Rowan University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
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Reporter |
Shante
Walker Institutional Research Analyst Office of Institutional Research & Analytics |
Local advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy
The policy center was created to fill the need for an independent bipartisan public policy center to conduct research and develop pragmatic solutions to complex policy issues based on data-driven analysis, rigorous academic research, and convening working groups that bring together policy experts, stakeholders, and advocates to reach consensus.
The Sweeney Center has taken a leadership role in the public policy debate on Offshore Wind and emerging clean energy technologies. Sweeney Center Director Mark Magyar authored Benchmarking New Jersey's Offshore Wind Initiatives in June 2023, and the Sweeney Center hosted conferences on Offshore Wind Technology in New Jersey: Sustainability, Emerging Markets and Technology in May 2023, The Road to Zero Emissions: The Future of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy in New Jersey in October 2023, and Moving Forward on Offshore Wind: New Challenges, New Competition this February.
Regional advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
NJ MAP is an interactive atlas for ecological resources, environmental education and sustainable communities. The Geospatial Research Lab at Rowan University’s Department of Geography, Planning and Sustainability created this free online map viewer to connect NJ citizens, municipalities and advocacy groups with real time geospatial tools to support their planning and conservation efforts.
National advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
EPA announced that Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, has been selected to receive one of the first pollution prevention grants to be awarded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a historic $100 million to fund pollution prevention projects. These grants will allow states, Tribes and public universities to provide businesses with technical assistance to help them develop and adopt P2 practices to prevent or reduce pollution before it is created, while also reducing business and liability costs.
“This EPA pollution prevention funding will support Rowan University’s cutting-edge engineering department to partner with a major pharmaceutical company in finding ways to use less toxic chemicals, cut emissions and energy used in the manufacturing processes,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “It is always better and cheaper to prevent pollution before it happens, and that is exactly what these types of grants aim to achieve.”
Using the $314,416 in EPA funding, Rowan University will sponsor a student-faculty-industry partnership with a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer through its highly regarded Engineering Clinics. The project will focus on the chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation sector, specifically a pharmaceutical facility in Delaware. Through the partnership, Rowan University will help to identify, develop and recommend safer alternative chemicals, and lower-energy and lower emission technologies that can be used in the early stages of pharmaceutical design and manufacturing. These alternatives would reduce in the long-term environmental impacts, as well as create cost savings in comparison to the existing facility level operations.
International advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
Rowan University signs agreements in Japan with major research university and manufacturing company
In Tokyo Gov. Phil Murphy, Rowan University Provost Tony Lowman and Vice President for Research Mei Wei celebrated the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between Rowan, Shibaura Institute of Technology and global plastics manufacturer, Sekisui Chemical, during the Choose New Jersey governor-led economic mission. The partnerships will expand research and development capabilities for Rowan students in the manufacturing sector and commission new joint research projects in the technology sector.
“These agreements will expand opportunities for researchers at one of New Jersey’s world-renowned universities, Rowan University, to partner with some of Japan’s brightest minds in the private sector and academia,” said Gov. Murphy. “New Jersey is the gateway into the American marketplace and we are eager to welcome our friends from Japan to join us in building a better, greener future—and creating generations of good-paying jobs in the process.”
The first MOU was signed by Lowman and Katsunori Mukai, executive officer and director of the Corporate R&D Center at Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd., which has a presence in Secaucus. The institution and leading plastics manufacturer have worked together for 20 years. The MOU formalizes an existing agreement to collaborate on research and development projects, with Rowan University providing ongoing support for laboratory services.
Optional Fields
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.