NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
APRIL 2018 
Measuring the impact of septic systems on streams

Environmental chemist Michael Gonsior has been dipping into streams in southern Maryland to figure out if septic systems in residential areas are contributing to nitrogen pollution in local waterways--and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. He's been using a surprising clue to track down the pollution: sucralose, an artificial sweetener used in many food products.

" Knowing what the sources of nitrogen are in streams is important to mitigate and to find solutions to potentially reduce them or at least find ways to reduce nutrient loading in waterways in the most cost-effective way," he said.


Women pursuing graduate degrees in science today are part of a tide of change. Check out a series of podcast interviews with female graduate students at UMCES' Laboratories about what inspired them to pursue careers science, the power of diversity, their plans for the future, and advice for the next generation to come. 


Fish raised in aquaculture are mostly fed a protein diet that includes other fish farmed from the ocean. Al Place talks about the steps it took to create a simple plant-based diet that could turn farmed fish into vegetarians and curb overfishing of the world's oceans at the same time.  

NEXT GENERATION: Graduate student Mary Larkin on understanding fish allergies and making science marketable

"I work on the link between diet and inflammation and ways to mitigate that in fish. It's really important especially now as the aquaculture industry tries to move toward more sustainability. Instead of taking fish from the ocean and feeding them to farmed fish, we're looking at introducing them to plant protein sources to replace the fish meal. Some ingredients are not working well for some kinds of fish and may actually induce inflammation, so we're trying to figure out what ingredients may cause problems for which fish and see how we might be able to mitigate those negative effects."

Science for Citizens 
Tuesdays in April, 7:00 p.m.
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory

The Chesapeake Biological Laboratory invites the public to free seminars  to learn about the innovative research being pioneered by our scientists. 




IMET Open House 
Saturday, May 5 , 1-4 p.m.
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

The  Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore  opens its doors to the public for a free Open House to share the exciting discoveries happening at the harbor's edge. Enjoy hands-on activities for kids all ages, meet our scientists, and discover important research related to food, energy, the environment, and human health.  
  • Check out the fish and crabs in a behind-the-scenes tour of our Aquaculture Research Center
  • Find out how "nature's nightlight" works....microscopic organisms that glow in the dark!
  • Learn how to use research tools like microscopes and pipettes to sample DNA
  • Talk with our graduate students about what it's like to be a scientist, and much more!
COMING SOON!
Science After Hours: 
May 7 & 17, 5:30 p.m.
Talbot County Library, Easton Branch

UMCES' Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge presents free talks for the public about the science behind Chesapeake Bay. The 45-minute sessions highlight Horn Point programs working to improve the health of the Bay and its aquatic life. 

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Appalachian Laboratory - Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Horn Point Laboratory - 
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Integration and Application Network - Maryland Sea Grant

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