Faculty and staff from Rutgers Department of Animal Sciences and Rutgers Gardens gathered with undergraduate and graduate student mentors and incoming cohort of students from LAGCC, OLLU, Texas State, Bergen County College and UPR for USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program on June 22 at Cook Campus Center MPR.

New Sustainable Urban Agriculture track, expanded student cohort and growing institutional partnerships highlight the USDA-funded initiative preparing the next generation of agriculture professionals.

The USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program (ANSCId) concluded its third summer on July 10 with a closing ceremony at the Douglass Student Center, Trayes Hall, on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus. The intensive residential experience served 36 students across three experiential learning tracks while bringing together faculty, mentors and leaders from partner institutions across the country, underscoring the program’s growing national reach.

Animal Science Discovery Program students with horse from the RU Teaching Herd.

Now in the third year of its five-year, $4.5 million USDA NIFA NEXTGEN award, ANSCId is a joint initiative between LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC)—a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution within the City University of New York system—and Rutgers University. Through immersive experiential learning, research, and mentoring, the program prepares a highly skilled workforce for careers in agriculture, food systems, veterinary medicine, and related sciences. It creates an educational pathway from New York City high schools to LAGCC and ultimately Rutgers, providing under-resourced students opportunities to pursue careers in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences (FANH) workforce.

“Each year we see students arrive unsure whether there is a place for them in this field, and leave knowing that there is,” said Aparna Zama, ANSCId Project Director and teaching professor and director of the undergraduate program in animal sciences at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). “Watching that transformation happen for a third cohort—and now across three different tracks—tells us that this model works.”

Preethi Radhakrishnan, ANSCId PI/Project Director at LAGCC noted that “this pipeline model has led to the first ever animal science major being established in NYC. Over 200 students are now enrolled in the environmental science major-animal science track at LAGCC.” Ten students have transferred from LAGCC to Rutgers University on ANSCId scholarships with one student graduating in January 2026, three more expected to graduate in Spring 2027, and six others by Spring 2028.

Students participating in cell and tissue culture labs in Foran 104.

ANSCId was launched in 2024 with two tracks—the Summer Experiential Learning Program (SELP) and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). This year it added a third, Sustainable Urban Agriculture (SUA), expanding its focus to include community gardens, urban food production and food security.

“I’m so glad Rutgers Gardens was able to host the urban agriculture pilot program,” said Lauren Errickson, director of Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship. “Connecting students and community members around food and gardening is at the core of our work at Healthy Harvest, and it was wonderful to have the LAGCC students make meaningful contributions alongside our team while gaining hands-on learning experience.”

Assistant director, Meagan Terry, added “The LAGCC urban agriculture students jumped right in with our teams on both the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm as well as our Healthy Harvest urban agriculture expansion of both the community garden and in-ground food production. Through rain, extreme heat, and everything-in-between they displayed positivity, tenacity, and grit alongside our crew seven hours each day. We are grateful for their contributions to expand our growing areas with Healthy Harvest, and for participating in all farm activities during their three weeks.  We hope to continue learning from each other and stay connected as they progress in their urban agriculture journey”. 

This summer’s cohort included 29 students in SELP, four in SURE and three in the inaugural SUA track. Participants explored veterinary and human health careers through anatomy laboratories, animal handling and husbandry, cell culture, laboratory and field research, sustainable urban agriculture, community gardens and farmers market operations. All three tracks incorporated USDA workforce development activities, including résumé writing, interview preparation and career exploration.

From left to right, Ed Sanchez (BCC), Aparna Zama (Rutgers), Douglas Morrish (Texas State University), and Chuck Keeton (Vice Provost of Experiential Learning, Rutgers-New Brunswick).

A hallmark of the program’s growth this year was the participation of students and faculty from Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas State University, the University of Puerto Rico, and Bergen Community College. Speakers at the closing ceremony included Doug Morrish, associate dean for Student Success in the College of Science and Engineering at Texas State University and project director of the Texas State RAISE NEXTGEN grant, and Edward Sanchez, project director of the Bergen NEXTGEN Program for Food and Agricultural Sciences. Their participation reflected ANSCId’s growing role within a national network of institutions preparing the next generation of agriculture professionals.

Morrish said, “We were honored to participate in the USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program offered by Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. This program provided six Texas State University Department of Agricultural Sciences students with an exceptional experiential learning opportunity. Through hands-on exposure to animal science research, industry innovation, and career development, these students gained valuable skills and professional networks that will help prepare them to become the next generation of leaders in agriculture. This investment by USDA NIFA strengthens our commitment to developing a highly skilled agricultural workforce capable of addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities facing animal agriculture.”

“Animals are special creatures who need special people to understand and care for them,” said Sanchez. “The Rutgers Animal Science Discovery Program successfully united a cohort of students with the compassion to provide that care. They are the next leaders in animal stewardship.”

Morrish and Sanchez were joined by Rutgers leaders Laura Lawson, Executive Dean of SEBS; Ann Gould, Dean of Academic Programs at SEBS; Chuck Keeton, Vice Provost of Experiential Learning at Rutgers–New Brunswick; and Carolyn Moehling, Senior Vice Provost and Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education at Rutgers–New Brunswick.

“The students had incredible experiences and learned so much about animal science as a field and a career,” said Keeton. “They worked really hard and flourished thanks to support and encouragement from many Rutgers faculty, staff and students. All in all, this program is a model of immersive, hands-on learning.”

Christopher Nytch, project director of the IINSTAR-AS NEXTGEN Project at the University of Puerto Rico, said, “We are thrilled and appreciative that two undergraduate fellows from the IINSTAR-AS project at the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus could participate in the Summer 2026 Animal Science Discovery Program at Rutgers University. The experience provided unmatched practical training in animal sciences, offering a unique perspective that enriches our students’ academic journeys in environmental sciences and directly aligns with the goals of the USDA-NIFA NEXTGEN program.”

With three established learning tracks, expanding institutional partnerships and a growing network of NEXTGEN collaborators, ANSCId enters the second half of its USDA NIFA award positioned to deepen its impact. The initiative reflects Rutgers’ commitment to experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and preparing a workforce equipped to address the future challenges of FANH careers.

“This is bigger than any one campus,” Zama said. “It takes faculty, staff, undergraduate peer mentors, graduate student mentors, community college partners, and now sister programs in other states all pulling together in the same direction. We are grateful for the continued funding from USDA NIFA, which supports American farmers, ranchers and producers while strengthening veterinary education and biomedical research.”

Students holding piglets in front of the farrowing house at the Rutgers Farm.

ABOUT ANSCId
The Animal Science Discovery Program (ANSCId) is a five-year, $4.5 million initiative funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under its “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals” (NEXTGEN) program. A partnership between LaGuardia Community College and Rutgers University–New Brunswick, ANSCId provides paid experiential learning, transfer scholarships, peer mentoring, and career development to build a  pipeline of professionals in animal science and related fields. ANSCId is one of 33 programs funded under the USDA-NIFA NEXTGEN initiative, a $262.5 million investment supporting training for more than 20,000 future food and agricultural leaders nationwide. At Rutgers, the program builds on an articulation agreement that allows LAGCC students who earn an associate’s degree in environmental science with an animal science focus to seamlessly transfer and complete an undergraduate degree in animal sciences. The program also supports its participants through ANSCId scholarships for LAGCC students, reinforcing the transfer-and-completion pipeline at the heart of the initiative.

Simon Gabriel SEBS’21 owns Sunny Meal Club, in Paris, France.

The new Rutgers Alumni-Owned Business Marketplace connects alumni online. From a Parisian caterer to a Newark cafe, the recently launched marketplace champions businesses from across the globe.

“The launch of the marketplace of Rutgers alumni-owned businesses is an exciting development for all Rutgers alumni,” says Scott Owens, Rutgers associate vice president for alumni engagement. “We are thrilled to be able to foster more connections among alumni and create a thriving community of alumni businesses.”

Rutgers alumni event in Paris in February 2026.

Paris resident and Rutgers Ag and Food Economics graduate Simon Gabriel SEBS’21 added his catering business, Sunny Meal Club, to the marketplace when it first opened earlier this year. Businesses anywhere in the world owned by alumni from all Rutgers campuses are welcome to join. 

“It builds on my existing Rutgers network and provides a space where alumni can support one another, professionally and personally,” says Gabriel, who catered a Rutgers alumni event in Paris in February.

“For small businesses, especially like mine, it provides credibility, visibility, and a trusted community connection that can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and loyal customers.”

Many alumni business owners say their experience at Rutgers inspired them to become entrepreneurs and, in many cases, helped prepare them for success.

“My time at Rutgers University shaped my professional path by showing me that there are many more options within the food system other than farming and cooking, which is what I was doing before I got there,” says Gabriel, who grew up in Princeton.

“Studying food systems taught me to think holistically about business, sustainability, and community. It ultimately influenced my decision to build a business centered around food, hospitality, and bringing people together.”

Gabriel says he recalls grafting hazelnut root stock and scions in Associate Professor Thomas Molnar’s horticulture class at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. He relocated to France for love. “I moved to Paris because I ended up marrying a French woman whom I met at the farm I was working at in New Jersey and we have been together ever since,” he says. She was doing a volunteer program at the farm in the summer of 2017.

The marketplace features many long-term businesses like Thomas Sweet in New Brunswick, owned by Michael and Jennifer Schnurr, both 1987 New Brunswick graduates, the Asbury Park Brewery owned by Bob McLynn LC ’94, as well as some new businesses.

Simon Gabriel SEBS’21, third from left, and the team that catered the Rutgers alumni event in Paris, France, in February 2026.

This article is extracted from a longer story that first appeared on the Rutgers University Foundation website.

Janelle S., Junior Champion (Atlantic County 4-H), wearing the NJ 4-H Egg Champion crown!

First statewide competition helps young people develop egg grading skills while exploring careers in agriculture

Following New Jersey’s strong showing at the 2025 National 4-H Avian Bowl, youth participating in the 4-H Youth Development Program, part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, are finding new opportunities to build knowledge and leadership in poultry science.

In the spring, the Department of 4-H Youth Development at Rutgers partnered with the Atlantic County 4-H Livestock and Poultry Club to launch the inaugural New Jersey 4-H Golden Egg Contest, introducing young people to the science behind commercial egg production and the rigorous standards used to evaluate eggs in today’s marketplace.

Open to registered New Jersey 4-H members, the contest challenged participants to produce, select and present a uniform half-dozen market eggs that met industry expectations for quality and consistency. Entries were judged using official USDA egg grading standards and the National 4-H Poultry Judging Manual—the same principles used throughout the commercial egg industry.

Suzanna Vaino, Atlantic County 4-H poultry project leader and co-developer of the contest.

“The contest gives youth an opportunity to look beyond simply raising chickens,” said Suzanna Vaino, Atlantic County 4-H poultry project leader and co-developer of the contest. “They learn how eggs are evaluated for quality, gain valuable judging skills and begin to understand the many career opportunities available within the poultry industry.”

Vaino developed the competition with Amelia Valente, 4-H agent of Monmouth County. The contest was modeled after successful 4-H egg judging competitions in states with established commercial egg industries, including Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina.

To help prepare participants, Vaino led a six-session Short-Term Exploratory Program (STEP) conducted virtually throughout the spring. The sessions introduced youth to commercial egg production, USDA egg grading standards, poultry judging, oral reasons and career pathways in the egg industry.

The educational series featured guest speakers from the USDA Livestock and Poultry Program, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Youth Development Program. Grace Kreft, an Ocean County 4-H alumna and Rutgers Animal Science graduate, also spoke about opportunities available through Rutgers’ Animal Science bachelor’s degree program.

The inaugural contest attracted 19 youth from nine New Jersey counties, who submitted 42 entries. Six RCE county offices served as collection sites before entries were transported to Atlantic County for judging.

Zoe-Bella C., Junior Honorable Mention (Essex County 4-H).

To ensure fairness, entries were evaluated anonymously by participant number and age division—Cloverbud, Junior and Senior. Judges assessed egg size, shell quality, shell thickness, shape, air cell size, albumen quality and other characteristics that determine market quality, including Haugh Units, the industry standard for measuring egg protein quality.

Top honors were awarded to:

Senior Champion: Megan C., Cape May County

Senior Reserve Champion: Danika C., Cape May County

Senior Honorable Mention: Joel S., Atlantic County

Junior Champion: Janelle S., Atlantic County

Junior Reserve Champion: Ethan G., Cape May County

Junior Honorable Mention: Zoe-Bella C., Essex County

The tools of the egg-grading contest, conveying the rigor of the competition.

The contest also highlighted the collaborative nature of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, with six county offices assisting in collecting entries from participants across the state.

Vaino credited the success of the inaugural event to the many volunteers, educators and partners who supported the effort, including Erin Sharpe, co-leader of the Atlantic County 4-H Livestock and Poultry Club, and Micky Hall, professor emeritus and small poultry flock specialist with Clemson University 4-H Youth Development, whose guidance helped shape the competition.

Organizers are already planning to expand the contest in spring 2027 with new challenges for returning participants.

Meanwhile, New Jersey 4-H’s momentum in poultry science continues. Members of the newly formed Senior New Jersey 4-H Poultry Judging Team will attend Poultry Judging Camp this summer at the Department of Poultry Science at Texas A&M University before representing the state at the National 4-H Poultry Judging Competition in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall.

For more information about the New Jersey 4-H Golden Egg Contest or New Jersey 4-H poultry projects, contact Suzanna Vaino at Starla4270@hotmail.com or Amelia Valente at amelia.valente@rutgers.edu.

Announcement by Dr. Josh Kohut, SEBS Dean of Research and NJAES Director of Research.

Dr. James Simon, Distonuished Professor in the Department of Plant Biology. Photo: Nick Romanenko

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Jim Simon, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Biology, has been appointed Faculty Director of SEBS/NJAES Core Facilities, effective July 1.

In this role, Dr. Simon will provide strategic oversight and coordination across our shared core facility’s research infrastructure, working closely with each facility’s scientific directors to strengthen and expand the core facilities as a shared resource for the school and university. Under his leadership, SEBS/NJAES aims to position its core facilities as a central hub for scientific and research innovation, connecting faculty, students, and industry partners with the advanced instrumentation and expertise needed to advance research and extension across the school and beyond.

Dr. Simon, who was recently elected to the National Academy of Inventors, brings decades of experience leading large, multi-institutional research programs. His appointment reflects SEBS’s and NJAES’ continued investment in our research infrastructure, partnerships and team building, and training opportunities that support faculty, students and increase public trust in science.

Please join me in welcoming Jim to this new role!

The LEO-15 research buoy, newly deployed in the Atlantic Ocean, is expected to bring forth a new era of ocean research, education and marine innovation in New Jersey. Photo: Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL)

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.

The Rutgers Marine Field Station will play a central role in research operations associated with the LEO-15 program. Photo: Rutgers University

Anchored about three miles offshore of the Rutgers Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, N.J., the platform, known as the PowerBuoy®, serves as a floating data hub that delivers real-time information on ocean conditions while supporting scientific instruments, education initiatives and emerging marine technologies.

“The PowerBuoy will help unlock significant opportunities for marine research, scientific discovery and economic growth, all of which will advance New Jersey’s innovation future,” said Evan Weiss, chief executive of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. “Under the leadership of Governor Mikie Sherrill, the NJEDA is proud to partner with Rutgers University and Stockton University to grow our green economy and position New Jersey as a national leader in sustainable technology.”

The deployment marks a major milestone in a collaborative effort among Rutgers University, Stockton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Ocean Power Technologies Inc., a publicly traded, Monroe Township, N.J.-based provider of maritime technology and services. Together, the partners aim to position New Jersey as a leader in sustainable marine innovation while delivering tangible benefits for research, workforce development and economic growth.

Along the coast, scientists and researchers at two marine field stations will provide logistical and research support for the facility. The Rutgers Marine Field Station is located within the Mullica River-Great Bay estuary, one of the most pristine estuaries on the East Coast. Researchers there focus on fish ecology, coastal impacts and storm-related environmental change. Data from the offshore buoy will complement long-term estuarine observations, creating a more comprehensive understanding of coastal dynamics.

“The Rutgers Marine Field Station has long supported scientists working to understand the dynamic coastal environments and fisheries that define New Jersey,” said Thomas Grothues, director of the Rutgers Marine Field Station. “The revitalized LEO observatory extends that work from the estuary to the coastal ocean. By linking long-term observations near shore with new data from offshore, we can better study how fish, habitats, storms and changing marine conditions interact.”

In Port Republic, N.J., the Stockton Marine Field Station occupies an 8-acre waterfront site with laboratories, teaching and office space, dockage and a fleet of research vessels such as the R/V Petrel, which will support access to the LEO site. Research conducted at Stockton includes sediment transport, tidal dynamics, seafloor mapping, water quality monitoring and cultural resource investigations.

“Stockton University is proud to be part of this partnership that expands hands-on opportunities for our students,” said Amanda Norvell, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Stockton. “With direct access to advanced ocean technology and real-time data, our students can engage in meaningful research and fieldwork, helping prepare them to become the next generation of coastal scientists and innovators.”

Scientists and students from Stockton University will partner with Rutgers on the LEO-15 program, through the Stockton Marine Field Station. The station occupies an 8-acre waterfront site in Port Republic with laboratories, teaching and office space, dockage and a fleet of research vessels. Photo: Stockton University

Powered by solar and wind energy, the LEO-15 PowerBuoy® system is a compact, autonomous offshore platform built and designed by Ocean Power Technologies. Altogether, the buoy stands about as tall as a streetlight, but it has a small surface footprint suited for shallow-water research. Above the waves, a small, round platform holds solar panels, small wind turbines, weather instruments and real-time communication sensors, allowing the system to collect and send ocean data for long periods without the need for a large, fixed structure offshore. 

The system also will provide additional ports for scientists and educators to deploy their own instruments. The buoy can support sensors that track weather, waves, water quality and other ocean conditions while serving as a test site for emerging marine technologies. Researchers, students and companies will be able to use the site to evaluate instruments, gather data and develop tools that could improve coastal monitoring, marine sustainability and storm preparedness.

The buoy was deployed May 2, renewing activity at a pioneering marine observatory site with deep roots in Rutgers-led coastal research.

The initiative is expected to create opportunities for workforce training, attract investment in ocean science and support startups and inventors working within the ocean economy, project leaders said. 

By providing offshore infrastructure for testing and development, the project will give researchers, students and companies a place to evaluate sensors, communications systems and other marine technologies under real ocean conditions. That kind of access can help move promising ideas from the laboratory into the field, while preparing students for careers in coastal science, marine operations and the expanding blue economy.

The LEO program, originally known as LEO-15, was established in 1996 as a pioneering ocean observatory that delivered real-time data from two cabled seafloor platforms, or nodes. It supported research on storms, sediment transport, phytoplankton, fish ecology and broader coastal dynamics. The 15 refers to the site’s depth of 15 meters, about 50 feet, where the observatory was installed.

LEO-15 was among the first systems in the world to integrate cabled observatories with autonomous underwater vehicles for coordinated data collection. The cabled seafloor nodes provided continuous measurements from fixed locations, while autonomous underwater vehicles could be sent through the surrounding water to collect data across a wider area. Used together, the fixed instruments and mobile vehicles gave scientists a fuller picture of changing coastal conditions than either approach could provide alone.

Rutgers scientists said the legacy of LEO-15 continued as ocean-observing technology advanced in the mid-2000s, with researchers increasingly combining fixed sensors, mobile underwater vehicles, satellite data and shore-based systems to study coastal change. The new wireless monitoring system builds on that history, revitalizing the site and extending its role as a testbed for coastal science and marine technology.

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

A new teaching garden at Rutgers Gardens honors the memory of OCPE’s Fran Koppell.

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 to go on Thanksgiving, she opened her home, welcoming them to gather at her dining table as part of her family.

OCPE director Karen Plumley, at left, helps to unveil the new teaching garden in Fran Koppell’s memory.

For 15 years, Fran Koppell was the face of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management Two-year Certificate Program, which brings students from all over the world to Rutgers to learn the science and art of turf management. As she took these students under her wing to help them achieve their dreams of becoming golf course superintendents, Fran became a second mom to many. Sadly, she was forced to step away from the program in 2021 and lost her battle with cancer in 2023.

To honor Fran’s legacy of care and kindness, a new teaching garden was dedicated in her memory on June 22, with her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family in attendance.

“This garden will allow Fran, in some small way, to continue to help and support students who will come to the two-year turf management program in future years,” said Karen Plumley, OCPE director. “Students who will never know Fran will still get to experience her generosity and caring nature.”

The garden was inspired by the vision of SEBS Dean Laura Lawson to create more experiential learning spaces on campus. As OCPE staff considered ways to honor their former colleague, they landed on the idea of creating a teaching garden to provide additional hands-on learning opportunities to the two-year turf management students for whom she cared deeply.

Stephen Kristoph, longtime instructor at OCPE and instructor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, guided the development of the teaching garden that was designed by Danielle Lohrman, landscape architecture junior.

“Fran’s legacy will live on with all of our visitors, and, in particular our students” said Lauren Errickson, director of Rutgers Gardens. “This garden serves as a place to learn about plant identification, proper pruning techniques, landscape design, and all of the technical aspects. It also gives us a chance to learn how to be kind to each other, how to care-take a space, how to become better people, and to grow as we all do on our journey within the gardens, the school, and the community.”

The garden came together through a collaboration between OCPE, Rutgers Gardens, SEBS, and Rutgers Institutional Planning and Operations. Under the guidance of Stephen Kristoph, a longtime OCPE instructor and instructor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, the teaching garden was designed by Danielle Lohrman, a junior in that major. The student team the built the garden also included Solana Garcia, Kaitlin Gotting, Addison Cheney, Andy Garcia, Olivia Sheehan and David Ackerman.

Lohrman was excited to take on the challenge. “In the landscape architecture program, a lot of the work we do is hypothetical. This garden is something I got to design and actually see come to fruition. It was nice to put pen to paper, shovel to ground, and plants in soil.”

As a Rutgers Gardens summer intern who will also stay on in the coming school year, Lohrman is happy she will be able to continue working in the space. “I really want to be involved in the maintenance of this garden. It’s my baby!”

The public is encouraged to enjoy OCPE’s Teaching Garden—located in front of the Holly House—on future visits to the Rutgers Gardens.

David Robinson, New Jersey’s retiring state climatologist, draws on decades of experience to explain how shifts in temperature, precipitation and extreme weather are reshaping life across the state. Photo: Luca Mostello

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 he retires from his state climatologist role, he reflects on what decades of data reveal about a warming state, why extreme weather events such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021 changed the conversation and why climate information matters to public safety.

At age 11, future New Jersey state climatologist David Robinson was already keeping weather logs. A page from one of his first at age 9, a 1964 record, appears at right. Photo: Robinson family

State climatologists serve as the state’s primary resource for climate data and research, providing analysis and information to public and private sectors. The office was established at Rutgers’ Cook College (now the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) in 1979 by then-Gov. Brendan Byrne to centralize climate-related activities and expertise within the state.

How has New Jersey’s climate changed on your watch?

Underlying everything we have seen in my 35 years as state climatologist is that the state is getting warmer. It is undeniably getting warmer.

New Jersey has not necessarily become less snowy in terms of annual snowfall. But more of our snow is coming in bigger storms, just as more of our rain is coming in bigger storms. It is not necessarily raining more often, but when it rains, it pours. We have also seen offshore waters warming, and New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states. Since we are the most densely populated state in the country, those changes matter.

Why is New Jersey such a fascinating place to study climate?

The simplest answer is four seasons, and sometimes a couple of them in the same day. We get a taste of almost everything in New Jersey, from Arctic cold to tropical heat, from hurricanes to blizzards. We tend not to get the worst of the worst, but we are a sampler.

We are strategically located in the middle latitudes, about halfway between the pole and the equator. We have a continent to our west and the ocean right next door. I often call it a continental-ocean, polar-tropical squeeze play. That is why we can move so quickly from one weather pattern to another.

What do people need to understand better about climate?

Climate change is not an overnight sensation. It can be gradual, and it does not happen in a straight line. That can make it difficult for people to see clearly in their daily lives.

My approach has always been to focus on understanding. I try to explain what the data show and why it matters, while respecting that people come to the conversation with different levels of knowledge and different concerns.

What did thousands of media interviews teach you about how people understand weather?

People have some level of knowledge, but they often do not appreciate the full impact weather and climate have on every aspect of society. It affects transportation, the economy, tourism, emergency management, agriculture, the environment and daily life.

People know weather affects them because they feel it. But they may not appreciate its breadth. Weather affects refrigerator trucks coming up the Turnpike to bring food into the region. It affects Shore rentals, boardwalk tourism, beach badge sales and public safety. Most of the time, weather is not at the top of everyone’s mind. It is just there, underneath. Then a Sandy or an Ida comes along, and suddenly it rises to the top.

Downed trees block a roadway after a storm. David Robinson says New Jersey is seeing more rain and snow arrive in larger events, underscoring the growing importance of clear warnings and public preparedness.

Why does Sandy remain such an important storm in your career?

Sandy was transformative for the state, not just environmentally but economically and socially. The Jersey Shore is part of our psyche here in New Jersey.

I was live on NJTV at 11 o’clock the night of Sandy, sitting in my blacked-out house with two little flashlights on me. My laptop still had power, and I had an air card that allowed me to stay connected. Our weather network was still reporting. I had seen a 90-mile-an-hour wind gust at our Seaside Heights Rutgers NJ Network station and NOAA tidal information at Sandy Hook until the tide gauge was washed out. I was very fearful about what we would see when the sun rose the next morning because the data were still coming in.

What did storms like Sandy and Ida reveal about public safety?

You can gather the best data, and scientists can know what is going on. You can convey that to specialists and emergency managers, and the National Weather Service can put out warnings. But if that information does not reach the public, or if the public does not know how to respond, there can be serious consequences.

That chain matters. First there is the data. Then there is the processing of the data by specialists. Then there is getting the information to the public. Then the public has to know what to do with it. The goal is always to help people make safer, better-informed decisions.

Why has snow been such a central part of your scientific life?

Snow is a vital part of the climate system. The question often is, is it cold because it snowed, or did it snow because it is cold? The answer, of course, is yes.

Whether the ground is snow-covered affects local climate and can affect the positioning of storms. But snow is also a reservoir for a huge percentage of the global population. I have also used snow cover as a way to monitor climate change, including through my contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

What do you most want people to understand about our climate system?

I want people to have an appreciation for the natural world around them and the influence it can have on their lives. In the state climate office, we provide information to help people make decisions. We do not make decisions for them.

I hope I have left people more aware of the role weather and climate play in our lives, and I hope they use that awareness to make a difference.

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

Researchers reviewed dozens of studies on bioplastics — plastics made from plant or biological materials rather than fossil fuels — to find out whether they live up to their “green” reputation. Their findings were published in the journal Environmental Research Communications.

Judith S. Weis, professor emerita in the Department of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-Newark and affiliate of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, is a co-author on the study, along with colleagues Beth Ravit and Peter Strom from the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick,

Bioplastics are a wide and varied group of materials that behave very differently from one another. While some do break down in natural environments like soil or water, many only degrade under very specific conditions — like in a high-temperature industrial composting facility. Leave them in the ocean or a backyard compost pile, and many bioplastics barely break down at all.

Perhaps most surprisingly, many bioplastics were found to be more toxic than conventional plastics in lab tests. The toxicity often comes not from the plastic itself, but from the chemical additives mixed into the product during manufacturing.

“The word ‘bioplastic’ can give consumers and policymakers a false sense of security. Our findings show that these materials need to be evaluated individually — not treated as a category that is automatically safe or green,” said Weis.

These findings matter for policy. Bioplastics are meant to reduce the carbon footprint of conventional plastic. As governments consider banning or regulating single-use plastics, this study highlights the importance of evaluating bioplastics carefully before promoting them as straightforward replacements.

The bottom line: the label “bioplastic” doesn’t automatically mean better or safer for the environment. More research and clearer regulations are needed to protect both people and the environment.

You can read the full study here.

This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Kenneth Tam, and was reviewed by Judith Weis, a co-author on the study.

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 plant-like organisms from the ocean called phytoplankton along the West Antarctic Peninsula have dramatically increased their production of “sunscreen” pigments — special protective compounds that shield the cells from too much light that can damage these cells. The cellular concentration of protective pigments roughly doubled between the 1990s and late 2010s.

Oscar Schofield, professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences and affiliate of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, is a co-author on the study.

So, what’s driving this change? Phytoplankton live in the upper layers of the ocean called the mixed layer where there is sufficient light for these tiny plants to grow. When the mixed layer is deep then there is less light as deep mixing results in the cells spending time in dark waters. As the climate warms, the mixed layer has been getting shallower. When that layer shrinks, these tiny organisms spend more time exposed to brighter sunlight — so they adjust their biology to cope. Using the data collected from the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research program, the authors determined that increased production in “sunscreen” pigments is due to their changing ecosystem.  

 “This biological shift in these plants reflects changes in the ocean in response to climate change that is warming this polar region.  The changes being observed at the base of food web has significant implications for ecology for this productivity oceanic region,” said Schofield.

These findings have food web implications. Phytoplankton are the foundation of the Antarctic food chain, supporting krill, fish, penguins, and whales. Shifts in which types of phytoplankton thrive, and how productive they are, ripples upward through the entire ecosystem.

As phytoplankton received more light, they also became more productive — meaning they will increase in number. As a result, phytoplankton have been able to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere into the ocean due to their photosynthesis. That matters because the Southern Ocean plays an outsized role in soaking up the world’s carbon dioxide. Phytoplankton play a key role in this process and understanding how it’s changing is critical for predicting how the ocean will respond to continued warming.

The data, collected annually by the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research program, provides a rare >25-year window into how a warming climate is reshaping polar ocean life in real time — the kind of long-term record that is essential for informing science-based policy decisions about ocean and climate health.

You can read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.70324

This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Kenneth Tam, and was reviewed by Oscar Schofield, a co-author on the study.

New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health.

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 through working groups, the IFNH retreat, and faculty committees helped create this strong foundation for the institute’s future.

Effective July 1, Dr. Sue Shapses has been appointed Director of the Rutgers Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH). A Distinguished Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Sue has been a Rutgers faculty member for more than 35 years and has served as Director of the NEXT Metabolism Center since 2019. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition.

An internationally recognized researcher, Sue’s work focuses on the nutritional regulation of obesity, osteoporosis, endocrinology, and healthy aging. Throughout her career, she has led multidisciplinary research teams, served on national committees for the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the Institute of Medicine, and built collaborations across Rutgers and beyond.

As Director, Sue will lead IFNH in advancing a renewed vision that positions the institute as a research-driven hub focused on food, nutrition, and health while strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, outreach, and experiential learning. Building on the recommendations from the faculty retreat and steering committee, IFNH will foster new research partnerships, strengthen support for grant development and data science, enhance communication and knowledge translation, and expand opportunities for students and communities to engage with Rutgers research. Through this work, IFNH will continue to connect discovery with real-world impact across New Jersey and beyond.

I am also pleased to announce that effective July 1, Dr. Cara Cuite has been appointed Associate Director of Community and Student Engagement at IFNH. As part of IFNH’s renewed vision, this position will strengthen IFNH’s impact with a strengthened focus on outreach, extension, and community engagement, helping translate research into meaningful impact for students and communities. An Associate Extension Specialist in the Department of Human Ecology, Cara’s scholarship focuses on food, nutrition, health, risk communication, and public engagement. She has been a leader in Rutgers’ efforts to address student food insecurity and basic needs and has played a key role in RU Engaged, Rutgers’ university-wide initiative to strengthen community-engaged scholarship and partnerships.

As Associate Director of Community and Student Engagement at IFNH, Cara will champion the growth of IFNH as a welcoming gateway connecting students, faculty, staff, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and community partners through experiential learning, research, outreach, and engagement focused on food systems, nutrition, agriculture, health, sustainability, and food access. She will lead the outreach and extension arm of IFNH, helping translate research into action through community partnerships, cooperative extension programming, student engagement, and workforce development opportunities.

Cara will expand IFNH outreach by initiating new programs and connecting with existing programs, including the Healthy Harvest initiative, and associated campus sites, including Jones Avenue, the Rutgers Student Farm, and our farmers’ markets. 

Together, Sue and Cara will help build a more integrated and impactful future for IFNH- one that strengthens research excellence while connecting Rutgers’ research, teaching, Extension, and engagement missions to improve food, nutrition, health, and well-being throughout New Jersey and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating Sue and Cara on their new leadership roles. We look forward to working with them as they guide IFNH into an exciting future era of growth, collaboration, and impact.