This $557,548 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) funds the Smithsonian Institution to deliver their Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center from February 2022 through January 2025. The RET program will provide hands-on research training to middle school teachers from Maryland and Washington, D.C. school districts on topics related to global change ecology. Teachers will study ecosystem conservation, climate change, biological invasions, and biodiversity loss. They will be trained in current scientific techniques to increase their understanding of the scientific process and ability to implement authentic research practices in their own classrooms. It is expected that these teachers will engage hundreds of students annually, providing improved STEM resources and connections to further inspire student interest in these fields.