RCEI affiliate and PI Shishir Chundawat will lead a team of researchers to develop integrated technologies for conversion of cellulosic biomass and biomass-derived CO2 to fuels/chemicals. The project was selected for funding by the Northeast SunGrant program at Pennsylvania State University and supported directly by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). For this project Chundawat will collaborate closely with …

A Rutgers-led study shows diminished crop yield is globally common but low yields could be addressed by increasing the number of pollinators A team of researchers led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick scientists has analyzed crop yields of more than 1,500 fields on six continents, and found that production worldwide of important, nutritionally dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and …

Rutgers researchers examined particulate matter from a June 2023 fire that triggered advisories for more than 100 million Americans in the Northeast. Climate-driven wildfire events are rapidly transferring harmful particulate matter containing toxic chemicals over long distances, compromising air quality in the New Jersey and New York City areas, according to Rutgers Health research. Published in Environmental Science & Technology and to …

University researchers to lead green infrastructure, community engagement, K-12 education and planning initiatives as part of a $72.5 million federal grant Rutgers University researchers will lead several components of a $72.5 million federal initiative to fortify New Jersey’s coast against climate change and extreme weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the grant to the New Jersey Department …

RCEI affiliate Alexander Gates, Distinguished Service Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, Rutgers-Newark, has authored “Reclaiming Our Planet: How Environmental History Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis.” Professor Gates explores past environmental crises that humanity has faced and successfully addressed to encourage readers that slowing and preventing climate change is possible. Gates also analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of renewable …

By Marjorie Kaplan RCEI Affiliates Anthony Broccoli and Lisa Auermuller testified at a joint hearing of the New Jersey Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste and Senate Environment and Energy Committees in Toms River, New Jersey on August 1, 2024.   The committees  met to hear from invited speakers on the topics of beach replenishment, climate resiliency along the …

By Shannon Dickey & Marjorie Kaplan As a partner in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Northeast Climate Hub, Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute (RCEI) hosted the USDA Graduate Student Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partners (GradCAMP) scholars workshop  May 14-15, 2024. Twenty graduate student fellows from across the region met at Rutgers University-New Brunswick campus to create Climate Equity Factsheets and …

RCEI affiliate Charles Dismukes, Distinguished Professor, and his Rutgers colleagues Anders Laursen, Research Associate; Martha Greenblatt, Distinguished Professor; and Karin Calvinho, PhD Candidate—all from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology—have received the 2024 Edison Patent Award from the Research & Development Council of New Jersey. This is the state’s highest recognition for inventors and innovation for their Nickel Phosphide …

By: Marjorie Kaplan RCEI has awarded Groundwork Grants to faculty affiliates Charles Dismukes, Yalin Li, Mary Whelan, and Qingze Zhou to facilitate planning for comprehensive competitive research proposals and scholarship toward the emerging global emphasis on the bioeconomy in addressing climate change. Bioeconomy harnesses the power of biology in novel production of goods, services, and energy to grow the economy …

Rutgers-led researchers show that geological records offer a new way to make storm predictions in a climate-changed world A Rutgers University-New Brunswick-led research team employing an emerging technique to detect signs of past hurricanes in coastal sediments has found evidence of storms dating back more than 400 years. In doing so, they have confirmed an approach that could give them …