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Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Understanding Ecosystems for a Sustainable Future

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Citizen Science: Help Spot Invaders With Your Smart Phone

Help SERC's marine biologists identify underwater life on thousands of photos with Invader ID, the new online citizen science project!
Save the Date: SERC Open House Saturday, May 19!

Get ready for SERC's outdoor festival of science! Do hands-on activities with the scientists on land and water, and discover new reasons for Bay Optimism. Full details coming soon.
Free Monthly Lectures: Bay Optimism

Get inspired by true stories of Bay Optimism, with free evening lectures every third Tuesday of the month at 7pm, March-October. (Photo: Chuck Gallegos and LightHawk)
Chesapeake Grasses Stage Record-Breaking Comeback

Chesapeake Bay has seen the largest underwater grass recovery ever recorded, thanks to a three-decade nutrient pollution diet, a new study finds. (Photo: J. J. Orth/VIMS)
Making Sense of Climate Change

Get the truth on the science and history of climate change, in this 6-part lecture series hosted by SERC plant ecologist Bert Drake. Watch all six episodes online!

Discover Smithsonian science in your backyard!
Visiting Hours:
Monday through Saturday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed Sundays and federal holidays.

Featured Events

Clean Water, Healthy Habitats: Accelerating Wetland Restoration in the Bay

Lecture

Clean Water, Healthy Habitats: Accelerating Wetland Restoration in the Bay

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Event Location
Schmidt Conference Center

Speaker: Amy Jacobs (The Nature Conservancy)

Pre-registration Required
No

View Event Details

Lecture

Tue., May 15 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm
SERC Open House

SERC Open House

Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 10:00am - 4:00pm

Celebrate Bay Optimism at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's annual Open House! Admission and most activities are free. Boat tickets available for purchase.

Pre-registration Required
No

Optional online registration for raffle

View Event Details

Sat., May 19 - 10:00am - 4:00pm

View calendar of events

Intern Logs: Shark Tagging in the Sunshine State

Photo: Jay Fleming
Help Spot Invaders With Your Smart Phone

Photo: Kristen Minogue/SERC
Record-Breaking Comeback for Chesapeake Grasses

Photo: J. J. Orth/VIMS

Image Gallery

Front and Back of a SERC Crab Tag

Ecosystems on the Edge

seagrass

Shorelines Blog

crane

Upcoming Events

Thursday, Apr 26

Do Brood Chambers Prepare Young for Tomorrow's Acidic Oceans and Estuaries?

Lecture

Do Brood Chambers Prepare Young for Tomorrow's Acidic Oceans and Estuaries?

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 11:00am - 12:00pm

Event Location
Schmidt Conference Center

Speaker: Matthew Gray (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

Pre-registration Required
No

View Event Details

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Thursday, May 10

Geography, Ecology, and Conservation of Orchids in Palau

Lecture

Geography, Ecology, and Conservation of Orchids in Palau

Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 11:00am - 12:00pm

Event Location
Schmidt Conference Center

Speaker: Benjamin Crane

Pre-registration Required
No

View Event Details

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Tuesday, May 15

Clean Water, Healthy Habitats: Accelerating Wetland Restoration in the Bay

Lecture

Clean Water, Healthy Habitats: Accelerating Wetland Restoration in the Bay

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Event Location
Schmidt Conference Center

Speaker: Amy Jacobs (The Nature Conservancy)

Pre-registration Required
No

View Event Details

7:00PM - 8:00PM

Saturday, May 19

SERC Open House

SERC Open House

Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 10:00am - 4:00pm

Celebrate Bay Optimism at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's annual Open House! Admission and most activities are free. Boat tickets available for purchase.

Pre-registration Required
No

Optional online registration for raffle

View Event Details

10:00AM - 4:00PM

View calendar of events

SERC 50 Anniversary Icon

50 Years of Discovery

For half a century, SERC scientists have taken on environmental issues on Chesapeake Bay and around the world and uncovered new ways to protect the planet. Learn more about SERC’s history and discoveries.