In recognition of outstanding research in the fields of ecology, marine science, and environmental science, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Dr. Michael Kemp has been awarded the University System of Maryland’s highest honor, the Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence.

Gear up to celebrate Earth Day with a free Open House at the Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn about science with hands-on experiments for the whole family, meet the scientists working in your community, and enjoy activities in a special Kids Corner. Unknown Object

Ph.D. student Jeanette Davis impressed the judges with her talk about sea sponges as a source of anti-cancer compounds at the NOAA-Educational Partnership Program’s Education and Science Forum in March. She won First Prize for the graduate student oral presentation in the “NOAA Healthy Oceans” category.

Scientists used high-resolution satellite data collected over the past 25 years to look at the number days that trees have green leaves in the forests of the Mid-Atlantic. The study found that urban heat islands affected the growing season in areas within 20 miles of the city.

A major new study of migration patterns has identified high-use areas—potential danger zones--in the Pacific Ocean for the critically endangered leatherback turtle.