A new study published in Risk Analysis examines how residents and government officials in flood-prone communities—specifically Ortley Beach, New Jersey—view rebuilding and relocation after major storms like Superstorm Sandy. The research explores how climate beliefs, political affiliations, and worldviews influence decisions about whether public funds should support staying in or leaving high-risk coastal areas. The study, led by Rutgers University …
Research by a Rutgers ecologist shows biodiversity improves physical and mental health, but warns of some potential risks A study by Rutgers ecologist and RCEI affiliate Myla Aronson and colleagues has found “overwhelming” evidence that increasing biodiversity in cities – establishing parks, installing native plants and encouraging sustainable landscaping – can significantly improve human health. Reporting in the science journal People and …
An underwater vehicle named Redwing will be launched in a Teledyne Marine-Rutgers project to collect data for ocean science and weather forecasting Guided by the rhythms of the sea and the promise of discovery, Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University will set Redwing, an autonomous underwater vehicle, on its journey on Friday, Oct. 10, leading to its launch into the Atlantic Ocean …
A new study in Aquaculture looked at how tiny oysters and clams (called seed) can carry diseases when moved between hatcheries and farms. The authors wanted to find out which life stages are most at risk, and how careful water treatment can help protect both farmed and wild shellfish. David Bushek, RCEI Affiliate, a professor in the Department of Marine …
An article from Inside Climate News explores how scientists and research institutions are mobilizing to preserve and share accurate climate science despite efforts by the Trump administration to censor or dismantle federal climate resources. When the administration cut funding, fired staff, and ordered the removal of terms such as “equity” and “climate justice” from government sites like climate.gov, researchers around …
An article from WHYY reports that the Trump administration’s Department of Energy (DOE) has canceled more than $7.5 billion in clean energy project funding, disproportionately affecting Democratic-led states such as Delaware and New Jersey. The move, which Democrats have condemned as politically motivated, slashes funding for hundreds of renewable energy initiatives—including solar, wind, and hydrogen projects—and could lead to higher …
In a bold step toward climate action, leading microbiology societies and organizations have unveiled their first joint global strategy to harness the power of microbial science in addressing the climate crisis. This landmark strategy has been published across 6 scientific journals, including FEMS Microbiology Ecology, mBio, Microbiology Australia, Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research, Sustainable Microbiology and The ISME Journal. This editorial, called “Microbes without borders: uniting societies …
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute invited RCEI Affiliate Aziz Ezzat, Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering to participate in a congressional briefing on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the climate and energy space that took place in a packed room of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. September 25, 2025. The briefing included congressional staff, …
RCEI, in collaboration with Rutgers Department of Human Ecology, hosted a September 29, 2025 forum at which Rutgers experts discussed recent U.S. government-led efforts to repeal greenhouse gas regulations in the United States and the scientific community’s rapid responses to these efforts. The forum featured RCEI affiliates William Hallman, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Human Ecology, Robert Kopp, Distinguished Professor …
As the planet warms, communities around the world are looking for simple, affordable ways to stay safe in rising temperatures. In rural Burkina Faso, where homes can be up to 10 degrees hotter inside than the air outside, residents face dangerous heat nearly all year round. A new study published in BMC Public Health explored whether “cool roofs” — special …
