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Appalachian Laboratory Year-in-Review: 2018

We've enjoyed a busy, productive year at the Appalachian Laboratory in 2018, and the approaching new year provides an opportunity to not only set goals for 2019 but also to look back to some of our more memorable moments of 2018.  We hope you enjoy this journey through past moments with us.  


Research Highlights 
Study finds availability of nitrogen to plants is declining as climate warms 

Andrew Elmore, David Nelson and their research colleagues have found that global changes, including warming temperatures and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, are causing a decrease in the availability of a key nutrient for plants.

Matt Fitzpatrick talks ancient pollen on WYPR's "On the Record" 

In June 2018, Matt Fitzpatrick was a guest on WYPR's "On the Record," where he discussed the connections between ancient pollen and environmental change.

NSF grant awarded to study how augmented reality could pique girl's interest in science

Dr. Cat Stylinski and colleagues received a $1 million three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to explore using augmented reality (AR) design experiences to pique teen girls' interest in science and technology.

Bigger, stronger, disastrous: How climate change fuels wildfire

Mark Cochrane has been studying the characteristics and behaviors of wildfires since graduate school. Now a professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Appalachian Laboratory, Cochrane discusses how wildfires differ across regions, if places like California are more prone to fires than others, and his research that shows wildfires will occur more because of climate change.

Learn more about research at AL

To learn more about ongoing research at the Appalachian Laboratory and our sister labs throughout Maryland, visit the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's
Events
Liz McDowell wins 2018 Johnson Award 

The Appalachian Laboratory presented Liz McDowell with the 2018 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award for her work as a  naturalist and resource biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, environmental specialist for the Maryland Department of the Environment, and science teacher at Northern Garrett High School. 



MEES Colloquium

In October, the Appalachian Laboratory served as the host for the Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences (MEES) graduate program of the University System of Maryland (USM) annual colloquium.  Over 100 graduate students and faculty from multiple USM institutions attended the 1-day conference that included panel discussion, lightning talks, and poster presentations.   

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Watershed Moments Community Learning Series

The Appalachian Laboratory's Watershed Moments series links environmental science and education with topics of societal concern.  This year's events included presentations by the Maryland Biodiversity Project, a hands-on stream activity for area children led by Appalachian Lab scientist Bob Hilderbrand, and an American chestnut presentation and citizen scientist recognition event led by Appalachian Lab scientist Katia Engelhardt.    

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Community News
AL internship helps kick off science career for young researcher

Pawling High School student Abigail Reid recently completed a research internship with Appalachian Laboratory scientist Dr. David Nelson, studying whether feathers singed at solar facilities can be used in isotopic analysis. Reid presented their findings at the joint meeting of the Association of Field Ornithological Society (AFO) and the Wilson Ornithological Society (WOS) in Chattanooga, Tennessee in June.

Maryland green registry award recognizes UMCES' leadership in sustainability

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Sustainability and Facilities teams won the Maryland Department of the Environment's Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award for 2018. The award recognizes organizations that have shown a strong commitment to the implementation of sustainable practices, the demonstration of measurable results, and the continual improvement of environmental performance.

AL student Kelly Pearce accepts teaching position at Allegheny College 

Kelly Pearce, Ph.D. student at the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), joined the faculty of Allegheny College, a national liberal arts college in Meadville, PA, this fall.
Cub Scout Pack 24 makes birdhouses for Appalachian Lab 

In April,  UMCES-AL graduate student Claire Nemes recently led local Cub Scouts in a bluebird house building project. The birdhouses were later installed on the grounds of the Appalachian Laboratory.   
Appalachian Laboratory Graduate Student Spotlight
Claire Nemes

First-year Ph.D. student Claire Nemes loves birds, and that love is a prime motivator for her research, which focuses on the threats faced by songbirds on their wintering grounds in the Neotropics (parts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean). 


Want to support Claire in her research?

You can help by making a donation today to the UMCES Foundation c/o- Appalachian Laboratory.  Just click on the link below to make an online gift. Checks, made payable to UMCES Foundation Inc., can also be mailed to Appalachian Laboratory, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532.  Just note Claire Nemes Research on the memo line.   

Thank You!

| Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science | 301-689-7102 | rschwinabart@umces.edu| www.umces.edu/al
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