New Jersey climate symposium highlights science, solutions, and the next generation of researchers

NJ CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCE CENTER – From flood forecasting and urban forests to clean energy and climate-resilient agriculture, the 2026 New Jersey Climate Change Research Symposium showcased the breadth of climate research underway across the Garden State—and the growing urgency of putting that science into practice.

Held at Rutgers University’s Livingston Student Center, the day-long event brought together about 200 researchers, students, policymakers, educators, and community leaders for presentations spanning climate impacts, adaptation strategies, energy systems, public policy, and environmental justice.

Organized by the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, the symposium featured more than 70 oral and poster presentations addressing some of New Jersey’s most pressing climate challenges, including sea-level rise, flooding, extreme heat, ecosystem change, and the transition to clean energy. Sessions explored topics ranging from marsh resilience in the Meadowlands and flood risk mapping to agrivoltaics, climate education, and emerging climate-related health threats.

“The event is an opportunity to bring together researchers to share their scholarship related to climate change and energy, specifically for New Jersey,” said Marjorie Kaplan, Co-Director of the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center and Senior Associate Director of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute. She noted that while climate change is a global phenomenon, its impacts are felt locally, making state-focused research especially valuable.

A recurring theme throughout the symposium was the importance of connecting scientific research with real-world decision-making. Alongside academic presentations, attendees heard from state officials, planners, journalists, and policy leaders working to translate climate science into action. Lucas Marxen, Co-Director of the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center and Executive Director of the Enviromental Analysis and Communications Group at the Rutgers Bloustein School, emphasized that bringing together researchers and policymakers helps ensure that scientific findings can inform management decisions, public investments, and climate adaptation strategies. “People within the policymaking space, as well as the stakeholder groups we work with, are more than welcome to attend to learn how they might be able to apply our research to the work they’re doing outside of the university,” he said.

The opening plenary panel featured leaders from New Jersey’s environmental, energy, and emergency management agencies discussing the role of science in shaping state climate policy. Among them was Bob Brabston, Executive Director of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, who encouraged students and early-career researchers to view public service as a pathway for climate action.

“The opportunities are there,” Brabston said. “If you’re discouraged, get in the game. You can help turn the tide.”

Despite uncertainty surrounding federal climate funding and policy, speakers expressed optimism about the future. Kaplan pointed to the strong turnout of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers as evidence that momentum in climate science remains strong. “The work needs to be done,” she said. “We’re determined to keep going.”

By the end of the day, the symposium had underscored a central message: addressing climate change will require not only new scientific discoveries, but also collaboration among researchers, government agencies, educators, businesses, and communities. In New Jersey, that work is already well underway.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.