From the efforts of local communities, powered by eager volunteers and donors, a new way to protect our shorelines and fight against climate change has sprung up from a somewhat unexpected place – the restaurant table. In Long Beach Township, Barnegat Bay, and numerous other locations and states, a movement to use oyster shells to rebuild reefs has been set into …
RCEI awarded Groundwork Grants to faculty affiliates Kay Bidle, Benedict Borer, Xiaomeng Jin, Robert Mieth, Roger Wang, Lucas Marxen, and Efthymios Nikolopoulos to support development of research proposals that leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address climate and energy challenges. Below are descriptions of each of the winning proposals. Elucidating Emergent Rules Governing Marine Snow Properties and Carbon …
When drought and extreme weather lower water levels on the Mississippi River, it doesn’t just slow boats—it can ripple through the whole economy. A new study in Risk Analysis shows how climate change–related disruptions to fertilizer shipments along the river can shrink GDP and raise prices, especially in states like Illinois and Minnesota. Fred Roberts, RCEI Affiliate and distinguished professor …
When Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico in 2017, it left behind widespread destruction—no power, destroyed homes, and thousands dead. Many people felt abandoned by the government. But some local groups stepped up to take care of their neighbors when official help never came. In a new study published in Geoforum, the authors explore how two community groups—PECES and Comedores Sociales—helped …
As the Trump administration abruptly puts an end to a myriad of labs, climate change reports and initiatives, jobs, and funding, a gaping hole is left in their place. In an effort to at least temporarily make up for that need, numerous non-profit organizations and academic groups have formed a “greenhouse gas coalition” for the continued monitoring and research of …
Why is climate change talked about so much but yet so little? When will people start to take this issue seriously? What is being done to reduce the effect of climate change? What small things can we do every day to prevent the increase of climate change? These are the questions New Jersey youth were asking at the Climate Teen Summit …
In a stunning blend of agriculture, technology, and energy, the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program is moving further along with testing the compatibility of solar power panels alongside major commodity crops. Led by RCEI affiliate David Specca, the program has implemented tests with hay in Pittstown, livestock in New Brunswick, soybeans and other vegetables in Cumberland County, and more. So far, the …
Todd Vachon, RCEI Affiliate, is a co-author of a new study that explores how different groups—like labor unions, environmental advocates, and community organizations—can work together to create fair and effective climate policies. The study, published in Environmental Politics, compares two major efforts in Washington State and Colorado to build what are called “just transition” coalitions. A “just transition” means making …
Zoysiagrass is a popular lawn choice because it looks great and handles heat fairly well—but it still struggles in dry conditions. A new study is using drones and advanced imaging technology to find out which types of zoysiagrass do best when water is scarce. Bingru Huang, RCEI Affiliate, is a co-author of the study, which was published in The Plant …
A founding principle of the Growing Convergent Research (GCR) project led by RCEI Affiliate Kay Bidle (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences) is to address the complex global challenge of climate change through transdisciplinary collaboration and convergence of diverse knowledge and methods to generate innovative solutions. As a multi-institutional, transdisciplinary initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the project seeks to understand
