The Fairchild Million Orchid Project Extension expands upon the pioneering conservation initiative led by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to reintroduce native orchids throughout South Florida. Partnering with Fairchild scientists, YREP students are extending this mission through data-driven research that explores how environmental variables — such as light intensity, humidity, and substrate composition — affect orchid growth and survival in urban ecosystems.

This interdisciplinary project blends biology, physics, and environmental science, allowing students to apply tools from imaging, environmental sensing, and data analysis to real-world conservation work. Through long-term monitoring and collaboration with the Fairchild research community, the team contributes valuable insights into how native orchids can thrive in a changing climate and helps restore the ecological beauty and biodiversity of South Florida’s landscapes.

The Synthetic Biology team at YREP is conducting a longitudinal study of the microbiome within our local urban mangroves. This project investigates how environmental factors — such as pollution, nutrient availability, and urban runoff — influence the diversity and behavior of microbial communities living in mangrove ecosystems. By tracking changes over time, students aim to better understand how these microorganisms contribute to mangrove health, resilience, and carbon cycling.

This research is part of the larger Physics of Mangroves initiative, which integrates physics, biology, and environmental science to explore the complex interactions that sustain coastal ecosystems. Through this interdisciplinary approach, students apply experimental design, molecular biology techniques, and data analysis to contribute to real-world questions about climate resilience and ecosystem dynamics.