An article from Gothamist explains the growing political and policy conflict in New Jersey over new coastal development regulations designed to address climate change and rising sea levels. The rules—known as the REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) regulations—aim to make coastal communities safer by factoring in future climate risks like sea level rise and stronger storm surges, rather than relying …
Rutgers professor Brooke Maslo will advance research connecting environmental change, species behavior and ecosystem resilience RCEI affiliate Brooke Maslo, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, has been named the inaugural holder of the Joanna Burger Endowed Legacy Professorship. Maslo’s appointment is supported by a gift from Joanna Burger, a Distinguished Professor with …
Rutgers researchers weigh in on the health impacts of an issue that is spreading throughout the nation Wildfire smoke is no longer confined to distant regions. It is increasingly affecting communities throughout the United States, raising urgent questions about air quality, public health and long-term risk. Researchers at Rutgers University are studying how wildfire smoke affects the body and how …
Scientists have developed a powerful new statistical approach that can reveal complex patterns in how fish move and adapt to their environments—information that’s been hiding in plain sight within fish ear stones. A study published in the journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries introduces an advanced framework to analyze chemical signatures in fish otoliths—small calcium carbonate structures in fish ears that act like natural recorders of …
This year’s Faculty Year-End Excellence Awards honored RCEI affiliate Debashish Bhattacharya as one of five tenured faculty members who have received the prestigious Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research. This award signifies his weighty contributions to the intellectual community at Rutgers and society beyond. Read more and find his name on the list of recipients at the article …
More than half of residents say the U.S. government and businesses have a lot of responsibility when it comes to limiting greenhouse gas emissions NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Apr. 22, 2026) – A majority of New Jerseyans are concerned at some level about the effects of changing climate conditions and place responsibility for limiting greenhouse gas emissions on various levels of …
Two RCEI affiliates, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS) Department Chair Oscar Schofield and Professor Kay Bidle, were honored for their work elevating research impact at the 2026 Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS)’s Summit, “Impact by Design”, which took place March 30 – April 1. Schofield was awarded the Enduring Achievement Award, which honors those with a …
An article from MSN explains how large volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the entire planet, highlighting a counterintuitive but well-documented climate process. While volcanoes are typically associated with heat and destruction, the article emphasizes that their most powerful global impact comes from gases—especially sulfur dioxide—released high into the stratosphere. There, these gases form sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight back into …
Rutgers researchers and collaborators find living reef structure reduced wave power by more than 90% in early tests Scientists report that a living reef coastal defense system can reduce wave power significantly, suggesting the approach could offer a new way to protect shorelines from storms and rising seas. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by an international …
On April 3, Laura Lawson, Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), spoke with the students gathered in the classroom at the Institute for Food, Nurtition and Health for their final class of the RU Engaged: A Community Engaged Byrne Seminars with Alternative Spring Break. The students in this interactive seminar shared their experiences with community gardening …
