A compact offshore research platform has been deployed off the Jersey Shore, revitalizing the historic Long-Term Ecosystem Observatory (LEO) site and advancing a new era of ocean research, education and marine innovation in New Jersey. Anchored about three miles offshore of the Rutgers Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, N.J., the platform, known as the PowerBuoy®, […]
A Legacy of Generosity: New Teaching Garden Expands Hands-on Learning Opportunities
When a student confessed he had been going hungry, program coordinator at the Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE), Fran Koppell, took money out of her own wallet to help him buy groceries. When a formerly homeless student was struggling academically, Fran made sure he had the support he needed. And when students had nowhere […]
What 35 Years of Watching New Jersey’s Climate Reveals
A longtime Rutgers expert explains what decades of data show about the state’s warming climate, changing storms and need for public understanding. For 35 years, David Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist and a Distinguished Professor of Geography in the School of Arts and Sciences, has helped New Jersey understand its weather and climate. As […]
Are “Eco-Friendly” Plastics Really Better for the Environment?
You’ve probably seen products labeled “biodegradable” or “compostable” at the store and assumed they were better for the planet than regular plastic. But a new study suggests it’s not that simple. Researchers reviewed dozens of studies on bioplastics — plastics made from plant or biological materials rather than fossil fuels — to find out whether […]
Antarctic Plankton Are Adapting to a Brighter Ocean — And It’s Telling Us Something Important About Climate Change
Tiny plant-like organisms (phytoplankton) living in the ocean waters around Antarctica are changing the way they handle sunlight — and the reason why reveals just how much climate change is reshaping one of Earth’s most remote ecosystems. A new study published in the journal Limnology and Oceanography found that over the past 27 years, microscopic […]
Announcement: New Leadership at the NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH)
Announcement by Laura Lawson, SEBS Executive Dean and NJAES Executive Director I am pleased to announce new leadership for the Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH), positioning the institute to further advance Rutgers University’s commitment to excellence in food, nutrition, health, and community engagement. I would like to thank the faculty members whose contributions […]
CHAMP Initiative Combines Climate Science and Storytelling to Address Urban Heat
As summer temperatures climb, so does the risk of extreme heat—now recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. In cities such as Camden, where buildings, pavement, and other infrastructure trap heat and create higher temperatures than surrounding areas, understanding the impacts of urban […]
Rutgers-Trained Scientist and NOAA Researcher Is Named New Jersey State Climatologist
John Krasting, a Rutgers-trained climate scientist whose career has spanned broadcast meteorology, climate modeling and sea-level research, has been named the New Jersey state climatologist, succeeding David Robinson, who is retiring after 35 years in the role. Krasting, whose name is pronounced to rhyme with “lasting,” will begin July 1 as an extension specialist in […]
Longtime NOAA Researcher John Krasting Named Incoming New Jersey State Climatologist
Announcement by Laura Lawson, SEBS Executive Dean and NJAES Executive Director. Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Krasting as New Jersey State Climatologist, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Krasting is joining Rutgers University–New Brunswick as an Extension Specialist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the School of Environmental […]
Rutgers New Jersey 4-H Camp Draws Generations of Families for 75 Years
The minute school lets out for summer, the screen time wars ramp up for parents. “It’s such a slog … a never-ending battle,” said Rachel Lyons, a mom of three from Hillsborough. But for one week each summer, Lyons gets a truce. Her children head to New Jersey 4-H Camp, which runs. The wooded retreat run […]
