The Center is the lead institution for environmental studies within the University System of Maryland. Its three laboratories are strategically located to provide access to Maryland's principal environments and their natural resources. Center programs feature research on natural and disturbed ecosystems and their living resources, and direct service to the public and State government. They also provide introductory and technical environmental education and, with other University institutions, offer graduate instruction through universitywide programs, such as the Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences Program.
Much of the Center's research focuses on the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, but study also concerns world environmental issues, such as global warming, biodiversity, and ecological economics. Additional research covers watershed ecology (lakes, streams, forests, and animals); fisheries science; environmental policy; environmental chemistry and toxicology; oceanography; aquaculture; and wetlands. Education focuses on ecology of coastal systems, resource analysis, the process of public decision-making in matters that affect environmental quality, and environmental education in cooperation with public agencies and groups.
Under the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are the Appalachian Laboratory, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Horn Point Laboratory, and the Maryland Sea Grant College.
The Appalachian Laboratory began as the Appalachian Environmental Laboratory and received its present name in 1997. On the Frostburg State University campus, the Appalachian Laboratory studies the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the ecology of lakes and streams, animal behavior and evolutionary biology, and forest ecology.
At Solomons Island on the Patuxent River, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory holds the Center's fleet of research vessels and conducts research on ecosystems, environmental chemistry and toxicology, environmental policy, and fisheries science.
The Horn Point Laboratory formerly was the Horn Point Environmental Laboratory. It received its present name in 1997. At the Horn Point Laboratory, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has administrative offices and facilities on a 721-acre site by the Choptank River near Cambridge. This property originally was given to the City of Cambridge by the late Francis P. DuPont. In 1971, it was conveyed by Cambridge to the State for use by the University of Maryland. Here, hatcheries are maintained for shellfish and finfish propagation, and researchers examine biological and physical oceanography, aquaculture and seafood science, and wetlands and submerged aquatic vegetation.
In 1977, the University of Maryland was selected as the site of a sea grant program by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In recognition of the program's accomplishments in estuarine research and public education, the Administration designated the program a national sea grant college in 1982. Affiliated with the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute in 1985, the College was transferred to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in 1999.
The Maryland Sea Grant College focuses its research and educational efforts on the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay, with particular emphasis on environmental studies and management, toxic contaminants, fisheries and aquaculture, and oyster disease research. Located at the University of Maryland, College Park, the College offers grant support to researchers at all academic institutions and research laboratories in Maryland.
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APPALACHIAN LABORATORY
301 Braddock Road
Frostburg, MD 21532
CHESAPEAKE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
P. O. Box 38
One Williams St.
Solomons, MD 20688 - 0038
HORN POINT LABORATORY
P. O. Box 775
2020 Horn Point Road
Cambridge, MD 21613 - 0775
MARYLAND SEA GRANT COLLEGE
0112 Skinner Building
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD 20742
University System of Maryland
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Manual On-Line