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THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE -
Horn Point Laboratory
NOVEMBER 2022
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New Horizons: Resilience, Innovation, Discovery
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OCEANOGRAPHER MIKE SIERACKI JOINS UMCES AS
HORN POINT LABORATORY DIRECTOR
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Leading oceanographer, Dr. Michael (Mike) Sieracki has been selected as the new director of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland.
“I am impressed by his technical expertise, mentoring experience, and deep commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion when he served in his leadership role at the National Science Foundation,” said UMCES President Peter Goodwin. “He will be a wonderful director that will truly advance both Horn Point Laboratory and UMCES.”
“I am really excited to get started as director at UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory, which has excellent scientists and staff and a great reputation,” said newly appointed Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Sieracki. “Their strong tradition of doing excellent education and research that informs policy and practice is needed now more than ever to tackle the great challenges now facing us from our local communities to global societies.”
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“CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION IN COASTAL ADAPTATION”
Ming Li Leads a two-day workshop
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A two-day workshop, “Closing the gap between science and implementation in coastal adaptation”, was held in Annapolis this week, led by Dr. Ming Li, Professor at UMCES's Horn Point Laboratory. The workshop brought together academic and management communities nationwide to bridge the gap between science and implementation in coastal adaptation.
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“A major challenge to developing an effective coastal resilience strategy is the disconnect between the academic research and stakeholder needs." said Ming Li. He also shared, "Our workshop is very timely, and a lot of great ideas have come out of it." UMCES President, Dr. Peter Goodwin, pointed out, at COP27 the Biden-Harris Administration has just announced a new roadmap for nature-based solutions to fight climate change, strengthen communities, and support local economies.
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HORN POINT SCIENTISTS TRACK HOW MICROPLASTICS MOVE THROUGH THE WATERSHED
Scientists William Nardin and Jamie Pierson of the Horn Point Laboratory have embarked on a research project that will lay the foundation for plastic research in the Chesapeake Bay. Thanks to a $30,000 matching grant from the Mid-Shore Community Foundation (MSCF) and a group of generous donors who met the match, a short-wave infrared (SWIR) microscope will be purchased and be a game-changer for the project.
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“The goal is to develop a budget that illustrates plastic debris input and retention in marsh and open water habitats of the Choptank river system,” said Assistant Professor William Nardin. “Ultimately, this information will allow stakeholders to examine how plastic debris deposition differs across habitats, different flow regimes, and different plastic loads, and to assess potential management strategies to mitigate plastic pollution.”
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OPEN HOUSE RETURNS TO
HORN POINT LAB
with largest attendance ever
Nearly 700 visitors came out to experience the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory Open House on Saturday, October 15, the most in its history. Under clear blue skies visitors enjoyed walking the campus and sitting on the banks of the Choptank river. Hands-on exhibits, the oyster hatchery, a sturgeon exhibit, and cutting-edge marine equipment were all part of the experience.
“This is the best day of the year for the community to learn about the science of the Bay. Everyone at the lab is on deck to explain their research with activities and displays that make it easy to understand,” said Mike Roman.
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MARSHALL GROSSMAN, Masters Student | |
Environmental issues are both whole globe affairs and specific, local ecosystem events. As a native of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I have seen firsthand the very real effects of climate change, and how rising seas threaten this pristine and fragile ecosystem — as it does all marshland estuaries along the eastern coast of North America. These kinds of concerns are what led me to obtaining my B.S. in both Geology and Environmental Studies. Since obtaining my B.S. I dove into many interdisciplinary experiences. I spent time working and managing a sustainable farm, I operated as a geologist in a private gem mine in Tanzania, and I also spent three years as an ecological tour guide offering people an exciting and educational experience exploring the wonders of the Outer Banks’ ancient, maritime forests in search of one of the last herds of Colonial Spanish Mustangs.
As a Master’s student at the Horn Point Lab, I am continuing my pursuit of helping to understand and preserve our precious marine estuaries. My graduate research focuses on forecasting the environmental feedbacks of climate change and the human response to those feedbacks within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The goal of forecasting this ensemble of mechanisms is to understand how different climate change scenarios might affect each part and more importantly, how human response and intervention may help or hinder these environmental processes.
Co-PI's: Victoria Coles and Raleigh Hood
Foundation: Earth and Ocean Systems
READ MARSHALL'S NEXT GENERATION INTERVIEW
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EVENTS: Growing Engagement and Education
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DIVE INTO SCIENCE Explore the Bay and Beyond
Explore a broad offering of online discussions on science relating to the Chesapeake Bay and the quality of its environment through recordings of seminars presented at the Horn Point Lab.
SEE LISTING HERE
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We are grateful for your interest and support for our work, and wish you a
Happy Thanksgiving!
From everyone in the Horn Point Lab community
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Help Support the work of Horn Point Lab | |
Are you committed to helping solve our environmental challenges? Perhaps you are passionate about educating the next generation of environmental leaders? Do you support science for its contributions to policy and advocacy work? By supporting the Horn Point Lab you can fulfill that purpose.
Even the smallest gift makes meaningful impact!
Visit our Giving Page or click on the link below.
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Located in Cambridge, MD, Horn Point Laboratory is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science --
a fully-accredited graduate school and research facility conducting environmental research on a variety of ecosystems spanning from the estuarine waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the open waters of the world's oceans. Horn Point is a national leader in applying environmental research and discovery to solve society’s most pressing environmental problems.
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UMCES/HPL remains closed to the public until further notice. We look forward to sharing time with you on campus as soon as it is safe and possible. Until then, please stay safe and follow us on facebook | | | | | |
