For many years, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County has delivered numerous summer camp programs for youth throughout the Trenton area. When the pandemic hit, and the 4-H staff was unable to provide in-person summer programming, Mercer County 4-H had to creatively design new offerings to reach these underserved youth. Through partnerships with Mercer County SNAP-Ed, Mercer Street Friends, and the Center for Child and Family Achievement (CCFA), the team created a program called “Find Out Fridays.” For six weeks, from July to August, 100 families […]
More Than Words: Communicating About a COVID-19 Vaccine
Health officials can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all message when it comes to communicating with the public about a forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine, says Professor William Hallman, an experimental psychologist who uses scientific research to explore human behavior. Many questions are circulating about a forthcoming vaccine for COVID-19. When will it be ready? How effective will it […]
The 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge is a Race to Land Humans on Mars this year!
The race to land humans on Mars is on! The annual 4-H STEM Challenge in connection with Rutgers looks a little different this year but the enthusiasm remains. The 2020 challenge will explore sending a mission to Mars with the activity, Mars Base Camp. Developed by Google and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mars Base Camp is […]
Surprising Coral Spawning Features Revealed
When stony corals have their renowned mass spawning events, in sync with the moon’s cycle, colonies simultaneously release an underwater “cloud” of sperm and eggs for fertilization. But how do the sperm and eggs survive several hours as plankton, given threats from predators, microbes and stresses such as warming waters? A Rutgers-led team has discovered […]
Eight Weeks of Intensive Virtual Learning
Two weeks. That is the amount of time Janice McDonnell and Sage Lichtenwalner, Co-PIs of the OOI Ocean Data Lab Project, had to create an eight-week intensive, hands-on virtual program for Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) students, who couldn’t attend their original programs due to COVID-19 restrictions. McDonnell and Lichtenwalner jumped in with both feet […]
A Commitment to Community-Based Learning, from SEBS Interim Executive Dean
From Rutgers Gardens and Helyar Woods to the Rutgers University Marine Field Station, Rutgers University-New Brunswick’s School of Environmental and Biological Sciences makes full use of its resources around the Garden State to serve as living labs for students and the public, according to the school’s new interim executive dean. “SEBS is on the front lines of addressing community, environmental […]
Specialty Foods Association Announced Winners of its 2020 Competition held at Rutgers Food Innovation Center
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) completed its 2020 sofi™ Awards judging, which was hosted this year by the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC) in Bridgeton, NJ. On August 25, SFA announced the winners of its 48th annual sofi™ Awards competition, resulting in 157 winners across 49 categories from around the world. “The sofi™ Awards […]
4-H Members Capture Top Awards At NJ State 4-H Virtual Public Speaking Contest
Twenty-seven New Jersey 4-H members received Outstanding Presentation Awards at the State 4-H Virtual Public Presentation Contest. This annual event typically held in June on the Cook Douglass Campus of Rutgers University moved to a virtual format this year. One Hundred Seventeen 4-H members from throughout the state took part in this event, which offers […]
Stories of Life at Rutgers Through the Pandemic: Meet Rutgers Essential Workers – Cook Campus Farm
Essential workers at Rutgers have kept the university running and served others who remained on campus while most of the community has been working remotely since March. They have maintained the buildings and grounds; kept faculty, staff and students connected online; served the hungry and provided other services. Rutgers Today spent some time talking to the workers about how the […]
Rutgers Leads New Partnership that Supports Oyster Farmers and Promotes Habitat Restoration
Like many sectors in the global economy, the shellfish aquaculture industry has suffered significant economic decline especially as shellfish farmers rely on direct sales to restaurants or on wholesale markets that ultimately serve restaurants. As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered restaurants across the U.S., a critical link in the shellfish aquaculture supply chain was lost. This […]
