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# People and the Planet

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Human beings came into existence 300,000 years ago. However, only in recent times have we seen how humans can change the planet. We have also seen how we can work with nature to help create a more sustainable planet for all living things. Our researchers focus on human impacts on species and the environment, connecting communities of people, human health as it connects to the environment, and more. You can reflect on stories of humans and nature, and share your own story in the Our Places map from the National Museum of Natural History.
Environmental Justice
Social movements have defined America's history, and for many, the environment has been a central focus. The Environmental Justice movement, for one, focuses on ensuring all people have access to clean water, air, and a healthy natural environment. The Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum launched the Center for Environmental Justice on Earth Day of 2023.
       Smithsonian Science Education Center  Environmental Justice! Community Research Guide
This guide helps youth ages 11–17 assess and support healthy environments for everyone.
       Smithsonian Voices  The Key to Life on a Sustainable Planet
The Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science and Research explains why environmental justice is key to life on a sustainable planet.
       Sidedoor Podcast  Building a Movement         A history of the environmental justice movement from the farmlands of North Carolina to a watershed moment in the nation's capital.         Race and Our Shared Future  Race and Place
Consider how race and racism have shaped access to safe, healthy public spaces and private living spaces. 
       Smithsonian Collection Spotlight  A History of Earth Day
Buttons, posters, and memorabilia reflect nearly 50 years of Earth Day celebrations.
       National Portrait Gallery  The Future of Environmentalism
Watch a conversation about the future of environmentalism and see images from the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition *Forces of Nature*.
Human Health and the Environment
Wildlife health and human health go hand in hand. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Global Health Program and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Interconnected Health Initiative research questions about nature that can help improve public health. Smithsonian collections also play a role—the National Museum of Natural History houses the largest mosquito collection in the world, which researchers use to study mosquito-borne illnesses.
       National Museum of Natural History  Outbreak
Our world is connected more than ever before—by global travel and trade, by technology, and even by infectious diseases.
       Smithsonian Sparks  Linking Large Mammal and Human Health         Save the Rhinos! Save the Elephants! Save the humans?!         Smithsonian Education  Mosquito! Community Research Guide
This guide focuses on how to ensure health for all from mosquito-borne disease. 
       Smithsonian Science Education Center  Sustainable Communities
This community research guide walks through topics such as inclusion, urban planning, housing, transportation, resource use, and waste.
       Smithsonian Gardens  Why Does It Feel So Good to Be in a Garden?
Learn how time in spaces with leafy, green plants can impact human health and wellbeing.
       Smithsonian Science Education Center  How Do We Balance the Needs of People and other Life?
*Biodiversity!*, a free community research guide, explores this question and inspires creative solutions.
Human Made Pollution
From light to plastic pollution, our individual and community-wide actions impact the environment. The Smithsonian tracks factors such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and nitrate runoff, and studies solutions to their ongoing impacts.
       Smithsonian Sparks  Seeing Air Pollution in a New Way         Smithsonian and NASA launched TEMPO into orbit to provide better information about air pollution over North America.         Sidedoor Podcast  Lights Out         Light pollution affects all life on earth, from humans to plants and insects. Can we have the dark, without giving up the light?         Smithsonian Environmental Research Center  Winning the Fight against Mercury Pollution
Mercury monitoring illustrates the success of federal and state policies and shows a way forward.
       Smithsonian Sparks  Microplastics in Our Environment         Odile Madden, materials scientist with the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute, knows a lot about platics.         National Museum of Natural History  Plastic in the Marine Environment
Plastic trash is now found in essentially every ecosystem on the planet—including throughout the ocean.
       Smithsonian Sparks  Agriculture and Fishing Cause Coral Reef Decline         Fossils reveal the state of coral reefs before large-scale human disturbance.  Forestry and Gardens
Forests are hugely important ecosystems—trees provide much of the oxygen we breathe, host most of Earth’s land-based species, and store large amounts of carbon. The Smithsonian hosts forest research sites all over the world and manages gardens dotting the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Here, we highlight some of the important connections between people and plants.
       Sidedoor Podcast  Dude, Where’s my Carbon?         How does so much carbon end up in tropical forests, and how is it measured? Visit Panama on this episode of *Sidedoor* and find out.          Smithsonian Environmental Research Center  BiodiversiTREE
The 60-acre project is North America’s largest tree diversity experiment.  
       Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute  GEO-TREES
The Smithsonian has measured tropical forest growth and loss in Panama for decades, and a new initiative will create a freely available and trustworthy global carbon verification system.
       Smithsonian's National Zoo  How to Build a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
Get tips on creating a garden that provides food and shelter for insects and birds alike.
       Smithsonian Sparks  Escape of the Invasives         Learn about six common invasive plants and get suggestions for native stand-ins to plant instead.         Smithsonian Gardens  Winter Garden Maintenance for Wildlife Friendly Habitats
If you are not looking forward to raking up all those leaves and cutting dormant perennials, you are in luck!
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