Faculty, staff, and guest experts from the Edward J. Bloustein School at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey talk about public policy, urban planning, public health, health administration, and informatics.
Rehearsing Democracy: Helping Rutgers Students Move from Thinking to Doing
In our first episode kicking off season 15, Dean Stuart Shapiro (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/people/shapiro/) interviews Professor Nicholas Longo (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/people/longo/), director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab (https://democracylab.rutgers.edu/), about his journey from growing up around local politics in Yonkers to dedicating his career to “citizen politics” and democratic engagement. Longo explains that the Democracy Lab is designed as a “rehearsal space for democracy,” where students learn and practice healthy democratic skills through innovation, curriculum-embedded civic engagement, and initiatives across all Rutgers campuses. He frames the lab as a response to a broader crisis of democracy marked by democratic backsliding, loss of trust between people and institutions, polarization, and social isolation, and emphasizes that these adaptive challenges require new, collaborative forms of public problem-solving. He closes by highlighting that Rutgers students are idealistic, diverse, and eager to move from thinking to doing, inviting them to engage with the Lab through programs like the Think and Do Tank, research opportunities, dialogue initiatives, and student-led democracy projects.
28 May 2026
From Campaigns to Classrooms: Teaching a New Generation About Advocacy
As we wrap up our 14th season of EJB Talks Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Bob Sommer GSNB ’84, a Bloustein School alumnus, lecturer, and member of the school's Advisory Board. As Bob talks about his journey from an accounting major to a career in public policy, he discusses his transition from working on a congressional campaign to roles in government and lobbying. His early career included a stint at the EPA during the Reagan administration, and he highlights how a chance meeting with the late governor,and then Congressman Jim Florio, set him on his path to a career in government affairs. Bob emphasizes that lobbying is a fundamental part of the American system, and explains how advocacy has evolved with time and changes in technology and regulations. Part of his approach to teaching advocacy, he explains, is focusing on practical skills and the importance of listening and adapting to different perspectives, stressing the importance of understanding the other side's arguments while also being able to articulate one's own position effectively. He concludes by emphasizing the need for more effective advocacy and the role of educators in preparing the next generation of advocates.
30 Apr 2026
Sea Level Rise, Community Engagement, and New Jersey's Environmental Future with Janine Barr
Janine Barr (https://cupr.rutgers.edu/people/janine-barr/), a researcher at the Bloustein School's Environmental Analysis and Communication (EAC) Group (https://cupr.rutgers.edu/eac/), joins Dean Stuart Shapiro (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/people/shapiro/) this week on EJB Talks to discuss the center's work on climate change impacts. A self-proclaimed Jersey girl, Janine traces her path to environmental policy back to an internship with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The internship not only drew her toward environmental policy, but specifically toward issues affecting her home state. She describes how the EAC Group brings together the branches of policy, planning, and public health to integrate community needs into local, regional, and state planning initiatives, supported by robust stakeholder engagement and data analysis. Janine also speaks to her involvement with the New Jersey Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) Report, a major effort to equip decision-makers with updated science on sea level rise and coastal storms. The report projects sea level rise of 1.8 to 4.3 feet by 2100 depending on emissions scenarios. She closes by stressing the importance of clear, ongoing communication with the public, so communities can meaningfully engage with questions of risk tolerance and long-term planning needs.
Links mentioned in today's podcast:
New Jersey Climate Change Resource Centers Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) Report website (https://njclimateresourcecenter.rutgers.edu/resources/nj-sea-level-rise-reports/)
STAP Report Summary and FAQ document (https://njclimateresourcecenter.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NJ-Rising-Seas-and-Changing-Coastal-Storms-Summary-FAQs-11-2025.pdf) (PDF, short)
Full STAP Report (https://njclimateresourcecenter.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NJ-Rising-Seas-and-Changing-Coastal-Storms-11-2025.pdf) (PDF)
NJ REAL Rules (https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/)
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8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
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Quality
89
Social presence
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YouTube
0
Engagement
68
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