In 1973 it became the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies and in 1997 it assumed its current name.
The center focuses on environmental research and education in Maryland, United States, with special attention to problems of the Chesapeake Bay,[1][2] and includes climate research.
Its educational opportunities include graduate studies and undergraduate research internships.
Donald Boesch served as the institution's president from 1990 until 2017, and has been succeeded by Peter Goodwin.
[4] UMCES programs are conducted at five constituent research locations: The Center also administers the Integration and Application Network, which provides scientific data, reports and visualization tools for researchers, students and the general public.