March 20, 2024 I recently attended a workshop led by classmates and participated in a discussion about climate change and how it affects different species across the globe. We watched a video from TED-Ed that explained physical and behavioral changes in some species that have helped them adapt to global warming and changing weather patterns. …
A recent article from MIT Technology Review, entitled, “There was some good climate news in 2023. Really” presents an optimistic outlook about the future of climate science amid the overwhelming doomsday headlines that have surrounded us this year. I appreciated this piece because it simultaneously points out strengths and shortcomings of 2023 climate policy and …
November 13, 2023 A fascinating article from The Guardian by environmental journalist Stephen Buranyi recently caught my attention in its discussion of contemporary research surrounding plastic-eating bacteria. Discovered in a trash dump in 2001, a bacterium called Ideonella Sakaiensis uses enzymatic reactions to break down plastic into basic nutrients it can consume. Microbiologists are studying …
October 14, 2023 As greenhouse gas levels rise and threaten both humans and wildlife, scientists are searching for efficient and cost-effective ways to pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. A recent New York Times opinion piece by John T. Preston, Dennis Bushnell, and Anthony Michaels calls for the US government to fund experimental research …
September 5, 2023 Through the Coastal Stewardship Certification Course I recently completed in August with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, I met Dr. Allison Fitzgerald, Assistant Professor of Biology at New Jersey City University (NJCU). In addition to her teaching at NJCU, Dr. Fitzgerald brings her doctoral work in oyster ecotoxicology to bear …
August 13, 2023 Amid all the depressing and apocalyptic climate news of the past few weeks, from deadly wildfires to crippling heat waves, a recent Washington Post article about a group of young people taking groundbreaking action felt like a breath of fresh air. The Held v. Montana court case, which wrapped its proceedings on …
July 6, 2023 On June 13, I attended the third session of my coastal stewardship course through the Ocean County Cooperative Extension of Rutgers University. The first presenters were Dr. Jim Merritt and Bruce Beveridge, a charismatic and funny duo who gave the class an introduction to shellfish biology. They presented detailed diagrams on the …