Uncategorized – Earth and Environmental Studies

Department Participates in World’s Fair Day

wiesea — Thu, 06 May 2021 19:24:12 +0000

Thank you to Yoko Sato, our department’s lab specialist, for organizing and assembling the poster and learning materials! The display featured volcanic eruptions around the world that are currently in the news, with explanations for their origins. The table had examples of volcanic rocks that could be touched and examined. Fair attendees also learned that New Jersey had volcanoes in the geologic past, including a known volcanic remnant in Sussex County, and the lava flows that make the very bedrock of �鶹��ý��.

EAES launches online Professional Science Masters in Sustainability Leadership

piercema — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:11:38 +0000

This online graduate degree program can be completed in one year and is designed to fill a management need for governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and private-sector companies.

Spend Winter Break in Vietnam

piercema — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 13:14:18 +0000

�鶹��ý��â€™s Earth and Environmental Studies Department offers this study abroad program for students in any major, giving them the opportunity to examine the current issues, challenges and conditions of an urban environment in Southeast Asia.

Congratulations to the Class of 2016

piercema — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 12:58:12 +0000

We were pleased to see so many of you at the CSAM Convocation and at "Open Mic Night" at one of the most unique Graduate School Convocations that any of us have ever experienced. Thanks to all of you and your families and friends for sticking it out in the rain. Congratulations to all of our bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree recipients, and please keep in touch with us and keep us posted as you move on to new opportunities.

EAES Student Wins TechLaunch Competition

piercema — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:33:52 +0000

TechLaunch challenges students to succinctly and effectively communicate their science to a general audience. Christina won the $1000 first prize for her presentation "Analysis of Pliocene core DVDP-11 for evidence of a vegetated Antarctic Coastline." Congratulations to Christina and to her research mentor Dr. Sandra Passchier!

Congratulations to EAES Student Award Winners

piercema — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:32:55 +0000

Millstead Award for Outstanding Junior in Geography: Jessica Treslar
Bouchet Award for Outstanding Senior in Geography: Jeffrey Baker
Outstanding Junior in Earth and Environmental Science: Melissa Chambers
Outstanding Senior in Earth and Environmental Science: Quan Que Ly
Outstanding Junior in Sustainability Science: Alex Tselepis
Outstanding Senior in Sustainability Science: Heather Stewart
Outstanding Teaching Assistants: Daniel Ciarletta and Taylor Wieczerak
EAES Service Award: Jason Darley and Melissa Hansen

EAES Students Win Research Grants and Scholarships

piercema — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:29:49 +0000

Earth and Environmental Science Masters student J. Mitchell Clay was awarded the CSAM $5000 Sokol Summer Graduate Research Fellowship. The award will fund Mitchellâ€s masters research on Newberry Volcano, a truly massive shield volcano that is unusual compared with the majority of volcanic centers within the Pacific "Ring of Fire" which dwarfs all but one volcano within the Cascade Range. The award will fund field research and lab work to investigate the origins of the mafic eruptions of Newberry Volcano in the High Cascade back-arc region.

Earth and Environmental Science Masters student April Kelly and Environmental Management doctoral student Richard James were awarded Geological Society of America (GSA) Student Research Grants. April Kelly was awarded $1875 to fund her paleoclimate thesis research on an International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) core from the Baltic Sea. Her research will examine particle size, geochemistry, and varve chronology of sediment cores from the southwest Baltic to better constrain Scandinavian ice sheet advance and retreat during Heinrich event I and the Bolling/Allerod warming on a high-resolution time scale. The GSA award will be used to complete x-ray fluorescence core scanning analysis at the University of Bremen, Center for Marine Environmental Science (MARUM) in Bremen, Germany, where the IODP cores reside

Richard James was awarded $2250 to fund his thesis research on lead contamination in soils in Jersey City. His research will examine lead and other heavy metal contaminants in urban brownfields that are under evaluation for community gardens. Green house experiments will test the phytoextraction abilities of native New Jersey plants, and evaluate where metals reside in produce grown in contaminated soils.

B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science major Christina Verhagen won a $750 award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Scholarships for outstanding students pursuing field studies. The award will support Christinaâ€s participation in the EAES Summer Field Camp (EAES404) led by Professors Gorring, Pope, Blacic, and Galster.

EAES Faculty and Students win CSAM Awards of Excellence

piercema — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:27:51 +0000

Doctoral Research Award: Pralhad Burli (mentored by Dr. Pankaj Lal)
Sokol Summer Graduate Research Fellowship: J. Mitchell Clay (mentored by Dr. Matthew Gorring)
Sokol Student-Faculty Research Grant winners:

Adam Fernandez and Dr. Greg Pope
Michael Ayers and Dr. Tanya Blacic
Christie Barry and Dr. Pankaj Lal

CSAM Faculty award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Matthew Gorring
CSAM Faculty award for Excellence in Research: Dr. Yang Deng

�鶹��ý�� Hosts Earth Day Press Conference with U.S. Senators Booker and Menendez

piercema — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 18:13:06 +0000

On April 22, 2016, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez gathered for an Earth Day press conference with �鶹��ý�� faculty, students and environmental advocates from across New Jersey in the University’s Center for Environmental and Life Sciences. The senators announced legislation to prohibit seismic offshore fossil fuel exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, a practice that could have potentially devastating impacts on the state’s coastal economy and threaten endangered species populations.

“New Jersey must stand united against any fossil fuel industry activities that would threaten our shoreline,” Senator Booker stated. “Although we were successful in preventing the near-term threat of offshore drilling in the Atlantic, there is still more work to be done. Seismic testing is not only harmful to our marine ecosystems, but it could deliver a crippling blow to New Jersey’s coastal economy. Instead of pursuing misguided energy policies like this, we should be focused on developing cleaner and more efficient energy sources.”

“Much like our fight on Atlantic drilling, the question of seismic testing is really one of values,” said Senator Menendez. “I value having clean coastal waters, which are home to diverse and rich ecosystems. I value the small businesses and fishermen who have built and sustained a thriving shore economy against all odds in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. And I value the commitment New Jerseyans have for a clean energy future. Seismic blasting to look for oil is incredibly disruptive to marine life. It can cause large-scale displacement of fish stocks, interfere with feeding and reproductive habits, and is a probable contributing factor to whale strandings. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment, and allowing seismic testing in the Atlantic is an abdication of that responsibility.”

“Seismic exploration produces substantial acoustic disruptions which can negatively impact a host of organisms, specifically marine mammals who use sound for communication, navigation and feeding and in turn, any change in the food web can have lasting implications for the entire ecosystem,” said Paul Bologna, director of the University’s Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences Program.

The Atlantic Seismic Airgun Protection Act would prohibit oil, gas and methane hydrate-related seismic activities in the Atlantic Ocean. Studies have shown that noise from seismic airgun testing can significantly reduce catch rates of commercial fish species, and it is estimated that seismic airgun testing currently being proposed in the Atlantic could injure or kill tens of thousands of whales and dolphins.

The Earth Day announcement came on the heels of the passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 in the U.S. Senate, which includes an amendment authored by Senator Booker and co-sponsored by Senator Menendez, which stripped out potential funding for seismic testing for methane hydrate in the Atlantic Ocean, including off the New Jersey coast. Methane hydrate, a form of natural gas, is estimated to have 25 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

Also speaking out in support of the Atlantic Seismic Airgun Protection Act were: Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Act; Sharon Franz, President of the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association; Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper; John Weber, Mid Atlantic Regional Manager, Surfrider Foundation; Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club; Jim Donofrio, Executive Director, Recreational Fishing Alliance; and Doug Oâ€Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey.

�鶹��ý�� launches Green Businesses Recognition Program

piercema — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:08:26 +0000

NorthJersey.com describes �鶹��ý��'s efforts to provide Green Certification to �鶹��ý�� businesses with the help of the PSEG Institute.