In the Anthropocene, growing interest in the restoration and conservation of species and ecosystems is leading to substantial investements aimed at sustaining a productive and biodiverse planet. The use of science to document the successes and failures of restoration and conservation efforts is critical to ensuring that limited funds for conservation are applied efficiently. We use experimental approaches and monitoring programs to study the design and outcomes of conservation efforts, focusing in particular on ecosystem function and biodiversity. Our conservation science projects include evaluating oyster restoration efforts in Chesapeake Bay, reducing the impacts of derelict fishing gear, assessing the impacts of invasive species on food webs, and understanding the impacts of fisheries, land use, climate change and other human activities on estuarine and marine ecosystems.