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From August 24–28, 2026, the Department of Human Ecology hosted its second annual Summer School on Sustainability Governance, welcoming nearly 30 doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scholars from nearly 25 universities across the United States, Canada, and beyond. Selected from more than 140 applicants, participants brought diverse research perspectives ranging from fisheries governance in the Brazilian Amazon and glacier retreat in the Peruvian Andes to offshore wind development in New England.
Organized by Dr. Pamela McElwee and Dr. Rachael Shwom, the week featured plenary lectures, faculty-led skills sessions, and collaborative working groups focused on strengthening research and developing new scholarly connections. Human Ecology faculty and emeriti contributed expertise in areas including survey methods, geospatial analysis, science communication, and sustainability research.
Supported by the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, the 2026 Summer School provided an interdisciplinary space for emerging scholars to exchange ideas, build collaborations, and advance more just and grounded approaches to sustainability.
For more information on the Summer School Agenda and participant biographies, see: https://rcei.rutgers.edu/about/signature-initiatives/c-saga/
For one student’s reflection on the summer school, see: https://globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-stories/2026-27-news/anu-rai-postcard-from-the-field-2.html