NEXT GENERATION IN SCIENCE
AL Graduate Students
From bats and birds to the impact of large storms on stream and river health, Appalachian Laboratory masters and Ph.D. students conduct leading-edge research throughout Maryland and beyond on a number of pressing environmental science challenges.
AL UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Each year, Appalachian Laboratory offers a limited number of undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in research activities through internships with various research projects. In addition to project-related activities, students also have the opportunity to read and discuss journal articles related to the field of study with their internship supervisors and graduate students and to participate in a professional development series of workshops and field trips, as well as other Laboratory-sponsored events during their internships.
Community Awards
Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award
Each year, the Appalachian Laboratory presents the Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award to an individual or group in recognition of their contributions to environmental education. In April 2016, the Lab celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award.
Dr. Richard Johnson, a local surgeon and lifelong naturalist, joined the Appalachian Laboratory Board of Visitors in 1988 and served as a member of the Executive Committee until his death in 1990 at the age of 53. As a board member, he directed the Foreign Student Support Program for international students participating in the graduate education programs of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
APPALACHIAN LABORATORY INSPIRATION AWARD
Launched in commemoration of the Appalachian Laboratory’s 60th anniversary, the Inspiration Award recognizes those in the region who share the Lab’s commitment to future generations by supporting or engaging in activities to promote and advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in our region. The first award was presented in April 2023 to Robotics and Engineering in Allegany County-Together (REACT).
Nominations open annually in September with winners selected in November. The award is presented at a ceremony held in the spring.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EVENTS
Watershed Moments Community Learning Series
Learning doesn’t stop when you leave school or exit the workforce; learning lasts a lifetime. It’s with that belief in mind that the Appalachian Laboratory created the Watershed Moments Community Learning Series. Learn about the land, sea, and air around us from regionally and nationally known experts and artists. By taking a multidisciplinary approach to the series, the Lab offers adult learners the opportunity to engage their right and left brains as they learn more about the pressing environmental issues of our day, from endangered species to climate change, from water pollutants to improvements in air quality. These events are free and open to the public.
Visiting Scholars Seminar Series
Experts come to the Appalachian Laboratory from across the country to speak as part of the Visiting Scholar Seminar Series. Guests can enjoy a presentation and question-and-answer session at these free events. Seminars are held at 11am on Fridays in Room 109 of the UMCES Appalachian Laboratory, 301 Braddock Road, in Frostburg, unless otherwise specified. All sessions are open to the public.
CITIZENS RESTORING AMERICAN CHESTNUTS
Originally funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Citizens Restoring American Chestnuts project represented a partnership between the American Chestnut Foundation and the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Over the period of two years, the project distributed seeds and seedlings obtained from different sources of American chestnuts to interested community members throughout western Maryland who agreed to report back to scientists on the overall health and survival of their trees.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH AL
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