THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE -
Horn Point Laboratory
FEBRUARY 2021
Research Highlights: Resilience, Innovation and Predictions
FACTS ARE BOTTOM LINE FOR PREDICTING
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
The facts remain the same, regardless of the Courts ruling on who is to be held accountable for the impacts of a changing global climate. HPL Professor Ming Li is quoted in an E&E News article, "Sea levels in the Chesapeake Bay rose at twice the rate of the global average in the 20th century. The Chesapeake Bay region is recognized as the third most vulnerable place to sea-level rise and coastal inundation in the United States."
STUDY FINDS SOME WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
 IN CHOPTANK RIVER

The Chesapeake Bay has a long history of nutrient pollution resulting in degraded water quality. However, Professor Emeritus Tom Fisher and his team are reporting some improvements in the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
NEW BOOK ASSESSES CHANGING ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURES IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

HPL Professor Emeritus Tom Malone and European partners edit a new book in which, after two decades, they revisit two ecosystems, Chesapeake Bay and the Northern Adriatic, gleaning new insights to inform sustainable development of coastal environments using eco-system based approaches.
READ MORE
ECOLABELS FOR SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE: IDENTIFYING FOODS HEALTHY FOR HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
In a recent publication HPL faculty members Matt Gray and Louis Plough and students argue that shellfish aquaculture is uniquely positioned to benefit from ecolabeling by improving public perception and encouraging consumers to enjoy a highly sustainable source of animal protein. An added benefit are the numerous ecosystem services shellfish provide to improve environmental quality.
FACULTY, STUDENT and ALUMNI
HORN POINT ALUMNA CHOSEN PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE OCEANOGRAPHY SOCIETY
HPL Alumna (1992) Deborah Bronk, President and CEO of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, is the President-elect for The Oceanography Society (TOS). Her term will begin in 2023. Bronk believes her presidency comes at a critical time for the discipline. “The coming decade will be critical for the ocean because we are reaching tipping points in marine ecosystems around the world on issues like biodiversity, invasive species, and sea ice melting. The time to act is now!”
HPL STUDENT WINS USM PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE

Chelsea Fowler, a graduate research assistant in Louis Plough's lab, was selected as one of six winners of the University System of Maryland (USM) COVID Research & Innovation Task Force's Public Health Challenge to highlight creative ways members of the USM community and all Marylanders can stay safe and healthy while waiting for a vaccine. 
OF NOTE
The Horn Point Laboratory has lost two of its most ardent supporters,
Ira Ringler and Jerry Hook. Both were accomplished scientists who appreciated the importance of educating the next generation of environmental leaders. Students at Horn Point have benefited enormously from their generosity. It is with heartfelt gratitude that we express our appreciation for their support and extend our sympathy to their families.
EVENTS: Growing Engagement and Education
Horn Point is pleased to continue hosting scientific conversations with our Spring Seminar Series.
Free, Virtual on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM
Register HERE and receive Zoom invitations and reminders
February 10: Toward Simulating Laws of Nature...and its Implications for a Simulated Universe!
Zohreh Davoudi, University of Maryland
 
February 17: Surface-interior volatile cycling controls on exoplanet atmosphere evolution
Brad Foley, Penn State

February 24: The Search for Habitable Worlds Beyond our Solar System
Leo Drake Deming, University of Maryland

March 3: 2:30 PM Understanding Anthropocene Risk
Pat Keys, Colorado State University

March 10: United States and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
 Johannes Urpelainen, Johns Hopkins

March 24: Exploring Black Lives Matter and the Criminal Legal System as Environmental Justice Challenges
David Pellow, University of California Santa Barbara

March 31: Chasing down the storm: understanding the atmosphere's science, caprice and beauty.
Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post

April 7: Using NASA Earth observations and Google Earth Engine to map winter cover crop conservation performance in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Alison Thieme, University of Maryland

April 14: Applying environmental epigenetics to non-model marine organisms
Jose Maria Eirin-Lopez, Florida International University

April 21: Collaboration across disciplines and species for ecological rehabilitation
Ryan Hoover, Maryland Institute College of Art

April 28: Global change and wildland fire
Mark Cochrane, UMCES, Appalachian Laboratory

May 5: 20,000 year history of the Choptank River   
Doug Levin, Washington College
Register HERE to receive a link to this free virtual event
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.
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