1oo Stories

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a dolphin gliding through the Chesapeake Bay, you’re not alone—and now, there’s a way to share that moment and contribute to science while you’re at it. Thanks to the Chesapeake DolphinWatch app, now in its ninth season, everyday people can log sightings of these playful marine mammals and help researchers track their movements throughout the Bay. What started as a unique research initiative by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) has grown into a vibrant example of citizen science in action—one that’s bringing the public closer to wildlife and helping scientists better understand the health and habits of dolphins in the region.