More than half of the games in the soccer tournament are being played on turfgrass bred by a Rutgers team of experts While soccer fans watch their favorite teams compete at this summer’s World Cup, Rutgers University’s plant biologists will be looking under the players’ cleats—eyeing the lush, green natural turfgrass they created. Ten of the tournament’s 16 soccer stadiums …
Reimagining the SEBS Campus as a Health and Wellness Arboretum
What if a walk across campus could be as restorative as it is educational? That question is inspiring a new vision for the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), where faculty, students, and campus leaders are exploring how the grounds of the George H. Cook Campus might evolve into a Health and Wellness Arboretum—a living landscape that supports …
The Prehistoric Creature that Became a Rutgers Icon is Now Destined for Literary Fame
He roamed the Earth thousands of years ago, navigating his massive, elephant-like body through North American forests and using his tusks to strip the bark off trees for his dinner. Even in death, he captivated anyone who saw him: New Jerseyans paid 10 cents apiece to view his big bones at county fairs and circuses in the 19th century. Now, …
Climate change alarms are flashing. Washington isn’t paying attention.
An article from E&E News examines the growing disconnect between worsening climate change impacts and the lack of political attention in Washington. The piece explains that while scientists are raising increasingly urgent warnings—such as accelerating global warming, shrinking Arctic ice, intensifying El Niño effects, and the potential collapse of major ocean currents—U.S. policymakers are largely focused elsewhere, particularly on energy …
SoE Professors Awarded 2026 Rutgers Global Grants
Rutgers Global Grants provide seed grants to support faculty engaging in collaborative international research, partnerships, and new educational initiatives. According to Vice President for Global Affairs Eric Garfunkel, the grants reflect Rutgers’ commitment to expanding global engagement, and belief in the ability of research and education to help transform lives the world over. This year, three School of Engineering professors …
Assistant Professor Fiorella Prada is the 2026 Alpha Zeta “Teacher of the Year”
RCEI affiliate Fiorella Prada, assistant professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, was named the 2026 Alpha Zeta Professor of the Year at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). Prada was first recognized at the school’s Baccalaureate where she was presented with a certificate by Alpha Zeta. Prada joined Rutgers in November 2021 as a postdoctoral …
Why Scientists Retired the Dire Climate Scenario Used for Over a Decade
An article from The New York Times examines a major shift in climate science: researchers have decided to retire one of the most widely used and alarming emissions scenarios, known as RCP8.5, and replace it with updated projections. This change has sparked debate among scientists, policymakers, and the public about whether climate risks have been overstated—and how to better communicate …
Rutgers Students Bring Science Stories to the National Stage at Planet Forward Storyfest
For eight Rutgers students, the George Washington University Planet Forward Environmental Storyfest in April was more than a conference. It was an opportunity to show how science storytelling can transform complex research into deeply human stories that connect with audiences far beyond the laboratory. Representing the university at one of the nation’s leading gatherings for environmental communicators, the students presented Research …
Angela Oberg Receives Moves DuMonde Sustainability Award
Congratulations to RCEI affiliate Angela Oberg for receiving the Moves DuMonde Sustainability Award for her transformative and impactful work at Rutgers University! Starting off as an undergraduate premed, philosophy, and biology major, her winding path to eventually becoming a sustainability professional in higher education included a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and 10 years of working in the environmental planning industry. …
Faculty Strengthen Cross-Departmental Collaboration at SEBS/NJAES Office of Research Workshop Series
More than 20 faculty from SEBS and NJAES completed the inaugural “Charting Your Research Pathway” workshop series hosted by the SEBS/NJAES Office of Research this past March. Over six weeks, participants refined their Rutgers research visions, explored new funding opportunities, and received individualized guidance and support from the Office of Research. “I’m already pursuing concrete research collaborations that grew directly from this …













