Welcome!
The Rutgers Climate Institute is a University-wide effort to address one of the most important issues of our time through research, education and outreach. The Institute draws upon strengths in many departments at Rutgers by facilitating collaboration across a broad range of disciplines in the natural, social and policy sciences.
What's New?
News in July 2014
RCI Affiliates symposium selected as a part of Rutgers' First 100 Days Initiatives
Congratulations to Professor Steven R. Brechin, School of Arts and Sciences, RCI Co-Director Professor Robin Leichenko, School of Arts and Sciences, and RCI Affiliates Professor Thomas Rudel, School of Arts and Sciences and School of Environmental Sciences, and Professor Karen O'Neill, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences for the selection of their symposium 'Global Climate Change and Inequality: Local to Global Perspectives' for the 2014-2015 academic symposia. Their symposium will explore global climate change and related socio-environmental disasters.
Rutgers chemists develop new catalyst that produces Clean-Burning Hydrogen Fuel
This technology could reduce major cost barriers to make clean-burning hydrogen fuel, which could someday replace high priced and environmentally harmful fossil fuels. Read more about it here.
RU experts and affiliates talk about sea level rise
RCI Affiliates Professor Ken Miller (Earth and Planetary Sciences) and Lisa Auermuller (Watershed Coordinator for the Jacques Cousteau Estuarine Research Reserve), and Christopher Obropta (Associate Professor, Rutgers Department of Environmental Sciences) participated in a forum organized by the Margate City Green Team to discuss topics critical to the future of New Jersey shore communities, including sea level rise. Read about it here.
New Undergraduate Minor in Sustainability at Rutgers expected for Spring 2015
A new 21-credit undergraduate minor in Sustainability will be available for students starting in the Spring of 2015, although students may start taking courses in the minor right away by looking for courses with code 962 in webreg. Click here to read more about the minor and click here to see an example curriculum.
First recipients of Gallagher Family Fellowship for Rutgers students in climate change preparedness
Dr. James J. Gallagher, of Pompton Plains, New Jersey has established a new fellowship to allow graduate students from Rutgers University interested in climate change preparedness measures to undertake projects to help advance the mission and objectives of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance. The first recipients are Alison McKenna, a candidate in the Bloustein School’s Master of City and Regional Planning program and Sarah Watson, a candidate in the Bloustein School’s dual Master of Public Policy/Master of City and Regional Planning program. Read more about the Gallagher Family Fellowship here.
Researching Climate Change Impacts to Antarctic Krill
How will krill adapt to climate change? According to research done by Rutgers' Dr. Grace Saba, lower pH in ocean water causes krill to eat and excrete at higher rates. In 2015, Dr. Saba and her team will test the upper limits to the krill's tolerance to acidic waters. Read about her research here. Dr. Saba also co-authored an article in Nature Communications about the polar food web and Antarctic climate change with RCI Affiliate Professor Oscar Schofield. Read about it here.
Rutgers Climate Institute Bulletin
The first-ever Rutgers Climate Institute Bulletin was released in June.The bulletin spotlights climate-related news, events, and the research of our faculty and students. Find it here.
July 2014-Recent Climate News from The National Academy of Sciences
Interactive Tool Lets You Decide How to Reduce Greenhouse Gas EmissionsA new interactive tool from the Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences lets you decide how to limit the magnitude of climate change.
Interactive Table: Remote Sensing Variables for Improving Understanding of Permafrost
A new interactive table from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences presents current and future remote sensing techniques and the available and desirable spatial and temporal resolution of the relevant remote sensing products.
New Report: Response to Extreme Weather Impacts on Transportation Systems
A May 2014 report from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program examines eight recent cases of extreme weather in the United States from the perspectives of transportation operations, maintenance, design, construction, planning, communications, interagency coordination, and data and knowledge management.
News in June 2014
Rutgers Climate Institute Co-directors Launch Duke Farms Dialogues on Framing Climate Change Concurrent with NJ Climate Adaptation Alliance Report Release
Duke Farms Executive Director, Michael Catania with Rutgers Climate Institute Co-Directors, Professor Robin Leichenko and Professor Tony Broccoli.
On June 25th, Rutgers Climate Institute Co-directors, Tony Broccoli and Robin Leichenko joined Duke Farms Executive Director Michael Catania, to discuss adapting to climate change. This inaugural Duke Farms Dialogue, streamed on-line and available here, provided natural and social science content as background to the work of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance which concurrently released the report Resilience. Preparing New Jersey For Climate Change: Policy Consideration from the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance. The Alliance report outlines policy recommendations to enhance New Jersey's ability to prepare for and adapt to a changing climate. The report and links to supporting documents can be found here.
New Jersey back-bay communities experience continued flood risk due to sea-level rise
RCI Affiliate Dr. Michael Kennish is a part of a Rutgers research team exploring bayshore flooding and risk reduction. Sea-level rise puts bayshore communities in New Jersey at continued risk of flooding, even after Sandy. Read what RCI Affiliate Dr. Kennish says about back-bay flooding in this Star Ledger article.
Climate Change as Risky Business
June 24, 2014. If nothing is done to curb climate change, sea-level rise and temperature rise could have drastic effects on American business and industries. Extreme temperatures and water stress will take a toll on crops, and nearly $370 billion worth of properties in Louisiana and Florida will be under water. Read coverage in the New York Times here and the full bipartisan report here. RCI Affiliate, Robert Kopp was a member of the team commissioned by the Risky Business Project to produce the companion report, "American Climate Prospectus: Economic Risks in the United States" and he discusses it here, here and here. A seminar video is available to view here.
RCI Affiliates receive $149,806 NJ Sea Grant coastal storm risk communication award
June 11, 2014. RCI Affiliates Cara Cuite, Rachael Shwom, Steven Decker, David Robinson, and Karen O'Neill, are part of a Rutgers team that will empirically measure the effectiveness of a range of storm-related message variables to develop a best practices coastal storm risk communication guide designed for the unique needs of emergency managers under an award from NJ Sea Grant. For more information about the research click here.
Summer Stormchasing
June 5, 2014. RCI Affiliate Dr. Steven Decker of the Department of Environmental Sciences has led a two-week "Severe Weather Forecasting Field Trip" since 2012, where Rutgers meteorology students follow storms through Tornado Alley. Read about this summer's students and their adventures here.
Proposed Regulation Aims to Cut Power Plant Carbon Pollution Thirty Percent by 2030
On June 2, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency released the Clean Power Plan proposal, intended to meet a 30% reduction in carbon from power plant emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels. The proposal allows states significant autonomy in meeting pollution reduction goals. Read more about the plan in the New York Times article or from EPA here.
Rutgers Professor Leads Research on New Jersey’s Sea Level Changes Through Different Climate Changes in History
June 2, 2014. Gregory Mountain, Rutgers professor of earth and planetary sciences, is leading a team of researchers this summer to examine how New Jersey's coast has been affected by changes in sea level as influenced by climate change throughout history. This research could provide important insights for planners and governments about how far sea levels might rise by the end of the century. More detail available here.
Conferences, Symposiums, Online Courses, and Seminars
Climate Change Course offered through the University of Melbourne and Coursera. August 11-October 13, 2014. The course is free. To register click here.
10th Annual NJ Association of Floodplain Management (NJAFM) Conference "A Decade of Progress" and Workshops. October 14, 15, 16, 2014. Location: Bally's Atlantic City. Abstract submissions due August 8, 2014. Complete details here.
American Geophysical Union Conference Session. Extreme Events and Climate Change: Impacts on Environment and Resources. San Francisco, December 15-19, 2014. Abstracts due August 6, 2014. For more information, click here.
Climate Change in Four Dimensions July 1- September 1, 2014 offered through Coursera by the University of California-San Diego. Click here to register.
Dairy Environmental Systems and Climate Adaptation Conference and Tours. Call for papers: proposals due November 1, 2014
Conference and tours July 2015 in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. More information available here.
Passaic River Symposium VI, Intersecting Priorities October 9–10, 2014
Organized by the Passaic River Institute of Montclair State University, this symposium features speakers and sessions focusing on the Passaic River Basin and other regional watersheds. Abstracts for presentation are also being accepted until July 15th. Click and scroll for information, including registration and location.
Energy and Climate Change Conference January 27-29, 2015
The National Council for Science and the Environment has organized the 15th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: Energy and Climate Change. The conference will take place in Washington DC. Scientists, engineers, businesspeople, and professionals from government and policy will be in attendance to discuss solutions, partnerships, and initiatives to transition to a new "low carbon" and "climate resilient" energy system as a response to climate change. Proposals for conference sessions will be accepted until July 25, 2014. Registration details will be available soon.
16th International Conference on Shellfish Restoration December 12-13, 2014, Charleston, South Carolina
Among the topics covered, the conference will highlight the use of shellfish restoration to address challenges and opportunities related to coastal development including climate change and ocean acidification. More information can be found here.
Biomass 2014: Growing the Future Bioeconomy
Save the Date!
On July 29–30, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Advanced Biofuels USA will co-host the Office's seventh annual conference, Biomass 2014: Growing the Future Bioeconomy, planned to take place at the Washington Convention Center.
Don't miss this opportunity to participate in discussions about issues critical to the continued growth and success of the bioeconomy. More details, including registration information, will be coming soon on the Biomass 2014 Web page.
Jobs, Internships & Funding Opportunities
Click here for more information on Fellowships and Internships.
Energy Globe Award for outstanding and sustainable projects in the area of environment and energy. Deadline September 22, 2014. Recipients will receive a 10,000 euro cash award. For more details and eligibility, click here.
Rutgers Energy Institute Postdoctoral Associate Fellowship. The REI will support post-doctoral students for broad range of energy research: basic and applied science, engineering, economics, and policy. Each fellowship is one year and includes $25,000 direct cost support. For more information about applying, click here. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Fellowships available as early as Fall 2014.
Fully funded Department of Energy Biofuels Research Internship for college juniors, seniors or recent graduates. The project objective is to utilize marine microalgae for biofuels production. The position is located in Sequim, WA and begins mid-January 2015. Applications due August 22, 2014. Complete information here.
Professional Research Assistant: Climate Modeling and Data Analysis,Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, UC Boulder. Open until filled. Complete information here.
Climate Funding Opportunities compiled by NOAA and MN Sea Grant. Deadlines vary by grants. To access the list click here and click on the black "download PDF."
Global Lake Ecology Observatory Network (GLEON) graduate student Fellowship Program is accepting applications through August 1, 2014.
Watershed Institute Grant Program applications starting August 1, 2014
Non-profit environmental groups with 501(c)3 status working in New Jersey are eligible to apply for funds ranging from $50-$7,000 for engagement and technical assistance grants through the Watershed Institute. Climate Change Resiliency and Green Infrastructure are among this years targeted action areas. Applications will be accepted starting August 1st on a rolling basis.
2015-16 AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships. More information here.
Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Training Program Coordinator
Gulf of Mexico National Estuarine Research Reserves Announcement
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Internships
NASA Ames Education
The Fulbright - National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship
Themes: Biodiversity, Cities, Climate Change, Cultures, Energy, Food, Oceans, and Water
Pathways to Science
A resource for undergraduate summer research opportunities, grad fellowships, postdoc positions
Congratulations
Congratulations to the RCI affiliates who recently received grant awards!
Dr. Oscar Schofield, Surveying a melting Amundsen sea with gliders.
KOREA KOPRI, $123,572
Dr. Benjamin Horton, Advanced Regional and Decadal Predictions of Coastal Inundations for the US Atlantic. $246,614
Dr. Malin Pinsky, 2014 Sloan Research Fellowship in Ocean Sciences.
Sloan Foundation, $50.000. Read about it here.
Dr. Malin Pinsky, Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. Read about it here.
Five Climate Institute Affiliates Contribute to IPCC Working Groups I and II
Congratulations to RCI Affiliates Benjamin Horton, Robert Kopp, David Robinson, and Alan Robock who contributed to the IPCC Working Group I. Alan Robock was also the lead author on Chapter 8: Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing. Robert Kopp and Alan Robock contributed to the Working Group II and RCI Co-director Robin Leichenko served as a review editor for Chapter 12: Human Security. Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to RCI affiliate, Professor Benjamin Horton who was awarded the 2014 Dennis and Jean Wiesenburg Distinguished Lecture in Ocean Science by University of Southern Mississippi. You can read more about this here.
Congratulations to RCI affiliates who received 2013-2014 Faculty Awards!
Professor Joshua Kohut- Board of Trustees Research Fellowships for Scholarly Excellence and the Presidential Fellowship for Teaching Excellence
Professor Pamela D. McElwee- Board of Trustees Research Fellowships for Scholarly Excellence
Professor Mark Gregory Robson- Rutgers Faculty-Scholar Teacher's Award
Professor David A. Robinson- The Rutgers College Class of 1962 Presidential Public Service Award
Pictured: Professor David A. Robinson being presented The Rutgers College Class of 1962 Presidential Public Service Award
Rutgers faculty and students on coastal geomorphology, climate change, and sea level rise:
Congratulations to RCI affiliate Michael Kennish, lead editor and a contributing author for a special issue of the journal Estuaries and Coasts. The special issue covers "Drivers of Change in Shallow Coastal Photic Systems."
RCI affiliate and Rutgers allergist Leonard Bielory, a researcher focused on the long-term effects of climate change on allergic airway disease, expects an increase in the release of tree pollen this spring, which may produce an intense pollen season for allergy sufferers. Read more about his work at the SEBS Newsroom and NorthJersey.com.
State climatologist and RCI affiliate Dave Robinson was interviewed about this year's winter conditions. How does this winter compare to past years? Listen here.
The jet-stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path, leading to weather that becomes "stuck" on an area for an extended period. According to RCI affiliate Jennifer Francis, this extreme weather in the middle latitudes could be due to a warming Arctic, but it's too soon to tell for certain. Read more here.
Listen to RCI Affiliate, Michael Kennish on flood threats in Bayside Communities.
"Anthony Broccoli, co-director of the Rutgers Climate Institute, said January was in the top 20 coldest months in over 100 years, but there have been colder winters." Read more here.
Bitter cold may kill off beetles tearing through Pine Barrens, but RCI affiliate and Geography professor David Robinson maintains that a long-term warming climate will make it more difficult to thwart the beetle. Read more here.
Jennifer Francis, RCI Affiliate and IMCS professor, discusses the polar vortex and how it relates to our weather patterns. Read more here.
Listen to what RU Students are saying about climate change.
RCI Affiliate Malin Pinsky, Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, published a study connecting differences in climate velocity—the rate and direction that climate shifts across the landscape—to observed species shifts. Click here for more information.
New publications by RCI Affiliate Ben Horton discusses sea level rise in New Jersey and worldly. Read more here and here.
A recent study by RCI Affiliate Yair Rosenthal, Professor of Marine and Coastal Sciences, reconstructs Pacific Ocean heat content over the past 10,000 years, showing that intermediate waters of the Pacific Ocean are absorbing heat 15 times faster over the past 60 years than in the past 10,000. Read more here.
RCI affiliate Jennifer Francis co-authored a study linking Arctic sea ice to shifting weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes. Learn more about the emerging research on Arctic and mid-latitude linkages here.
RCI Affiliates Ken Miller, Robert Kopp, Ben Horton, and James Browning of Rutgers University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences project New Jersey sea level rise 11 to 15 inches higher than the global average for next century. Read more about the analysis here. Read the highlight in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.
RCI Affiliate Ben Horton elicited sea level rise projections from 90 experts in the field. The future sea-level rise ranges provided by the experts are on average higher than those of the IPCC 5th assessment. Read more here.
Watch RCI Affiliate Robert Kopp and other experts discuss local and global impacts of climate change from the 5th IPCC Report.
Learn about the effects of dunes, development, storms, and sea level rise along Barnegat Bay in this Q&A and video clip interview with RCI Affiliate, Rutgers Professor Emeritus, Norbert Psuty.
Listen to Anthony Broccoli, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Co-Director of RCI, speaking about historical climate trends, says that with the changing weather and development patterns in the region "the past cannot be used to predict the future."
Watch this video clip of the boat shed at the Rutgers University Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Port Norris, NJ from October 2013. Lab Director, Professor David Bushek notes, "This is the height of a typical fall (October or November) spring tide. When built over 100 years ago, the permit to build was 1 foot above high tide. It rarely flooded when I was a grad student in early 1990s. The surge from Hurricane Sandy was at least three feet higher than shown here."
See how RCI affiliate Lisa Auermuller, Watershed Coordinator for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve is helping citizens understand sea level rise with tools developed by RCI affiliate Richard Lathrop, Director Rutgers Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis. Watch here.
THINK GLOBAL, BIKE LOCAL
Check out the Rutgers Bike Rental Program and commit to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, which will improve the quality of life for all.
