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*Smithsonian Environmental Research Center  **Integration Plans**
http://www.serc.si.edu/
Contact:  Dottie Klugel
E-Mail:  klugel@serc.si.edu

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is located on the Chesapeake Bay.
SERC is the leading national research center for understanding environmental issues in the coastal zone especially where the land meets the sea and is committed to the education and studies of  the biological and physical processes that sustain life on earth. 

SERC offers informative, interactive videoconference programs which run from thirty to sixty minutes in duration.  Throughout the videoconference, students interact with SERC education staff and scientists.  A variety of topics are available.

Each informative videoconference lasts between thirty and sixty minutes, during which time conduct hands-on science demonstrations and interact with SERC staff. Before the videoconference, you will receive curriculum aligned with Maryland Science Content Standards to use in the classroom before, during, and after the videoconference.

Technology
SERC can connect with you using ISDN or T1 lines and we can work with you to meet the technological requirements of the broadcast. To learn more about the technology used in the videoconferences, you can download a PDF article a SERC's Distance Learning Program.

Costs
The fee for the videoconference depends on the curriculum materials you choose. Prices start at $100 per videoconference. Please contact SERC for more pricing details.

Contact Information and Signing Up  If you're ready to sign up, please use the online registration form. You can also print a
Registration From (pdf) and fax it to SERC at 301-261-3415.

If you have any questions about the programs or signing up, please contact Dottie Klugel, SERC's Distance Learning Coordinator at klugeld@si.edu.

Videoconferencing Programs

Go behind the scenes of science with SERC's interactive videoconferences, offered on a variety of topics related to our research:

Birds of a Feather
Grades K - 7
All birds have feathers, and birds are the only organisms to have them. What can be learned about birds from their feathers?

This videoconference emphasizes the importance of adaptation in organisms. Examine the structure of several types of feathers and identify the differences. This will help students recognize how to look for adaptations and determine why they are important. In addition, other bird adaptations may be discussed (beaks, feet, etc.) as well as the research methods used at SERC to track the migratory routes of birds.

This videoconference can be extended by a component involving life birds, during which students can compare and contrast the feeding habits of two different raptors. Owls feed at night, and what they eat can be determined from their pellets. Hawks feed during the day. Because this demonstration involves life birds, please inform Dottie Klugel, the distance learning coordinator, of your interest in this additional component.  Sign up for this videoconference.

Timeless Turtles: Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins
Grades K - 8
These animals have been around since the time of dinosaurs and survived when they didn't. Turtles are closely connected to both the land and water; sea turtles and diamondback terrapins for example live in water but return to the land to lay their eggs.

Everybody recognizes a turtle when they see one, but what exactly are their defining characteristics? Explore the unique characteristics that make turtles turtles, and the differences among turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. Meet the diamondback terrapin and box turtle, both Bay residents. Also learn about the sea turtles that visit the Bay when traveling along their migratory route.  Sign up for this videoconference.

The Chesapeake Bay
Grades  2 - 12
An introduction to and overview of the Chesapeake Bay, its watershed, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). Explore the unique characteristics of the nation's largest estuary and learn about some of its inhabitants. This videoconference is a great first introduction to estuaries and Chesapeake Bay ecology.   Sign up for this videoconference.

Salinity Solution
Grades 3 - 7
Observe a demonstration of salinity and how brackish water is formed. Then participants will create their own "salinity solution" by mixing unknown samples and meet a resident of the Chesapeake Bay known for its tolerance to salt, the blue crab.  Sign up for this videoconference.

Aquatic Ecosystems: Putting the Parts Together
Grades 4 - 9 
What are the parts of aquatic ecosystems, and how do these parts come together to make an ecosystem unique?

Examine some living and non-living components in various aquatic ecosystems, with particular attention on the effects of a salinity gradient. Students are encouraged to build aquatic ecosystems in the classroom and share observations with SERC staff during a videoconference. Comparisons will be made to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, with examples of its specific living and non-living components.  Sign up for this videoconference.

Blue Crab Biology
Grades 4 - 12
Examine the fascinating life and role of the blue crab, an important link in the Chesapeake Bay food web. The video conference will focus on blue crab research conducted in the Bay, and what this research tells us about the state of the Bay and its watershed.  Sign up for this videoconference.

A Walk Through the Woods: Forest Canopies
Grades 5 - 12
Learn about forest structure, in particular how the forest canopy affects the forest all the way from the tree tops to the forest floor.

Find out how scientists study the tops of trees, and what this research tells us about the health of forests in the watershed.  Sign up for this videoconference.

Science in Action: Research at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Grades 5 - 12
Located outside Washington, DC, along the Chesapeake Bay is the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). The scientists and educators here explore the biological and physical processes that sustain life on Earth. Since 1965, SERC scientists have researched the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric components of complex ecosystems and applied this knowledge for the improved stewardship of the biosphere. Explore these processes and components by exploring the science laboratories of SERC. Interactive demonstrations recreate SERC science in the classroom. Students will also discover potential careers in science.   Sign up for this videoconference.

Investigating Global Warming: Clues to a Changing Climate
The global climate is changing. Learn about the greenhouse effect, the cause of increased levels of carbon dioxide, and what complex role plants play in taking up this greenhouse gas.

SERC IN SCHOOLS - Adults/Teacher Training
This thirty-minute program demonstrates SERC's videoconference programs that are available to teachers and school districts. Find out what programs exist, what they entail, and how to receive and register. This program is great to schedule for staff development or training. Sign up for this videoconference.