NJ youth participating in a previous Department of 4-H Youth Development workshop.

The Rutgers Department of 4-H Youth Development and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR) have launched a multi-year initiative designed to engage New Jersey educators, students, and community partners in climate resilience planning and action.

The project is part of EduCATE (Education, Climate Awareness, Training, and Engagement), a program within New Jersey’s broader Building a Climate Ready NJ initiative. Through the project, educators, students in grades 6–12, and community partners from cities across the state will form Resiliency Action Teams to explore local climate challenges and develop community-based solutions.

Youth participants will build a shared understanding of climate risks using both scientific data and lived experiences. The initiative aims to empower youth to identify priorities in their communities and take an active role in advancing resilience strategies.

“With this project, we hope to build a statewide cohort that centers our NJ youth and is co-led by the students themselves, as well as educators and community leaders,” said Janice McDonnell, associate dean for research impact at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and a co-principal investigator on the grant.

NJ Youth had previously identified their concerns about climate resiliency in an earlier workshop.

The initiative supports EduCATE’s broader mission to expand climate resilience education, training, and community engagement across New Jersey while advancing the goals of Building a Climate Ready NJ.

As members of the Resiliency Action Teams, youths will develop skills in data collection and observation, communication, teamwork, project planning and implementation. At the conclusion of the EduCATE program year, participants will present their projects at Rutgers. The Department of 4-H Youth Development had previously facilitated a similar concept in a workshop in partnership with the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center; Rutgers Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education; Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership; Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute; Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Rutgers Science Explorer Program. 

The inaugural cohort of the EduCATE program includes Academy I Middle School (Jersey City), Infinity Institute (Jersey City), Lincoln Middle School (Kearny), Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology (Newark), Union Hill Middle School (Union City), and William L. Dickinson High School (Jersey City). The project will officially kick off in July 2026. Learn more about this initiative on the 4-H STEM website.

This effort is part of Building a Climate Ready NJ, a resilience initiative of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator for the Pesticide Safety Education Program, RCE.

We are pleased to announce that Grayson Tung has joined Rutgers Cooperative Extension as the new Senior Coordinator for the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

He has also been deeply involved in mentoring undergraduate students in research and has contributed extensively to outreach activities across Rutgers and the broader community. His efforts have included presentations for prospective students, school outreach programs, Rutgers Day activities, and mentorship programs supporting undergraduate education and career development in entomology. In recognition of these contributions, Tung received the 2026 SGS Graduate Student Excellence in Leadership and Teaching Award.

As Senior Coordinator of PSEP, he will help lead statewide educational and certification programs for pesticide applicators across New Jersey. The Rutgers Pesticide Safety Education Program provides training and educational resources to farmers, landscapers, pest management professionals, mosquito control personnel, and other stakeholders to support safe, effective, and legally compliant pesticide use throughout the state. 

Tung brings strong expertise in insect biology, applied entomology, education, and public engagement. We are excited to welcome him to Rutgers and look forward to the many contributions he will make to Rutgers Cooperative Extension and New Jersey integrated pest and mosquito management.

Please join us in welcoming Grayson Tung to Rutgers University!

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SEBS and NJAES faculty reconnect, continuing conversations from the last workshop on their common their research interests.

More than 20 faculty from SEBS and NJAES completed the inaugural “Charting Your Research Pathway” workshop series hosted by the SEBS/NJAES Office of Research this past March. Over six weeks, participants refined their Rutgers research visions, explored new funding opportunities, and received individualized guidance and support from the Office of Research.

“I’m already pursuing concrete research collaborations that grew directly from this [workshop] series,” said Erin Comollo, assistant teaching professor in the RCE Department of Family and Community Health Sciences. Comollo participated in several sessions throughout the series, including the kickoff event in January.

A central focus of the workshop was building faculty capacity to engage in Convergence Research—a problem-driven approach that brings together multiple disciplines to collaboratively address complex challenges.

Participants Elaine Griffin and Erin Comollo, mid-discussion.

“A Rutgers SEBS and NJAES aim is to produce high quality research that is informed by and responds to community needs. It’s in our mission as a land grant and amplified through the Academic Master Plan. Convergence research is a way for us to bring together the impressive breadth of expertise across all of Rutgers and our partner networks,” said Josh Kohut, SEBS Dean of Research and NJAES Director of Research, and co-leader of the workshop series.

Through the series, attendees reported a stronger understanding of convergence research and how their work at SEBS and NJAES aligns with this approach. “I came with questions about how to develop research that honored both academic rigor and community need—but I wasn’t sure where to start,” said Comollo. “Connecting with faculty who were asking similar questions about transdisciplinary collaboration and community-engaged undergraduate education gave me both collaborators and an intellectual community.”

The workshop was intentionally designed to foster cross-departmental exchange within SEBS/NJAES, as well as connections between early-career and senior faculty. In post-workshop evaluations, participants highlighted the meaningful relationships they built with colleagues beyond their own departments.

“It was important to have junior faculty mentored by senior faculty in this series,” said Elaine Griffin, associate director of grants facilitation within the SEBS/NJAES Office of Research. Griffin was one of several experts, both within and beyond Rutgers University, who provided guidance to participants. Faculty also:

• Were briefed on the current federal funding landscape by Samantha Booth (Associate Director of Federal Relations, Office of Federal Relations), Dominique Carter (Principal, Lewis-Burke Associates), and Sarah Gianotti (Legislative Research Assistant, Lewis-Burke Associates)
• Received counsel on engaging with foundations from Gabrielle Peterson (Executive Director of Development, SEBS), Tracy Elliot (Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Rutgers–New Brunswick), and Elaine Griffin
• Were advised on building industry partnerships by Wade Trappe (Dean of Research, School of Engineering), David Specca (Assistant Director, EcoComplex), Kit Yam (Professor, Department of Food Science), Melissa Vinch (Contract Manager, Research Contract Services), and Melissa Matsil (Executive Director, Research Contract Services)
• Were guided on writing concept papers by Oscar Schofield (Department Chair, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences), Dipak Sarkar (Director of the Endocrine Program, Department of Animal Sciences), Anne Nielsen (Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology, Department of Entomology), and Changlu Wang (Extension Specialist in Entomology, Department of Entomology)

SEBS and NJAES faculty have constructive discussions on potential collaboration.

“Our goal was for each participant to walk away with a clear research roadmap, one that could help them connect with faculty collaborators and pursue projects addressing some of society’s grand challenges,” said Janice McDonnell, SEBS Associate Dean of Research Impact and co-leader of the workshop series.

Many faculty have already taken that message to heart, developing concept papers and proposals for submission to funding opportunities both within and beyond Rutgers. This includes an internal grant from the SEBS/NJAES Office of Research that provides seed funding for Rutgers teams seeking to further explore convergence research ideas. While applications for this cycle have closed, the Office of Research remains optimistic about the long-term impact of this work.

Faculty interested in strengthening their research impact are encouraged to contact Janice McDonnell, Associate Dean of Research Impact at SEBS, at mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu

Editor’s note: This article was written by Mitaali Taskar, a science communicator and research project assistant with Rutgers Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

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Adélie penguins in Antarctica. Photo credits Oscar Schofield

Penguins waddling across Antarctic ice might seem far removed from a classroom in New Jersey, but a new study shows that these charismatic birds can be a powerful hook for teaching young people about climate change — and inspiring them to see themselves as future scientists.

The study was led by researchers at Rutgers University, including affiliates of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute Janice McDonnell, Associate Dean of Research Impact at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and Oscar Schofield, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences. In addition, the lead author, Marissa Staffen, and co-author Matthew Newman are both county agents from the Department of 4-H Youth Development at Rutgers.

Published in the Journal of Geoscience Education, the study evaluates a program called Data to the Rescue: Penguins Need Our Help! — an eight-session after-school club designed for middle schoolers in grades 5 to 8. The program invites students to join a virtual research team studying real penguin population data from Antarctica, collected by the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program at Palmer Station.

Students work with actual scientific data using an online tool called CODAP to graph and analyze how Adélie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguin populations have changed over time — and why. The program ends with a creative “Data Jam,” where students turn their findings into poems, art, videos, or other projects to share with their communities.

The program directly connects climate change in the polar regions — where warming is happening much faster than the global average — to real consequences like sea ice loss and shrinking penguin populations. It also draws lines from those distant changes to local impacts like sea level rise and extreme weather, helping students understand that what happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica.

“This program shows that when you give young people real scientific data and a compelling story — in this case, penguins — they don’t just learn facts, they start to see themselves as part of the solution. Building that sense of identity and agency in students, especially for young people that don’t see themselves represented in STEM, is one of the most important things we can do for both STEM education and climate action,” said Staffen.

Students in the Data to the Rescue program explore real penguin population data collected at Palmer Station, Antarctica, connecting distant ecosystems to local climate change impacts. Photo credit Matthew Newman

Over three years and across 46 program sites in the U.S., 1,571 youth took part. The study found that after completing the program, students showed a statistically significant increase in ‘science identity’ — meaning students felt more like they belonged in science. This was especially meaningful given that the program intentionally reached out to groups underrepresented in STEM, including girls, Black and Hispanic youth, and students from low-income communities.

Students who started with little knowledge of polar science showed the biggest gains in learning. Many who began by answering “I don’t know” to questions about the Arctic and Antarctic finished the program with real, substantive answers.

Interestingly, overall fascination with science dipped slightly by the end of the program — but the authors suggest this may reflect a more realistic understanding of what science actually involves, including the hard work and challenges, rather than a loss of interest. Students with lower initial fascination actually showed gains.

The implications of this research go beyond penguins. The program offers a replicable, low-cost model for informal science education that can be run in after-school clubs, community centers, summer camps, libraries, or 4-H programs — and all materials are available for free in both English and Spanish. The authors argue that building climate literacy and data skills in young people, particularly those from underserved communities, is essential for developing an informed public and a diverse STEM workforce capable of tackling global challenges like climate change. Explore Data to the Rescue resources and read the full study here.

This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Oliver Stringham, and was reviewed by Marissa Staffen, Janice McDonnell, Matthew Newman, and Oscar Schofield, co-authors on the study.

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Participants in the 35th Annual Rutgers Turfgrass Symposium included research associate Stephanie Rossi; graduate student Mark Labarge; invited speaker Susana Milla-Lewis, professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics at North Carolina State University; and Distinguished Professor Bingru Huang, who also served as moderator of one of the sessions. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

The Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science hosted its 35th Annual Turfgrass Symposium on March 19, bringing together faculty, staff, students, researchers and industry leaders for a day of collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange.

Held at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, the symposium highlighted the breadth of turfgrass research underway across the university while reinforcing Rutgers’ leadership in advancing sustainable turf systems.

Rutgers post-doc associate Juan Gonzalez, keynote speaker Eric Watkins, and Stacy Bonos, associate director of the center and a moderator of one of the sessions. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

Josh Kohut, dean and director of research at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing emerging environmental and industry challenges.

The keynote address was delivered by Rutgers alumnus Eric Watkins, professor in the Department of Horticulture and Vice Provost for Distributed Learning at the University of Minnesota. His presentation, “Investigating New Strategies for Turfgrass Survival in a Changing Winter Climate,” explored how innovative tools are being used to better understand and mitigate the unpredictable effects of winter stress on turfgrass systems.

According to James Murphy, director of the Center for Turfgrass Science, the symposium also featured a distinguished group of invited speakers. Susana Milla-Lewis of North Carolina State University presented insights from 14 years of collaborative warm-season turfgrass breeding. Lisa Bern of Syngenta reflected on 25 years of innovation in plant protection, while James Brosnan of the University of Tennessee addressed evolving strategies for managing Poa annua, a persistent challenge in turfgrass systems.

The symposium also showcased research from Rutgers faculty, postdoctoral associates and graduate students. Stephanie Rossi discussed early detection of heat and drought in creeping bentgrass. Mark Labarge presented results from his research on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass fairway turf. Juan Gonzalez presented his research on high-volume turfgrass monitoring using drones. Ryan Earp described his experience at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort during the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Leandro Lopes da Silva discussed his research on SDHI fungicide resistance in Clarireedia jacksonii (the dollar spot pathogen). Matthew Brown presented research on the interactions among entomopathogenic nematodes, fungicides, silicon and plant hosts. Katie Diehl Tuck described the effects of plant growth regulators on goosegrass and cool season turfgrass.

Invited speaker James Brosnan, professor in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee; Matt Brown, post-doc associate, Department of Entomology; Matt Elmore, associate extension specialist, Department of Plant Biology, who served as moderator at one of the sessions, and Katie Diehl Tuck, Department of Plant Biology. Photo credit: Shaun Barry

Graduate student excellence was a central highlight of the event. Three students were recognized for award-winning presentations at the Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. Ryan Earp earned first place in the Turfgrass Breeding, Genomics, Physiology and Molecular Biology poster session, while Devan Gladden received second place in Turfgrass Water Conservation, and Emmanuel Nwachukwu placed third in Golf Turf Management and Remote Sensing.

Earp was also recognized as the fourth recipient of the Sean S. Pattwell Graduate Student Internship, an experiential learning opportunity established through the generosity of Sean Pattwell in 2022. The program supports graduate training through immersive industry experiences; Earp recently completed a three-week internship at the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

The success of the symposium was made possible through the efforts of the planning committee, chaired by Bingru Huang and including Jim Murphy, Stacy Bonos, Ning Zhang and Ming-Yi Chou. Barbara Fitzgerald and Kelly Esposito served as co-editors of the symposium proceedings. Technical support for livestreaming and event production was provided by Bernard Ward, Phil Wisneski and Brad Park.

“The center is grateful for the wonderful partnership with the turfgrass industry in New Jersey and beyond, which enables us to delve into these exciting topics in turfgrass science,” Murphy said.

As the symposium marks its 35th year, it continues to serve as a vital platform for advancing research, fostering collaboration and preparing the next generation of turfgrass scientists—further strengthening Rutgers’ impact on agriculture, environmental sustainability and the green industry.

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Image by Dragon Claws, licensed via Adobe Stock (Education License)

Ask a New Jersey middle schooler what they think about when choosing what to eat, and you’ll probably hear: taste, texture, and whether it’ll upset their stomach. Ask them what they do to help the planet, and they’ll mention picking up litter or recycling. What most won’t mention? The connection between the two. A new study out of Rutgers University set out to understand what drives food choices among New Jersey fifth graders — and why so few of them link their diet to climate change — with the goal of building better classroom curricula to bridge that gap.

The study was led by Rutgers researchers, including affiliates of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, Sara Elnakib, lead author and associate professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Health Sciences at Rutgers Cooperative Extension; and co-authors Shauna Downs, associate professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy at Rutgers School of Public Health; Peggy Policastro, director of Behavioral Nutrition-Rutgers Dining Services; and Ethan Schoolman, associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University; and— all co-authors on the study.

The authors interviewed 41 fifth graders from three different New Jersey schools — an urban school serving low-income students, an urban school serving middle-income students, and a rural school serving middle-income students. The schools were chosen to reflect the diversity of communities across the state. The students were asked about what factors matter to them when choosing food, and separately, what they do to take care of the planet.

The findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, showed that taste topped the list when it came to food choices, followed by health, hunger, and how food affects the body — including digestion. Family influence also played a big role, as did friends, who often nudged kids toward less healthy options. Notably, most students didn’t think much about food price or convenience unless their parents brought it up.

When asked about helping the planet, students were engaged and thoughtful — but their ideas centered on littering, recycling, and protecting forests and oceans. Almost none of them connected food choices to climate change. Only one student mentioned avoiding meat for environmental reasons. This gap is significant: food production — especially beef and other red meat — is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting toward more plant-based diets is one of the most impactful ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint.

“These kids genuinely care about the environment; they just haven’t been shown how their everyday food choices are part of the picture. If we can connect what they eat to the things they already care about, like reducing waste, we have a real opportunity to shape healthier habits and a more sustainable food system at the same time,” stated Downs.

The study’s findings carry direct implications for education policy. In 2020, New Jersey became the first U.S. state to require climate change education in schools — and this research was designed to help shape how that curriculum addresses food and diet. The authors suggest that effective messaging should focus on taste and texture of plant-based foods, connect environmental impact to tangible behaviors students already understand (like “this meal uses as much water as leaving your tap on for X minutes”), and tie food choices to protecting animal habitats — something the students cared deeply about. Involving families alongside students could also amplify impact, particularly in communities where parents have strong influence over what kids eat.

As states across the U.S. begin integrating climate education into their schools, this kind of research offers a roadmap for making those lessons stick — by meeting students where they are and connecting big global issues to the everyday choices they already care about. Read the full study here.

This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Oliver Stringham, and was reviewed by Shauna Downs and Sara Elnakib, co-authors on the study.

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Haskin Lab scientists performing oyster stock assessment on an industry vessel. Photo credit: Jenn Gius

The Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory has played a central role in supporting New Jersey’s oyster industry through decades of research, collaboration, and science-based management. Since 1953, the lab has worked closely with the Delaware Bay oyster industry and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife to address challenges affecting oyster populations and to help sustain this vital natural resource.

The partnership began when the industry sought assistance in identifying the causes of declining oyster stocks in 1953. In response, the Haskin Lab established annual population surveys of oysters in Delaware Bay. These surveys continue today and provide the scientific foundation for managing the fishery and supporting a sustainable harvest. Over time, and with external expert review that includes NJDEP scientists and active oyster harvesters, the lab has helped guide the development of a sustainable oyster fishery recognized as a leading model both regionally and nationally.

A key component of this success is the use of a “total allowable catch” approach, which differs from many shellfisheries that rely on license limits or shortened harvest seasons. This method allows for more precise, science-based management of the resource while balancing ecological sustainability and industry needs.

An industry vessel moving oysters to enhance the oyster population. Image courtesy of Haskin Lab.

The Haskin Lab continues to convene and contribute to important statewide discussions and decision-making processes. On February 4–5, 2026, the lab hosted the Annual Delaware Bay Stock Assessment Workshop, bringing together scientists, industry representatives, and resource managers to develop harvest recommendations based on the status of the stock.  Results were presented to the Shellfisheries Council on March 3, helping inform policy decisions grounded in current data and research.

Following these recommendations, the council approved a potential harvest of 79,866 bushels, which is about 2% of the stock. The fishery works hard with the NJDEP and the Lab to complete enhancement activities designed to support long-term population recovery.

The Delaware Bay oyster fishery has a meaningful economic impact, particularly in rural areas of southern New Jersey. The industry supports a network of related businesses, including marinas, shipyards, and local suppliers, in addition to the oystermen themselves. By the time oysters reach consumers, the total economic impact of the fishery is estimated to exceed $26 million.

Through its ongoing research, statewide collaboration, and leadership in hosting and presenting at key events, the Haskin Lab continues to play a critical role in sustaining both New Jersey’s oyster resources and the communities that depend on them.

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Apprentices explore the oyster nursery at the Aquaculture Innovation Center (AIC). Photo: Jenny Shinn

Ryan Myers became interested in New Jersey’s oyster farming industry two years ago when a Rutgers aquaculture expert spoke at his high school. 

Myers, now 18, heard about Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program  (ASAP), a workforce development program offered through Rutgers and its partners connecting students with businesses to learn about New Jersey’s oyster farming and receive on-the-job training.

The program starts with a one-week boot camp of intensified training followed by eight weeks of apprenticeship at a business. Students learn about shellfish hatchery operations in parallel with small business skills such as marketing, balancing finances and aquaculture regulations.

“The boot camp is the heart of the program,” said Michael Acquafredda, assistant extension specialist in aquaculture at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, who spoke at Myers’ school. “It ensures that each apprentice receives basic training and can operate safely on a farm. But the apprentices really develop their skills during their farm-based work placements, and they learn those skills directly from our partner farmers.”

Matt Williams (left) and Ryan Myers (right) pose by the Cape Shore Laboratory, where ASAP’s bootcamp is hosted. Photo: Mitaali Taskar

The program appealed to Myers. 

That summer he began working under the guidance of Matt Williams, who owns South Bay Shellfish Company, a wholesale oyster farming and shucking company in Cape May. The operation is fairly local – most, but not all, of his oysters are sold in Cape May County. It’s also a small operating team, consisting only of him, his wife, his brother and now Myers.

The timing of Myers’ arrival was right. The business was being housed in a new building with new machinery and Williams said he “wanted another set of hands to see the optimal rate of hands needed to work this machinery.”

By learning to cultivate oysters and other shellfish, Myers and students like him walk a path deeply rooted in New Jersey history. Rutgers has been involved in shellfishery research since the late 1800s and the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory is now situated in Port Norris, N.J., which is a historic oyster village with a rich history of harvesting and shucking.

Oyster production in New Jersey reached its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but, after years of overharvesting and two devastating diseases (MSX in the 1950s and Dermo around the 1980s and 1990s), the oyster populations dwindled. In response, Rutgers committed to breeding disease-resistant oyster lines. Today, the seeds from those lines are can be licensed by local farmers.

New Jersey oysters have been making a comeback since the 2010s – and the Rutgers Coastal Campus has spent the past 100-plus years supporting this resurgence.

ASAP was designed by the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory (part of the Rutgers Coastal Campus), the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, and local industry partners.

“Oyster farming is a restorative practice,” Acquafredda said. “ASAP supports our greater mission at the Haskin lab to make our science usable and used.”

As of 2023, the New Jersey shellfish industry accounted for about 90% of New Jersey’s total aquaculture sales. Direct sales of mollusks, namely oysters and clams, had an estimated value of $11.78 million, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. With ASAP, students have the opportunity to engage in this blue economy.

Since its inception in 2022 to now, ASAP has worked within the Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties to promote aquaculture literacy. Through in-classroom lessons, the ASAP team has engaged more than 1,500 high school students in an effort to educate and recruit. Of those that apply, less than 15 students are selected for the program each year.

An apprentice (left) works with Lisa Calvo (right) during the summer program.
Photo: Jenny Shinn

ASAP was envisioned to hook young people into an industry they might not have even heard of and fill a need for seasonal and full-time workers. The program has trained 33 students, with 64% of the latest cohort continuing to work with their partner farmers in some capacity in the summer after the program ended.

“I don’t think there is a program like this elsewhere in the state,” said Jenny Shinn, a Rutgers field researcher who works with Acquafredda. She specializes in oyster restoration and community education.

The program was designed from the start to include members of the local industry as much as possible. One of the original collaborators is Lisa Calvo, a former Rutgers marine scientist and celebrated oyster farmer whose restaurant, Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, was named in the New York Times’ 2024 Restaurant List. 

“ASAP was her brainchild,” Acquafredda said. “Because of her uniquely keen insight into the skills the oyster industry needs “[Lisa] keeps us real and realistic.”

Acquafredda also collaborates with Diana Burich, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s director of education, to design this out-of-school educational experience. Together, they run a part of the program out of the Cape Shore Laboratory and the New Jersey Aquaculture Innovation Center, both part of the Rutgers Coastal Campus.

ASAP has been renewed until 2027 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant Program and organizers of the program hope to eventually turn ASAP into a sustainable long-term partnership with its industry partners.

During the apprenticeship, Myers and Williams were working full-time, often spending around half the day in the water and half the day sorting the catch. Along the way, Williams found himself teaching Myers other crucial skills that popped up when running an oyster farm, such as welding.

Myers chose to stay with the company after the program. These days he is simultaneously working with Williams and earning a data science degree online. Myers said he plans to continue working on the farm after he graduates and starts looking for a job in his field of study.

“If AI takes tech away from me, at least oyster farming works out,” he said jokingly.

Williams said Myers “came with a good work ethic. And if you learn how to work hard as a teenager, it sets you up for life.” 

Williams credits ASAP for selecting hard-working candidates who are keen to listen, learn and work. He added students “don’t have to want to work here their whole life, but it does teach them hard work and responsibility.”

Editor’s note: 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. 

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George Hamilton, professor and extension specialist, retired from Rutgers on January 1, 2026.

Effective January 1, George Hamilton GSNB’85, extension specialist in pest management and professor in the Department of Entomology, retired from Rutgers University, concluding a distinguished 38-year career marked by excellence in extension, research, teaching and service to the university and the agricultural community.

A member of the faculty since 1987, Hamilton made significant contributions to the fields of entomology, pesticide safety education, and the management of invasive insects affecting agriculture in New Jersey. He served as chair of the Department of Entomology for 15 years and held numerous university and statewide advisory roles related to pesticide regulation, environmental protection and agricultural policy.

Trained as an environmental biologist and entomologist, Hamilton earned his doctoral degree in entomology from Rutgers in 1985. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 200 research and extension publications addressing integrated pest management, pesticide use and environmental protection.

Through his work with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Hamilton became widely recognized for advancing pesticide safety education and integrated pest management programs that support New Jersey’s agricultural industries while protecting environmental and public health. His extension efforts reached thousands of growers, professionals and residents each year through workshops, training programs and outreach presentations.

Among his many contributions, Hamilton played a key role in statewide and national efforts to manage the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, a pest that threatens fruit, vegetable and specialty crops. His research helped improve monitoring and management strategies and contributed to multi-state integrated pest management initiatives aimed at reducing the pest’s impact on agriculture.

He also led and supported the development of integrated pest management programs for a range of crops in New Jersey, including tree fruit, vegetables, blueberries and field crops. These programs helped growers reduce pesticide use while maintaining crop productivity and environmental stewardship.

Nationally, Hamilton was an active leader in the Entomological Society of America, serving as treasurer and president of the Eastern Branch and completing two terms on the ESA Board of Governors.

During his career, Hamilton received numerous state, national and international honors, including awards from the ESA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizing his contributions to research, extension and integrated pest management programs.

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Brian Shilling, director Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), addresses participants in the 2026 RCE Annual Conference. Photo: OPOC

The 2026 Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Annual Conference convened on January 15 at the Busch Student Center, bringing together faculty, staff, and stakeholders from across New Jersey. The annual gathering provided a shared space for networking, professional development, research collaboration, and the exchange of best practices in delivering research-based educational programming with service excellence.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Rhonda Breen-Simone, RCE Department Administrator, and Kathleen Howell, Associate Director of Administration. Their greetings set the tone for a day focused on impact, innovation and collaboration across the Extension community.

Addressing conference attendees, RCE Director Brian Schilling reflected on a year defined not by obstacles, but by progress.

2026 RCE Annual Conference attendees. Photo: OPOC

Despite the challenges of 2025, Schilling emphasized that Rutgers Cooperative Extension has much to be proud of. He pointed to growing partnerships, increased visibility across the university, and expanding recognition of RCE’s essential role in research translation and community engagement. He highlighted exciting new technologies and discoveries emerging from Rutgers’ agricultural programs—from drone initiatives developed in partnership with community colleges to artificial intelligence collaborations with Rowan University and Rutgers’ School of Engineering. Advances in breeding programs and production techniques, he noted, are strengthening both innovation and farm viability across the state.

Schilling underscored the importance of demonstrating measurable impact, describing new investments in measuring impact and strategic engagement with university leadership. He also stressed that strengthening internal partnerships and increasing student engagement remain central priorities. Above all, he reaffirmed RCE’s mission of expanding its expertise, resources and presence in communities across New Jersey, ensuring that Rutgers research continues to make a visible and meaningful difference statewide.

Hanh La, Senior Program Administrator, and Janice McDonnell, SEBS/NJAES Associate Dean of Research Impact, delivered a featured presentation on Impact, highlighting measurable outcomes across RCE programming and underscoring the importance of data-driven storytelling in demonstrating Extension’s value to communities statewide.

The morning breakout sessions offered attendees a range of practical and forward-looking topics while midday programming featured a dynamic Customer Service overview presented by John Eric Jacobsen, coach and president of Jacobsen Business Seminars, Inc., who emphasized communication, professionalism and relationship-building as cornerstones of Extension’s public-facing mission.

2026 RCE Annual Conference attendees participate in the poster sessions. Photo: OPOC

Following lunch, Laura Lawson, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, delivered the Executive Leadership Address. She reflected on the strategic priorities of RCE, reaffirming its leadership in advancing science-based solutions, strengthening partnerships, and expanding statewide impact. She emphasized that RCE remains central to the land-grant mission of Rutgers University, serving as a critical connector that brings research and educational expertise into communities across New Jersey.

The afternoon workshops continued the day’s focus on applied learning and collaboration followed by the annual RCE Awards Ceremony, which recognized excellence across faculty, staff, volunteers and collaborative teams. The awardees are:

• Wilbur V. Runk Graduate Student Excellence Award – Jin-Jia Yu, a Ph.D. candidate in Entomology
• Excellence Award – Administrative/Support Staff – Cynthia Triolo, Office Administrator for Morris County
• Excellence Award – Paraprofessional – Kristine Rappaport, Somerset County 4-H Program Coordinator
• Excellence Award – Programmatic Staff – Sabrina Subhit, Senior Program Coordinator, Family and Community Health Sciences 
• Excellence Award in Volunteerism – Eileen McEnroe, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County
• Faculty of the Year Award – Marissa Staffen, 4-H Agent and County Extension Department Head in Essex County,
• Mary Jane Willis Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award – Food is Medicine for South Asians (FIMSA) Team led by Nurgül Fitzgerald (PI), Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences & Extension Specialist, and Soko Setoguchi (co-PI), Director, Rutgers Health-RWJBarnabas Health Center for Climate, Health, and Healthcare
• Merle V. Adams Award – James Shope, Assistant Extension Specialist in Climate Service
• Best of the Best Award – Rutgers Nursery and Green Industry Working Group: Agricultural Agents Timothy Waller (Cumberland); William Errickson (Monmouth); Jean Epiphan (Morris); Hemant Gohil (Gloucester); Salvatore Mangiafico (Salem); Steve Rettke (Monmouth); Extension Specialist Raul Cabrera, RAREC; Richard Buckley and Sabrina Tirpak of the Plant Diagnostic Lab; Stephanie Murphy of the Soil Testing Lab; and Erin Quinn, Intern and Ph.D. candidate in Plant Biology and Human Health

The closing sessions highlighted innovative, community-centered programming and brought the day’s focus on collaboration and impact full circle. From welcome remarks to final presentations, the 2026 RCE Annual Conference reflected a unified commitment to research-based education, inclusive engagement and measurable impact across New Jersey communities.

View a photo gallery of the 2026 RCE Annual Conference.

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