/events/river-days-festival

Calling all marine scientists studying or biosecurity! There's still time to register for the virtual all-hands meetin...
04/28/2026

Calling all marine scientists studying or biosecurity! There's still time to register for the virtual all-hands meeting of our new BRIDGE network this Wednesday, April 29. If you're interested in meeting new collaborators from around the world and taking your work to a global level, this may be the space for you. During this 2-hour event, you’ll learn what BRIDGE’s working groups are doing to help reduce the rate of new invasions and how you can get involved.

BRIDGE is a "network of networks," uniting various organizations worldwide studying marine invasions. You do NOT need to be a member of a BRIDGE organization to join this meeting. Students, fellows, technicians and senior scientists are all welcome. Register at https://s.si.edu/4ayFrp0

04/24/2026

How does one plant 33,518 trees? With lots of help! This , we're thanking our many wonderful volunteers for making possible. Whether it’s passion for trees or to enjoy some nice time outside, we’re grateful for whatever reasons brought you out to join one of North America’s largest tree restoration experiments.

Functional Forests seeks to identify the best tree species combinations for forest restoration. Learn more about the science behind the project by clicking on our video from April 22.

Interest in getting involved? Learn how at https://serc.si.edu/participatory-science/projects/functional-forests

04/22/2026

What exactly is Functional Forests? It's our newest forest restoration experiment, led by John Parker and Justin Nowakowski, with head technicians Jamie Pullen and Shelley Bennett. Watch to learn why SERC is planting 33,518 trees across 194 plots.

Each plot tests different combinations of tree species to discover how forests can best support both people and nature. For example, if a planter’s main goal is to grow timber, they might choose a single-species forest that serves only that purpose—offering few benefits to wildlife or other ecosystem services. Or, they could plant a carefully selected mix of tree species that maximizes wildlife habitat, discourages deer browsing, increases fire resistance AND produces timber. Through , planters can make choices that benefit everyone.

Read more about the project at https://serc.si.edu/media/press-release/functional-forests

Today marks the kickoff of on Maryland Public Television! This year, the lineup features two programs with SERC scient...
04/19/2026

Today marks the kickoff of on Maryland Public Television! This year, the lineup features two programs with SERC scientists. On Tuesday, April 21, Katrina Lohan and Calli Wise will uncover how river otters can help detect emerging health threats. On Saturday, April 25, catch Matt Ogburn in the documentary “A Passion for Oysters.” View the full program lineup or stream episodes on demand at https://www.mpt.org/bayweek/

Happy ! Besides populating checkout aisles across the country, blossom on every continent but Antarctica—they're part...
04/16/2026

Happy ! Besides populating checkout aisles across the country, blossom on every continent but Antarctica—they're part of the largest flowering plant family in the world! Today we're giving the spotlight to some of the work our scientists are doing on North America’s native orchids, such as the stunning yellow fringed orchid and rose pogonia seen in photos 1 and 2.

Over half of North America's native orchids are threatened or endangered somewhere in their ranges. Our Plant and Molecular Ecology Lab and the North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) are collecting data important for long-term orchid survival in the projects below.

1. Orchid Pollinator Diversity Project (Photo 3):
Almost 50% of orchid species in North America have no information available on their pollinators. For this project, SERC and NAOCC team up with partners and community scientists to use motion-triggered video cameras to catch pollinators in action. In photo 3, take a look at lab technician Josie Basch installing pollinator cameras in the field.

2. Saving One of the Rarest Orchids on Earth (Photo 4):
The Canelo Hills Ladies' Tresses orchid grows only in a few wet habitats in Arizona. This plant is picky—it needs a Goldilocks combo of “just-right” conditions to thrive, from soil, moisture, pollinator type and fungi (yes, fungi!). Specific fungi form relationships with orchid roots, extending the plant’s ability to get nourishment for the soil.

3. Pups and Buds (Photo 5)
The North American Orchid Conservation Center, spearheaded by SERC scientist Melissa McCormick, has a new partner: orchid-detecting dogs trained by scent-detector dog programs. They’re really good at surveying large areas for hard-to-detect orchids!

Learn more about the North American Orchid Conservation Center at https://northamericanorchidcenter.org/

Next Tuesday at 7pm ET: Our webinar is all about sharks! 🦈Blacktip and spinner sharks look so similar, scientists have...
04/15/2026

Next Tuesday at 7pm ET: Our webinar is all about sharks! 🦈Blacktip and spinner sharks look so similar, scientists have long struggled to learn where each species migrates—making it difficult to know how to conserve them. In this talk, SERC shark biologist Beth Bowers will offer an inside look at her shark tagging work, and how it's uncovering the journeys of these often-misunderstood animals.

Sign up online at https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/7917715282166/WN_QuMofMweQaiRDlFSZYVx9Q

Address

647 Contees Wharf Road
Edgewater, MD
21037

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday 8am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+14434822200

Website

http://sercblog.si.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Smithsonian Environmental Research Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category