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Welcome to the Smithsonian Marine Station
Who We Are...
The Smithsonian Marine Station (SMS) at Fort Pierce, Florida is a research center specializing in
marine
biodiversity and ecosystems of Florida. Research focuses on the Indian River Lagoon and the offshore waters
of Florida's east central coast, with comparative studies throughout coastal Florida.
The Station, a facility of the
National Museum of Natural History, is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and serves as a field station which draws scientists and students from the Smithsonian and
collaborating institutions around the world to investigate the plants, animals and physical processes in the
ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Information uncovered at the Marine Station is published in scientific journals and forms the basis for effective public policies, conservation efforts, and resource management.
Dedicated to the "increase and diffusion of knowledge", the Marine Station offers online resources including the Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory, Field Guide to the Indian River Lagoon, and a public exhibit, the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, which features aquaria that depict five local marine ecosystems, and many events and programs for the enjoyment and education of the public.
The Station also provides logistical and administrative management of the Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program (CCRE) based at the Carrie Bow Cay Field Station on the Meso-American Barrier Reef in Belize. SMS and CCRE are vital parts of the Smithsonian Marine Science Network.
What's Happening at SMS (Visitors, Tours, Seminars, Etc...)
 Temporary Animal Husbandry PositionWe have an opening for a part-time animal husbandry intern from February - May 2016. Applications are due by December 4, 2015  SMS 2013/2014 Biennial ReportLearn more about the research and education activities of the Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit. For online viewing, click here. For a more printer-friendly version, click here. 
Local Conditions at SMSThe Marine Station has been recording and posting water quality information from our dock location since 2006. We are now also providing continuous recordings of local atmospheric conditions. Instruments on a 25' weather tower are recording rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, UV radiation and total solar output, and the data is being fed to our website. Check out this online resource at Most Recent Weather and Water Info from SMS and Detailed Water Conditions at our Dock. 
Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Research StationThird Thursday of each month at 2PM - Free. Registration is required. Once a month we open our doors to the public to share current Smithsonian research on the plants and animals of the Indian River Lagoon and marine environments throughout the Caribbean. Tours are approximately one hour in length and begin at 2pm in the Conference Room. Suggested age: 12+ Please register online by following this link: ONLINE REGISTRATION 
Friday Afternoon Scientific SeminarsOur Friday afternoon scientific seminars are of a technical nature, geared toward members of the scientific community. They are held in the conference room of the Smithsonian Marine Station at 3:00 PM on Fridays (unless otherwise stated).
There are no scientific seminars scheduled at this time. |
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