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Small Lagoon Fights Off Occupation

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

by Monaca Noble

On a thin strip of land between Bolinas Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean lies the neighborhood of Seadrift, a community battling an invasion of crabs that have taken over their lagoon.

European green crab (BrentMWilson)

Seadrift is a small subdivision at the northern tip of Stinson Beach, Calif., sandwiched between Bolinas Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean on a narrow sand spit. It surrounds a small enclosure called the Seadrift Lagoon, an artificial lagoon created for the subdivision. It’s a popular site for visitors, and the lagoon provides recreational enjoyment for the entire community. But for the last two decades one unwelcome visitor has proven to be very bad company.
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Posted in Citizen Science, Classes and Events, Ecology, Invasive Species | 5 Responses »

The Making of a Green Science Lab

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Architect\’s image of new Mathias Lab, complete with rain cistern on porch and wetlands to the left. (Credit: EwingCole)

Sustainable houses and office buildings have seen their popularity surge in recent years. But creating a more sustainable laboratory, especially one with chemistry research, where fume hoods can consume up to three times as much energy as an average home, is a bit more of a challenge.

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Posted in Classes and Events, SERC Sites and Scenes | 8 Responses »

Eco Trekking across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Sunset on Smith

Sunset on canoes in Tylerton, MD

This summer from August 7th through August 13th, 9 students went on a journey through the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This trip was organized and led by Josh Falk, an Education Specialist at SERC, and Kevin Schabow, an educator at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. The purpose of this trip was to immerse high school age students in the complex nature of the science, culture and natural resources that the Bay’s watershed has to offer. This year, the students were assigned to report on what they learned and what they did. Here is their story.
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Posted in Classes and Events, Ecology, Education, Programs, Water Quality | 1 Response »
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Close encounters with science: SERC’s annual open house

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Photo of two volunteers wearing homemade crab-hats

Volunteers Richard Hohn and Carla Downes mug for the camera and show off their crab crowns. Photo: Karen McDonald

Face-painted kids and smiling parents fanned out across the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center this past Saturday for the annual open house. They learned about horseshoe crabs, underwater research robots, toe-biting bugs and the rich history of the land. The official count is not yet in, but ask SERC’s outreach coordinator Karen McDonald if she was happy with the turnout and the answer is: yes. Ask her if she’s still recovering from organizing the day’s activities and the answer is also yes.

Thank you to our volunteers, partner organizations, board members and staff for making the day a success. A special thanks to The Chaney Foundation for sponsoring the event and to Peter G. Cane for photographing the day.

Mark your calendars for next year’s open house: Saturday, May 14, 2011.

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Posted in Classes and Events, Ecology, Programs, SERC Sites and Scenes, Water Quality | Comments Off on Close encounters with science: SERC’s annual open house
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Homeschoolers turn to SERC for science education

Friday, April 9th, 2010

“Ms. Karen’s” homeschoolers don’t give her apples to show their thanks. They leave her jars of black sand and shards of volcanic rock. It’s fitting for a teacher who packs her lessons with as much hands-on science as possible.

Student color in drawing of bird anatomy.

Class begins with a bird-anatomy coloring project. Photo: Kirsten Bauer


There are more than 24,000 students who are homeschooled in Maryland. This spring SERC is offering nine programs to these students. They include new classes on shark dissection and a laboratory-based class focused on Chesapeake Bay fish.
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Posted in Classes and Events | 8 Responses »
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