Science Mondays

Science Mondays

Science Mondays is a collaborative effort between Brookdale Community College and the Jersey Shore Chapter of the NJ Sierra Club. Its mission is to provide a platform for faculty, students and community members to discuss environmental issues. Meetings take place the fourth Monday of the month throughout the school year. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Dates: September 29th, October 27th, and November 24th
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Twin Lights Rooms, Student Life Center (SLC), Brookdale Community College, Parking in Lot #7 is most convenient.
Meetings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments at 6:30 PM.

We’re All Plastic People Now

September 29

Speaker: John Weber, Senior Field Representative, Mid Atlantic at Oceana.

The session will begin with a showing of a segment of an award-winning documentary by Rory Fielding entitled “We’re All Plastic People Now”. The documentary explores the impacts of microplastics on human health and the environment. Following the film, John Weber will discuss the build-up of plastic in our environment and describe actions that can be taken to better safeguard the environment and lessen our exposure. A Q&A period will follow.

John Weber is the Senior Field Representative, Mid Atlantic at Oceana. He has been working to protect the ocean environment for more than two decades; first as a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation, and then as their first employee on the East Coast, a job he held for 18 years. John has extensive experience fighting plastic pollution and was instrumental in many plastic bag and balloon-release bans in NJ.

*Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Lecture begins at 6:45 p.m.

Responding to Climate Change in a Fragmented Policy Context

October 27

Speaker: Clinton J. Andrews, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University, and the Associate Dean for Research at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University.

This talk considers how to pursue a coherent vision for mitigating and adapting to a changing climate in a context where state and federal actors pursue opposing goals. It reviews the historical interplay of state and local governments, the federal government, and scientific, technological, and social factors, in helping citizens adapt to and reduce the rate of human-caused climate change. A Q&A period will follow.

Clinton J. Andrews is a Distinguished Professor and the Associate Dean for Research at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University. He teaches urban planning and public informatics courses, and he performs research on how people use the built environment. His work addresses climate change mitigation and adaptation, and how technological changes affect urban life.

*Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Lecture begins at 6:45 p.m.

Climate Resilience in New Jersey

November 24

Speaker: Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer and Manager of DEP’s Office of Climate Resistance

Mr. Angarone will talk about his work on climate resilience; specifically New Jersey’s challenges as a northeastern state with disproportionate climate risks such as sea level rise, flooding, water and air quality degradation, wildfires, biodiversity loss, and urban heat islands. Included will be comments and insights specifically targeting the Monmouth County area. Regulatory solutions, hazard prevention, mitigation, and remediation/recovery efforts (including via blue acres) will be discussed. Followed by a Q & A session.

Nick Angarone is New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer and Manager of DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience. He coordinates statewide resilience policy and serves as Vice-Chair of the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience. He also leads and directs the development of the Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy, and provides technical guidance and support to local governments in their efforts to address the impacts of climate change.

*Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Lecture begins at 6:45 p.m.

DIRECTIONS to Science Mondays

Twin Lights Rooms, Student Life Center, Brookdale Community College

• Enter the main entrance of the campus from Phalanx Road. This puts you on Campus Drive.
• Make the first left on to Arena Drive.
• Follow Arena Drive past High Tech High (first building), Parking Lot 6 (has solar panels) and Collins Arena (done top building) – all on right. Sports fields are on the left.
• Turn left and park and Parking Lot 7
• When you walk out of Parking Lot 7, crossroad and turn left. Continue straight to last building on right, at the roundabout.
• Enter building (Student Life Center) and turn left. Walk to end of corridor and turn right. The room for Science Mondays will be on your left.

Note: If you or someone with you needs Handicap Parking, continue driving past Parking Lot 7, turn right into small lot before the last building at the roundabout. There will be some Handicap Parking spaces there.

Campus Map

Campus Contacts:

Tim Macaluso
tmacaluso@brookdalecc.edu (Tim)
732-224-1959