The Potomac EnvironmentalResearch and Education Center

An Environmental Research and Education Center

for the Potomac River Basin

Our Mission

To utilize the tools of scientific research, restoration, education, and policy analysis to help society understand and sustain natural processes in ecosystems, watersheds, and landscapes.

Specific Research Foci

Restoration of Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay

• New Bay Agreement• Important research

questions remain:– The effect of nutrients on

Bay organisms– Greater understanding of

tidal freshwater & oligohaline ecosystems

– The role of wetlands in protecting the Bay

– The recovery of Bay communities when stresses are removed

Suburban Sustainability

• Northern Virginia is one of the most rapidly growing regions of the Country– How does this rapid growth

impact our ecosystems?

– What are the growth and development strategies that can lessen that impact and allow us to retain a greater variety of organisms?

Global Climate Change and Management of Natural Ecosystems

• Impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems

• Linkages between climate change, hydrology, and aquatic ecology

• Using managed landscapes and wetlands to store carbon & carbon credits

Current Funded Research

Education Programs

• Serve as a focus of activity for Environmental programs at GMU– University programs in

Environmental Science and Policy

– Certificates in Environmental Management

– Courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Human Ecology

– General Education course in Environmental Science

Educational Programs

K-12 and Community Programs

• Work with local schools to implement watershed and bay ecology educational programs incorporated into basic science curriculum

• Conduct ecology camps

• Serve as a resource for local government and citizens

Educational Programs

For more information…Web site:

perec.gmu.edu

Current Physical Address:

4260 Chain Bridge Rd. Suite B200

Fairfax, VA 22030

Mailing address:

PEREC

4400 University Drive, MS 5F2

Fairfax, VA 22030-4444