The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory invites the public to its annual free Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This 2024 Open House theme is “Treasure Your Bay.”  Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the many reasons to treasure the Chesapeake Bay, including the marine and human life it supports. Horn Point Laboratory’s team of scientists will share their research through fun, interactive exhibits and activities for all ages.

“Longtime residents, newcomers, visitors, all have reasons to treasure the Bay–and can play a part in supporting its health,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Sieracki.  “Open House is a chance for those of all ages to join our scientists to explore the latest research, and the continuing mysteries, of the Bay we all treasure.”

Visitors will explore the world of marine science through hands-on exhibits created and staffed by the lab’s faculty and students. Exhibit topics include a phytoplankton zoo, digital sandbox, physical oceanography instruments, coral defense, water filtering, and DNA extraction.

Along with the hands-on science exhibits, there will be additional activities including a tour of the largest oyster hatchery on the East Coast, bay-themed crafts, games, and food vendors.  Children who complete the open house scavenger hunt will receive a free t-shirt.

The Horn Point Open House is free and fun for all ages, and takes place rain or shine. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking around the campus.  An on-campus shuttle will also run throughout the day. Horn Point Laboratory campus is located at 2020 Horns Point Road off Route 343 outside of Cambridge, Maryland.

For more information, visit umces.edu/events/annual-open-house or contact Claire Otterbein at [email protected].

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Guiding our state, nation, and world toward a more sustainable future

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) is a leading research and educational institution working to understand and manage the world’s resources. From a network of laboratories spanning from the Allegheny Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.

HORN POINT LABORATORY 

Understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems through a research program in oceanography, water quality, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish.

The Horn Point Laboratory, located on more than 800 acres on the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has advanced society’s understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems. Horn Point scientists are widely respected for their interdisciplinary programs in oceanography, water quality, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish and for expertise in ecosystem modeling. With ongoing research programs 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.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) invites the public to its annual free Open House on Saturday, October 14,2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mark your calendar and Save the Date! This year’s Open House is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Horn Point Laboratory.

The theme is “Science for All!” with 50 years of science for the Chesapeake Bay and the diverse marine and human life it supports.  Meet the Horn Point Lab’s team of scientists and explore the Bay using their research in fun interactive exhibits. Learn about healthy marshes, how oysters clean the water and build resilience to sea level rise and climate change, dive into the largest oyster hatchery on the east coast, and more during a day of FREE activities for all ages. Children will receive a free t-shirt for completing the scavenger hunt. 

“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 Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Sieracki. 

From the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Horn Point scientists engage in world-renowned research in oceanography, water quality, coastal resilience and sea level rise, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish, and expertise in ecosystem modeling.

Visitors to the Open House will explore the shore through hands-on exhibits created by the Lab’s faculty and students:

• Build a healthy marsh and learn who are our best partners in this effort.
• See an animation of the travels of oyster larvae as they move from the reef where they spawned to their new, permanent home reef.  
• Match up a DNA sequence to microscopic creatures important to the food chain. 
• Play in a digital sand box to create shorelines and model weather’s impact with laser imaging.
• Meet and talk to graduate students about their environmental career goals.
• Build an oyster castle and learn how these growing, living building blocks create habitat for marine creatures and protect against sea level rise and climate change.
• At the children’s activity booth, create eco-friendly animals that live in our waters. Play games that teach fun facts about the Bay.  Go on a scavenger hunt through the exhibits to learn how the Bay’s lasting health starts with each of us making a cleaner environment today.

FREE and fun for all ages the Open House will take place rain or shine. The Horn Point Laboratory campus is located at 2020 Horns Point Road on Route 343 outside of Cambridge, Maryland. 

For more information, visit umces.edu/hpl/openhouse or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

Fisher and Lewis in Lewis’ farm field.

The Horn Point Laboratory invites you to join a half-day technical meeting, open to the public.  The meeting will review 6 years of data gathered to evaluate the impact of best management practices implemented by farmers to improve water quality.  The meeting will be held on Friday August 9, 2019, from 1-5 pm in Public Hearing Room #110 of the Caroline County government offices in Denton, MD (403 S. 7^th Street, Denton MD 21629). Parking is available around the building.

The meeting agenda includes; information on impediments to BMP implementation, a farmer panel reflecting their perspective on BMPs and water quality, and results of water quality monitoring on farms where BMPs are installed, at intermediate streams draining several farms, and at the watershed outlets.

The research project is called “People Land Water” to emphasize that people living and working on the land contribute to the quality of the water leaving the land. Horn Point Laboratory professor, Tom Fisher, and his research team lead this project.  The project is funded by the National Science Foundation, the United States Dept. of Agriculture, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology.  The goals of the research are: (1) to obtain the cooperation of farmers to add BMPs to four small watersheds with long-term monitoring, (2) to evaluate farmers’ attitudes towards BMPs and water quality, (3) to examine the economic efficiency of BMPs, and (4) to test the biogeochemical efficiency of BMPs to retain N, P, and soil on farms and out of groundwater and streams.

Jim Lewis, University of Maryland Ag Extension agent shared this comment about the long-term study, “It increases the confidence of farmers like me that the water quality data being collected by Tom Fisher’s research team is accurate because it is right at the site of our farms on the Choptank River. This is the kind of work on Best Management practice that the farm community wants to collaborate on.”

This meeting is an important element of the overall research project. The team will provide attendees with information they have gathered on the people living and working on the land, and the water quality of these four heavily monitored agricultural watersheds. Project leader, Tom Fisher Professor at UMCES – HPL, “My great hope is that we can figure out which Best Management Practices at least make sense and figure out how to properly compensate farmers to implement the ones that work best.”

Please add this event to your calendar and join the discussion of this project and its results.

For more information, contact Anne (410-221-8238 or [email protected]).

Register to this FREE program via EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/water-quality-agriculture-in-the-choptank-watershed-tickets-63393297058. Space is limited to 110.

People Land Water Science Team: Tom Fisher, Rebecca Fox, Kalla Kvalnes, Anne Gustafson, Erika Koontz, Jim Lewis, Jon Winsten

Dr. Victoria Coles

The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) invites you to join them for Science Bytes a witty, interactive event where one can learn, sip, and taste.  Join us Thursday, July 18 from 6 to 7:30 pm at Piazza Italian Market in Easton.

These gatherings are make science relevant to our communities available to you in a casual, fun setting.  Join the Horn Point Laboratory’s Dr. Victoria Coles as she shares her most recent research efforts to understand the physical and ecological impacts of changes in extreme events in the Chesapeake Bay. Lab Director, Mike Roman, will interview Victoria and discuss her research taking us back in time over the past century using local weather stations to learn how our weather has been changing – and what models predict for the future.”  Questions are encouraged, and thought provoking conversation is sure to ensue.

Learn, sip and taste at Piazza Italian Market in Easton, MD. Savor wine, beer, and antipasto from Italy. Get to know the scientist behind the science important to our environment, and mingle with old friends and new acquaintances in this casual, local setting.

Tickets are $25/ person.  To register visit https://www.umces.edu/events/science-bytes-july or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are the lifeblood of the Eastern Shore. While many easily recognize the natural beauty Bay country offers, the Horn Point Laboratory is offering “Science After Hours with Horn Point Laboratory,” to make the science of the Chesapeake Bay as accessible as its beauty.

“Science After Hours with Horn Point Laboratory” will be held on November 15 and December 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot Co. Library, located at 106 Freemont Street, St. Michaels MD

 21663. Programs include:

Thursday, November 15:  

Dr. Patricia Glibert; “Nutrient Pollution and Water Quality – global insight & local perspective ” This talk will explore nutrient pollution and algal blooms – lessons from around the world, the recent Florida red tide and blooms in the Bay.

Monday, December 3:

Dr. Victoria Coles; “Changing Chesapeake: What’s in store for the Eastern Shore” This interactive talk will go back in time over the past century using local weather stations to learn how our weather has been changing – and what models predict for the future.”

Free and open to the public the forty-five-minute talks will shed light into the mysteries of the Bay and highlight Horn Point Laboratory’s research working to improve the health of the Bay and coastal waters globally.  Questions and participation by the audience are encouraged.

Register on line:  https://www.umces.edu/science-after-hours-november, or contact Carin Starr, [email protected] or 410-221-8408.