November 9, 2025
The 2025 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Achievement Award for Organizational Coastal Stewardship has been awarded to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). The award recognizes UMCES’s 100-year legacy of advancing scientific knowledge, public education, and management solutions in support of coastal and estuarine health worldwide.
“Receiving the CERF Achievement Award for Organizational Coastal Stewardship is a great honor that reflects the 100-year legacy of UMCES,” UMCES president Dr. Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm said. “This recognition highlights the tireless work of our faculty, staff, and students who have consistently advanced scientific knowledge and used it to protect and restore our coastal and estuarine environments. We are very proud to be recognized by CERF for our ongoing commitment to environmental science, education, and public engagement, which continues to help create a sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.”
CERF established the Coastal Stewardship Award to honor notable achievements in promoting the wise management of estuarine and coastal systems. This award recognizes specific projects, programs, and organizations for their exemplary stewardship activities, including their success in management, policy, restoration, and conservation.
UMCES is a trusted resource for environmental information, guiding state, federal, NGO, and industry leaders toward a more sustainable environment. Its long-term, sustained contributions include:
- Serving as the key scientific authority for Chesapeake Bay restoration, providing data and advice on water quality, fisheries, and submerged aquatic vegetation recovery.
- Translating complex research through initiatives like the Chesapeake Bay Report Card and making data accessible and useful for policymakers, resource managers, and communities worldwide.
- Extending its research reach worldwide, addressing global challenges such as climate change impacts, microplastics pollution, and sustainable resource management.
- Cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders through a unique graduate program that emphasizes hands-on research, application, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
UMCES was nominated by the former Maryland Secretary of the Environment and current Executive Director of the Environmental Council of the States, Ben Grumbles. The Coastal Stewardship Award was presented on November 9 at the 2025 CERF Biennial Conference in Richmond, Virginia.
