Editor’s note: Congressman Pallone issued the following press release, citing Laura Lawson, Executive Dean of SEBS and Executive Director of the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station, and Don Schaffner, Professor and Chair of the Department of Food Science at SEBS, following a roundtable discussion held at the NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health. As kids […]
4-H STEM Ambassador Youth Program Welcomes its 17th Cohort to SEBS
Over the summer, New Jersey youth from around the state gathered at the Rutgers George H. Cook Campus for the annual 4-H STEM Ambassadors program kickoff. Now in its seventeenth year, the program empowers high school students from urban communities across New Jersey through year-round experiences that foster STEM identity and promote college readiness. 2025 […]
Professor and Founding Director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center Karyn Malinowski Retires After 47 Years
Karyn Malinowski, equine sciences extension specialist and professor, retired on June 30, after 47 years at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She is a triple alumna of Rutgers, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in animal sciences and a doctoral degree in zoology. At the time of her work towards her doctoral […]
New Rutgers Patent for Sweet Basil Showing Increased Downy Mildew Resistance
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) downy mildew disease (DM), caused by Peronospora belbahrii, continues to be a worldwide threat to the basil industry despite the recent release of Rutgers DM resistant varieties as the pathogen also continues to evolve. Using a proprietary transient gene editing vector, the Rutgers team successfully applied CRISPR/Cas9 technology to modify […]
Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program Wins North American Agrivoltaics “Solar Farm of 2025″ Award
The North American Agrivoltaics Awards (NAAA) program announced on August 5 that Rutgers’ work in agrivoltaics had won its “Solar Farm of 2025” award. For the past several years, a project at Rutgers University, the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP), has been focused on “agrivoltaics,” also known as “dual-use” solar, and is showing that a farm’s […]
Rutgers Unveils “Scarlet Sunrise,” a Sweet Bicolor Grape Tomato
After nearly a decade of painstaking research, a new tomato variety is ready for its moment in the sun. “Scarlet Sunrise,” a bicolor grape tomato developed through a long collaboration between Rutgers researchers Peter Nitzsche and Tom Orton, is a sweet, crack-resistant tomato with a golden hue and a reddish blush. Its name is meant to be evocative […]
NJ 4-H Members Attend International Leadership Conference in Ireland
Five New Jersey 4-H members attended the 2025 Foróige Leadership for Life Conference from July 28-Aug. 1 at the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, Ireland. Foróige’s Leadership for Life Conference, now in its 16th year, hosted 250 high school age youth from Ireland and the United States. NJ 4-H participants included Brooklyn Bilge of […]
Summer Gathering Focuses on Finance and Fun for the SEBS/NJAES Community
On August 6, the SEBS/NJAES Office of Finance and Administration held its second quarterly meeting, focusing on the importance of adhering to university and school policies on time management and accepting gifts. Questions raised during and after the presentation reflected the strong interest and engagement of participants. Following the meeting, a barbecue was […]
Mississippi River Disruptions Could Raise Food and Fertilizer Costs, Study Finds
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, an […]
How Puerto Rican Communities Stepped Up After Hurricane María
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 […]











