Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Research ServicesMaryland, United States51-200 Employees
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is the Smithsonian Institution's hub for coastal-zone research. Its biologists study marine biology, terrestrial ecology, invasive species, global change, pollution, and other environmental issues. While headquartered on Chesapeake Bay, its scientists conduct studies on coasts around the world. The center sits on a 2,654-acre campus in Edgewater, Maryland, and maintains public hiking trails open daily except December 25. As part of Smithsonian's Research Services, the center operates within the nonprofit research ecosystem, serving the wider scientific community and public interest in coastal environments. It employs a mid-sized staff, reflecting its role as a specialized research organization in the Maryland region with global reach.