Dr. James Shope (left) discusses the measurement of surface temperature with students. Photo credit: Sharon Kinsey

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 heat has become increasingly important.

Rutgers researchers, Extension educators, humanities scholars, and community partners are working together to help address that challenge through the Community Heat Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP), an interdisciplinary initiative that combines climate science, community engagement and creative storytelling.

Dr. Jillian Sayre (left) and Dr. Carla Giaudrone making zines with students in the Cooper’s Poynt 4-H STEM Environmental Ambassadors Program. 

Co-led by Ben Lintner, professor, and James Shope, assistant extension specialist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers–New Brunswick, CHAMP has established a network of weather stations throughout Camden to collect neighborhood-scale temperature and environmental data. The information will help researchers better understand how extreme heat affects different parts of the city while supporting locally driven solutions.

According to Shope, “CHAMP’s goal is to both provide the scientific foundation for assessing extreme heat risk and to work with residents to use this information to improve or elevate community-led adaptations to extreme urban heat.”

Recognizing that data alone cannot fully capture the impacts of extreme heat, the CHAMP team has partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH) at Rutgers–Camden to better understand residents’ lived experiences.

One of those collaborations is the VOCES de La Comunidad Project, led by Carla Giaudrone, associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Rutgers–Camden, and supported by the Rutgers–Camden Urban Innovation Fund. The initiative engages Camden’s Spanish-speaking community through collaborative research, artistic expression, and the development of community resources.

By bringing together climate science, environmental humanities, and digital storytelling, the project demonstrates how creative practices can strengthen research, communication, and community engagement.

Giaudrone emphasized the importance of creating opportunities where scientific knowledge and community knowledge intersect, noting that “Art and storytelling help make complex environmental issues more accessible while also valuing the experiences and expertise that already exist within the community.”

Erielys Vicente teaching a workshop on digital zines. Photo credit: Carmen Benito-Asomoza.

That interdisciplinary approach recently came to life during an educational program at Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens’ Byron Street gardens. CHAMP researchers partnered with MARCH, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County, and Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens to introduce students from Cooper’s Poynt School to the science behind urban heat islands.

Students learned from Shope, Lintner, and Stephanie Sharo, a doctoral student in the Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science, about the causes and impacts of urban heat islands before using infrared thermometers to collect surface temperature data throughout the gardens.

“It is integral for transdisciplinary research to include community members, and it is so much fun to watch the kids’ excitement as they find creative ways to explore their natural world,” said Sharo.

The students then transformed scientific observation into creative expression during a workshop led by MARCH Director Jillian Sayre, Giaudrone, Camden County 4-H Program Assistant and VOCES intern Erielys Vicente, and Rutgers–Camden undergraduate Carmen Benito-Asomoza. Through self-published zines combining artwork, writing, and educational content, students reflected on their own experiences with extreme heat in Camden.

For Sharon Kinsey, 4-H agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County, the event built on years of collaboration with Cooper’s Poynt School while demonstrating the value of experiential learning.

“We have been working with Cooper’s Poynt students for several years now teaching them about food systems, food access, and food insecurity. Introducing scientific concepts, such as urban heat islands, in a hands-on way helps them better understand how they are personally affected and what they can do to improve the environment. Programs like this prepare students to become changemakers in their own community.”

By integrating scientific research, community partnerships, youth engagement, and creative storytelling, the initiative demonstrates how Rutgers is helping communities better understand and respond to the growing challenges of extreme urban heat, a risk underscored by NOAA’s findings on the deadly impacts of extreme temperatures.

John Krasting, a Rutgers-trained climate scientist and longtime NOAA researcher, is the incoming New Jersey State Climatologist. Photo: Luca Mostell

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 and Biological Sciences.

Dr. Krasting succeeds Dr. David Robinson, a Distinguished Professor of Geography and one of New Jersey’s most trusted public voices on weather and climate, who is retiring.

Dr. Krasting, a Rutgers-trained climate scientist and New Jersey native, returns to Rutgers after more than 15 years at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton. His expertise spans climate variability, climate modeling, sea-level rise, coastal inundation, ocean processes and the impacts of climate change on natural and human systems. Through his research and public engagement, he has contributed significantly to advancing our understanding of climate science and its relevance to communities, policymakers, and decision-makers across New Jersey and beyond.

Dr. Krasting earned his bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Rutgers in 2003 and his Ph.D. in atmospheric science from Rutgers in 2008. Throughout his career, he has contributed to research on climate risk, sea-level rise and Earth system modeling and helped lead NOAA research efforts focused on developing data and models to better understand sea-level rise and coastal inundation. Before focusing fully on climate research, he also worked as an on-air meteorologist in the New York and Philadelphia media markets, experience that strengthened his ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly and effectively.

Established at Rutgers in 1979, the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist serves as the state’s official source of weather and climate expertise.

As State Climatologist, Dr. Krasting will lead efforts to provide authoritative climate information, support climate-related research and education, and engage with government agencies, communities, and stakeholders throughout the state.

An important component of this work is the Rutgers New Jersey Weather Network (the NJWxNet), which provides real-time environmental data to support weather monitoring, climate research, agricultural decision-making, emergency management, and public information.

Dr. Robinson, who has served as New Jersey State Climatologist for 35 years, is the longest-serving state climatologist on record in the United States. During his tenure, Dr. Robinson provided invaluable expertise to government officials, the media, educators and the public. Over the course of his career, he gave an estimated 10,000 media interviews and played a key role in the development and growth of NJWxNet, creating a lasting resource for climate monitoring and public service across New Jersey.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Robinson for his exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the people of New Jersey. His contributions have strengthened Rutgers’ reputation as a trusted source of climate information and created a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit the state for years to come.

Dr. Krasting’s appointment reflects the university’s longstanding leadership in meteorology, climatology and atmospheric sciences. For decades, Rutgers faculty, researchers and students have advanced understanding of weather, climate variability, climate change, hydrology and coastal resilience through pioneering research, education, and public service. As State Climatologist, Dr. Krasting will build upon that tradition while helping strengthen the university’s service to communities across New Jersey.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Krasting on his appointment and in thanking Dr. Robinson for his many years of outstanding service as New Jersey State Climatologist.

About 50,000 children have reconnected with nature over the last 75 seasons at New Jersey 4-H Camp in Stokes State Forest.

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 by Rutgers has been strictly screen-free since its founding in 1951.

“That week where they have no access to it is such a gift,” said Lyons, a Rutgers Cooperative Extension agent who grew up attending the camp and also led the state 4-H program, including the camp, for the past 13 seasons. “They immerse themselves in the camp community and are able to make connections. Not having that crutch is important.”

Set on 108 acres in Stokes State Forest, the camp, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, feels like a portal to a simpler era. In fact, very little has changed since Lyons’ father first attended as a camper in the late 1950s. The camp is sold out for the season and will welcome 176 campers during each one-week session in July and the Big 18-Day session in August.

“I think it’s just an incredible, idyllic place,” said Lyons, a Rutgers alumna. “It’s almost like stepping back in time. Things are just slower there.”

Lily Lyons, 15, is a third-generation camper at New Jersey 4-H camp. Courtesy of Rachel Lyons

There is a clear throughline connecting the summer fun her father enjoyed to her own experience in the 1990s, and now to her children today. The timeless itinerary remains the same after entertaining some 50,000 children: campfire sing-alongs, hikes along the Appalachian Trail, canoe races on Lake Shawanni, capture-the-flag games, archery, and bunking up with new buddies in 11 rustic cabins.

“The nature is the canvas that allows us to do everything else,” said Ben Clawson, the director of camp programs. 

Clawson hasn’t missed a summer since he first arrived as an 11-year-old camper in 1995. As a teenage counselor, he remembers a time when nature did the tech policing for them; even if you brought a cellphone, there was simply no service in the depths of the pine forest.

“It wasn’t until around 2010, when 3G and screens finally reached out here into the woods, that we made a conscious decision to establish this official tech-free oasis,” Clawson said. “And it’s been humming along strong ever since.”

Beyond providing a digital detox, 4-H often serves as a camper’s first introduction to the university, planting “the Rutgers seed” in generations of future alumni.

“Every year I have junior counselors who went through the program tell me how proud they are to be applying to or getting into Rutgers,” Clawson said.

While parents frequently worry about how their children will survive a full week without tech, Clawson says even the most hyper-connected campers adapt almost instantly.

“They become kids right away,” he said. “It’s like a light switch as soon as they get into the woods without screens.”

Lyons’ 15-year-old daughter, Lily, a rising sophomore at Hillsborough High School, has been attending the camp with her twin brother since they were 8. This year their 8-year-old sister joins them for the first time. Over the years, Lily said she has come to genuinely look forward to the digital hiatus.

“I feel like it is almost a break, because when I’m on my phone, it makes me less in the moment,” she said. “When I’m not on my phone, I feel more in tune with everything that’s going on.

And it isn’t just the kids who benefit from leaving the digital world behind.

“At 42 years old, I still feel the freeing effects of not carrying my phone with me,” Clawson said.

For the parents watching from the sidelines, the value of that freedom is immeasurable.

“For my kids, they love the break from what it’s like to be a kid in 2026,” Lyons said. “Just stepping away from their phones and tablets – and the pressure of everything kids have going on these days.”

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

Suzanne Sukhdeo speaks with participants at the 2025 STEM Ambassadors program.

Suzanne Sukhdeo has overseen myriads of students during her career at Rutgers, whether as an associate teaching professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources or as a coordinator for the Student Success Initiative.   

After 37 years at Rutgers, she is set to retire in July. Her impact resonates both in the parasitology research she published and the students she has taught and advised. 

One of them is Russell Gurland, a Rutgers Honors College student who graduated this year with a bachelor of science degree in ecology, evolution and natural resources and a minor in entomology.    

Gurland’s first course at Rutgers was Sukhdeo’s “Trees and the Environment” class. 

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that the way people get interested in the ecology, evolution and natural resources major is Dr. Sukhdeo,” he said. “[She] gets people into the program through her enthusiasm for the subject and the way she teaches and her advising.”    

He recalled always sitting toward the front of her class and always asking questions. 

“Eventually, she had to limit me, saying ‘let the other people get a chance,’” he said jokingly. 

This wasn’t the first time he met Sukhdeo. In high school, Gurland was connected to Rutgers through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s  4-H program in Union County. He also participated in the Rutgers 4-H STEM Ambassadors Program in 2020. That is when he met Sukhdeo for the first time. 

In the program, participants have the chance to meet many different Rutgers researchers in a roundtable session, and they usually have their choice of researchers to question, from equine science to microbiology to mathematics.

The one table that stood out to Gurland was “the one with a bunch of intestinal worms and jars” on the table.  

“A lot of people are grossed out by that,” he said. “I found it pretty interesting.” 

There he met Sukhdeo and her husband.  

Suzanne Sukhdeo (left) and Russell Gurland at the 2026 SEBS Convocation.

Gurland’s time in the program kickstarted his student research career. While in high school, he reached out to a Rutgers professor to learn more about a particular interest: herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles. That professor referred him to her graduate student, and soon enough Gurland was going into the field before he even went to college. 

He credited the program for introducing him to the world of research academia and giving him the opportunity to interact with people he wouldn’t have otherwise. He advised those coming after him to take advantage of Rutgers outreach opportunities like these. 

“It is very hard to build up the courage to talk to somebody who you see as such a professional in their field,” he said. “The STEM Ambassadors Program …  gets you in a room with so many different individuals – so many who are so incredibly passionate about what they’re doing. And they’re there to share what they do with you and they’re happy to do so.”  

Becoming a Rutgers Researcher    

With experiences like these, “I was just like Rutgers [is] 100% the university I wanted to go to,” he said.   

As an Honors College student, Gurland was encouraged to get out of the classroom and do research for his credits. Through his connections at Rutgers, he was able to secure an internship at New York’s American Museum of Natural History in its invertebrate zoology department. There, he helped organize massive, but delicate international collections. 

“After being there and doing stuff for a couple of years, I just asked if I could come back,” said Gurland, who reached out to the herpetology department to have a chance to work with his favorite creatures.   

His research didn’t stop there. In the days leading up to convocation, he was helping another professor collect salamander specimens to swab for an amphibious disease. 

Gurland is looking to stay close as he contemplates graduate schools. In the meantime, he continues to volunteer at the museum, now studying snake genetics. He said the more research experience, the better when it comes to graduate school applications. 

Gurland said he would be happy to find himself in a museum position. But he feels like a university is where he would like to end up. 

“There’s the opportunity for research [and] interacting with people who are very like-minded and love animals,” he said. 

Gurland spokes fondly of the connections he’s made at Rutgers. He still talks to the graduate student (now a doctor) who gave him his start in field work back in high school. 

“I was just sending him a message about the salamanders I found this morning,” Gurland said. “His mentorship has been one of the most incredible things about Rutgers.”  

Gurland has remained in touch with Sukhdeo throughout his undergraduate career. 

“I only did have two classes with her, but she did make an amazing impact,” he said. “Essentially, she has been my first introduction to actually being a student at Rutgers and one of my last courses, as well. 

“I’m very glad to have had the chance to take them since she is retiring.”    

And as for matters outside of academia? Gurland, who is fond of reptiles (especially snakes) and amphibians, hopes to care for one as a pet once he has the space to do so. 

“They scare most people, but I’m the one who just picks them up when I see them,” he said with a smile. 

This article was written by Mitaali Taskar, a science communicator and research project assistant with Rutgers Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, and first appeared in Rutgers Today.

Rutgers turfgrass was installed in early May at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the World Cup. Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

While soccer fans watch their favorite teams compete at this summer’s World Cup, Rutgers University’s plant biologists will be looking under the players’ cleats—eyeing the lush, green natural turfgrass they created.

Ten of the tournament’s 16 soccer stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the World Cup will feature cultivated varieties (cultivars) of cool-season natural turfgrasses bred by the university’s team of experts. Rutgers turfgrass is being used in locations from nearby Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet, to Vancouver’s BC Place domed stadium.

“This is one of our flagship programs that’s world-renowned,’’ said Stacy Bonos, a professor of turfgrass breeding in the university’s plant biology department. “Rutgers grasses are recognized for having good turf quality and being the best overall in multiple different trials all over the country.’’

While Rutgers’ turfgrasses were also in play at this year’s Masters golf tournament— and have been used at Yankee Stadium and the White House, not to mention for countless lawns, parks, and non-professional athletic fields—the spotlight is now on soccer.

FIFA World Cup fields—properly called pitches in the world of soccer—must be able to withstand intense wear and tear from multiple grueling matches, ensuring balls dropped from 2.0 meters bounce up between 0.6 meter and 1.0 meter, and play uniformly across the various host cities’ climates and stadium conditions. 

James Murphy, an extension specialist in Rutgers’ plant biology department, oversaw the tolerance tests on the university’s turfgrasses that helped confirm their durability for World Cup games. Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

Michigan State University and University of Tennessee led FIFA’s research into which turfgrasses would perform best at each of the World Cup stadiums. Their experts settled on Rutgers-bred cultivars as their top choice in most cases in consultation with each venue’s groundskeepers and the seed companies, according to Bonos. In addition to Philadelphia, Mexico City, and Vancouver, Rutgers cool-season turfgrasses will be used in Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

Turfgrasses bred for warmer temperatures do not fare as well in chillier temperatures, in the shade, or in low-light areas like under domes compared with their cool-season turfgrass counterparts. MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands (renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament) is using a warm-season Bermuda grass variety not bred at Rutgers when the World Cup is played at the New Jersey venue.

James Murphy, an extension specialist in Rutgers’ plant biology department, oversaw the tolerance tests on the university’s turfgrasses that helped confirm their durability for World Cup games. He will be watching the matches, but his focus will be on seeing how well the turfgrasses perform.

“I can’t help but watch what the field does. That’s in my nature. That’s what I do for a living,’’ said Murphy, whose expertise includes turfgrass management. “It’s very rewarding to watch after an event how well the fields hold up. And it’s great to see them recover, so that by the next time they’re played on, they’re in good playing shape.’’

Testing turfgrasses for resistance to stress and then breeding the toughest surviving varieties over successive generations is vital for a successful World Cup, where 104 matches will be played from June 11 to July 19 at 16 venues—with most pitches set to host six or seven games each.

Rutgers’ turfgrasses are tested by a wear machine that whacks the blades with rubber paddles, which are about 12 to 15 inches long, 1 inch wide, and a half-inch thick, and attached in a triangular format to a spinning axle.

“This is one of our flagship programs that’s world known,” said Stacy Bonos, pictured at Rutgers Turfgrass Research Farm in Freehold. Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

“It spins around and paddles away at the turf and kind of wears and tears the grass,’’ explained Murphy, noting the testing is done at a 206-acre Rutgers research farm in Freehold and a far smaller on-campus farm in North Brunswick. “It does dent the surface a little bit, like the cleat on an athlete’s shoe.’’

To get the most wear-tolerant turfgrasses possible that succeed in testing, professor Bonos and other plant biologists intercross the plants hardiest to the stress, repeating the gene cycles over and over again.

“We sort of speed up natural selection in that way,’’ said Bonos.

Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Hammonton, roughly 70 miles south of Rutgers–New Brunswick, grows sod on 900 acres, including their registered trademark Game Day Sod. This turfgrass contains a mix of Blue Note, Bolt, and Legend Kentucky bluegrass varieties—all developed at Rutgers—that was put down at Gillette Stadum near Boston in late March and at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia in early May, said Allen Carter, CFO of Tuckahoe Turf Farms.

“We maintain it here on the farm just as if it was at a stadium. So as soon as we unroll that carpet, they can play on it,’’ said Carter, who also heads the New Jersey Farm Bureau. “Our rolls are four-feet wide and approximately 40-feet long and they weigh almost 2,000 pounds. So when we put them in, they’re not going anywhere.’’

Rutgers began its turfgrass breeding program in 1962 under C. Reed Funk (1928-2012), whose pioneering work included development decades ago of an earlier cool-season turfgrass that became the standard on European soccer fields.

Overall, Rutgers turfgrass varieties comprise between 35% to 40% of the world’s grass seed production, according to Bonos, with the university conducting research on 10 cool-season turfgrass species. These cultivated varieties include Bentgrass, which is used on golf greens because it can be mowed below 1/10th of an inch.

Rutgers turfgrass was installed in early May at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the World Cup. Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

The university’s team works with about 25 seed companies worldwide, licensing the varieties, and recouping royalties from the commercial sales that help cover the program’s expenses and ongoing research.

Rutgers’ efforts through the decades have helped boost the sector’s economic growth, with the university’s most recent analysis determining the turfgrass industry contributed $4.9 billion to New Jersey’s economy and generated 59,159 jobs in 2019.

“Seeing Rutgers turfgrasses on the world stage is very rewarding because it validates the mission of the program that was initiated over 60 years ago and the research that we do each day, which is to develop the best quality turfgrasses that perform well under many stresses,’’ Bonos said.

Thes article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

Scientists are solving the mystery of how rats and mice are growing resistant to conventional pest control methods.

For years, pest control professionals throughout the Northeast have reported a troubling pattern. In some neighborhoods, rodents seemed increasingly more difficult to eliminate, even when standard control methods were used.

Now researchers at Rutgers University believe they may know one reason why.

A study found that 84% of house mice sampled from urban areas in the Northeast carried at least one genetic mutation linked to rodenticide resistance, suggesting many mouse populations may be evolving ways to survive the poisons commonly used to control them. The research was published in the international journal Pest Management Science.

“Pest management professionals often told us that rodent control was becoming more difficult in some areas, even though they applied the effective rodenticides,” said Jin-Jia Yu, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Entomology at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the first author of the study. “I wanted to find out whether this was occurring in the northeastern United States, especially the metropolitan areas, and how widespread the problem might be.”

Yu works in the laboratory of Changlu Wang, an extension specialist in the Department of Entomology and one of the nation’s leading experts on the management of urban pests, including cockroaches, bed bugs and rodents.

Rutgers researchers Changlu Wang, right, and Jin-Jia Yu found that many urban rats and house mice in the Northeast carry genetic mutations associated with resistance to commonly used rodenticides. Credit: Wang Lab

The researchers analyzed DNA from 147 house mice and 143 Norway rats collected from urban areas in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. They focused on a gene called Vkorc1, where certain mutations have been associated with resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides, the most widely used rodent-control chemicals in the U.S.

The results were striking.

Among the house mice examined, 84% carried at least one mutation in the Vkorc1 gene, and nearly 70% carried mutations already known to help mice survive common rodenticides. About 35% of the Norway rats also carried mutations in the same gene.

“We found that resistance appears to be much more widespread in house mice than many people realized,” Yu said. “Norway rats also carried genetic mutations, but scientists do not yet know whether most of those mutations affect Norway rats’ susceptibility to rodenticides.”

The team also identified several genetic variants that had never before been reported in house mice or Norway rats. Scientists don’t yet know whether those newly discovered mutations contribute to rodenticide resistance.

The study emerged from several years of conversations between Rutgers researchers and pest-management professionals, many of whom reported persistent rodent problems despite repeated treatments.

The findings point to a long-running evolutionary contest between humans and one of their oldest urban adversaries. Anticoagulant rodenticides have been used for decades to suppress rat and mouse populations. Over time, rodents carrying mutations that help them survive exposure to those chemicals may gain an advantage, allowing resistance traits to spread through populations.

Researchers found that house mice appear to be adapting more rapidly than rats. One possible explanation involves behavior. Mice are naturally curious and more likely to investigate and consume unfamiliar food sources, including poison baits, Yu said. Rats, by contrast, tend to be cautious and suspicious of new objects.

“Rats are very clever,” Yu said. “They will approach the novel food many times before they really take the food or the bait.”

The findings have important implications for public health. Rodents, which contaminate food, damage buildings and infrastructure, can spread diseases and parasites. If commonly used rodenticides become less effective, communities may face greater challenges controlling infestations.

“This research provides some of the first information on rodenticide resistance in the northeastern United States,” Yu said. “By understanding how prevalent the mutations are and where resistance exists, pest management professionals and public health agencies can make better decisions about how to control rodents.”

Wang, a coauthor of the study, said the findings underscore the need for a broader approach to rodent management.

“Rodents are more than a nuisance,” Wang said. “As resistance becomes more common, it becomes even more important to use science-based management strategies that protect both public health and the environment.”

The scientists’ goal is to help communities manage rodent populations effectively while reducing environmental risks. “Studies like this help us understand how rodent populations are changing and how our management strategies need to evolve with them,” he added.

Rather than relying exclusively on chemical controls, researchers recommend combining multiple strategies, including sealing entry points, improving sanitation, modifying habitat and using traps when appropriate.

“Ultimately, we want to help communities maintain effective rodent control, reduce unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health,” Yu said.

Other Rutgers researchers who contributed to the study included: Alvaro Toledo, an assistant professor; Xiaodan Pang, a postdoctoral associate, and Babatunji Daramola, a graduate student, all in the Department of Entomology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

Kathleen John-Alder walking in the Pine Barrens with her camera.  Her final project at Rutgers was serving as photographer for the October 2025 Landscape Architecture Magazine feature, “Revealing the not-so-barren Pine Barrens of New Jersey,” written by JohnBeardsley, the Director of Landscape Studies at Dumbarton Oaks. Image courtesy of Kathleen John-Alder.

After a distinguished career spanning more than fifteen years at Rutgers University, Kathleen John-Alder, associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, is retiring, effective July 1. She leaves behind a legacy of scholarship, teaching and professional leadership that has shaped generations of students and advanced the field of landscape architecture.

A practicing landscape architect with degrees from Oberlin College, Rutgers University, and the Yale School of Architecture, John-Alder brought a rare combination of professional expertise, historical perspective and intellectual curiosity to her work. Throughout her career, she challenged students and colleagues alike to think deeply about the relationship between people, place, and the environment, helping to cultivate a broader understanding of landscape architecture as a design discipline, a cultural practice, and an ecological responsibility.

Known for her thoughtful teaching and interdisciplinary scholarship, John-Alder published widely in leading journals, including Landscape Journal, the Journal of Planning History, the Journal of Landscape Architecture, Site Lines, and Manifest. Her work earned design and research recognition from the Van Alen Institute, the National Park Service, and the American Society of Landscape Architects. In 2013, she served as a Fellow in Garden and Landscape Studies at Dumbarton Oaks.

Kathleen John-Alder was elevated by the American Society of Landscape Architects to its Council of Fellows in 2018. Photo: courtesy of ASLA.

Among the many honors she received, one of the most significant came in 2018, when the American Society of Landscape Architects elevated her to the ASLA Council of Fellows, one of the profession’s highest distinctions. The honor recognized her “exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large,” including her ability to inspire students and colleagues to critically assess the environmental impacts of their actions.

Those who have worked alongside John-Alder describe her as a gifted educator, accomplished designer, and talented artist with a remarkable understanding of the history and evolution of landscape architecture. Equally comfortable in the studio, classroom, and scholarly archive, she possesses a rare ability to communicate complex design ideas visually and in writing, helping students connect theory and practice in meaningful ways.

Her scholarly research frequently crossed disciplinary boundaries, exploring how ecology and environmentalism transformed the discourse of landscape design in the mid-20th century. This work includes her 2019 book, Ian McHarg and the Search for Ideal Order, a thoughtful examination of one of landscape architecture’s most influential figures. In 1969, McHarg published Design with Nature and established ecological planning as a guiding principle in landscape architecture. Intrigued by the similarities between McHarg’s message and the current discourse on anthropogenic climate change, John-Alder wondered if his methods and message were still relevant. Her attempt to answer this question led to the publication of her book.

Most recently, her research on color as a means to foster a more inclusive understanding of other-than-human agencies, and processes led to a project titled “Color Mosaics: A Natural History of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.” Landscape Architecture Magazine showcased the project for its creative blend of science, fieldwork, art, and archival research.

While her publications, research, and professional accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the discipline, perhaps John-Alder’s most enduring legacy lies in the many students she mentored and inspired throughout her Rutgers career. Through her teaching, scholarship and example, she encouraged future landscape architects to approach design with intellectual rigor, historical awareness, creativity, and a deep respect for the natural world.

L-R: CCAA Awards Committee co-chairs Lee Schneider CAES’70, GSNB’72, GSE’88 and Dr. Linda Madison CC’80, GSED’94, ’02, pictured with the 2026 George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni awardees Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo CC ‘99; Dr. Luisa Castro CC ‘92; Rev. Chuck Coblentz CC ‘80; and representing the late Dr. James Applegate AG ‘64 were members of his family, including Jeff Applegate, Carol Applegate, and Jodi Applegate Stemler CC’94.

The legacy of the Cook campus was on full display on April 26 as alumni, students, faculty, family members, and friends gathered at Neilson Dining Hall to celebrate the newest class of distinguished alumni recognized by the Cook Community Alumni Association (CCAA).

The annual event honors alumni whose professional achievements, service, leadership, and impact exemplify the values of the Cook community and the broader Rutgers family. Through its Distinguished Alumni Awards program, the association presents two of its highest honors: the George H. Cook Award, recognizing undergraduate alumni whose accomplishments bring distinction to their alma mater, and the Dennis M. Fenton Award, recognizing graduate alumni whose work has made a significant impact within their field.

“It is always inspiring to hear from fellow alumni who have had such a positive impact on their communities and fields of research,” said Amanda Dougherty (CC’08), a member of the CCAA Executive Board.

L-R: Awards Committee co-chair Lee Schneider CAES’70, GSNB’72, GSE’88); Michael Quinlan CC ‘76, GSNB ‘78; Dr. Qingyu Meng GSNB ‘04; and co-chair Dr. Linda Madison (CC’80, GSED’94, ’02.

For Awards Committee co-chair Dr. Linda Madison (CC’80, GSED’94, ’02), this year’s honorees exemplified the enduring influence of a Cook education.

“Alumni of the Cook Campus continue to make their mark on the world and bring recognition to our beloved school,” Madison said. “This year’s awardees were among the most noteworthy and have had a profound impact on the health, education, and spiritual development of their fellow Americans.”

2026 George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni awardees were Dr. James Applegate AG ‘64 (who was honored posthumously); Dr. Luisa Castro CC ‘92; Rev. Chuck Coblentz CC ‘80, and Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo CC ‘99.

2026 Dennis M. Fenton Distinguished Graduate Alumni awardees were Dr. Qingyu Meng GSNB ‘04 and Michael Quinlan CC ‘76, GSNB ‘78.

The celebration welcomed Laura Lawson, executive dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, who joined alumni and guests in recognizing the accomplishments of this year’s recipients. Following a buffet luncheon, previous award recipients took their places at the front of the room to formally welcome each of the 2026 honorees into the distinguished ranks of Cook alumni recognized for excellence and service.

Throughout the afternoon, many honorees reflected on the experiences that shaped them during their time on the Cook campus. They spoke about lifelong friendships forged in classrooms and residence halls, faculty mentors who helped them discover their passions, and the resilience they developed while navigating the challenges and opportunities of university life. Their stories highlighted the lasting influence of the Cook community long after graduation.

The event also offered an important opportunity for current students to connect with accomplished alumni and see firsthand the many paths a Rutgers education can inspire. Student leaders in attendance found encouragement in the shared experiences and traditions that continue to unite generations of Cook graduates.

“It was a great event and an excellent opportunity to connect with past alumni, some of whom were involved with Alpha Zeta during their time at Rutgers as well,” said Kyle Garcia, a current student member of Alpha Zeta.

As the newest honorees joined a distinguished lineage of alumni leaders, innovators, educators, and advocates, the celebration served as a reminder of the enduring impact of the Cook campus and its graduates across communities, professions, and generations.

Read the biographies of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni honorees. Alumni interested in nominating a future recipient for either the George H. Cook Award or the Dennis M. Fenton Award can find additional information on the Cook Community Alumni Association’s website.