The Rutgers 250 anniversary theme for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences is "Exploring the Anthropocene: The Age of Us." Anthropocene is the term coined for the current age, marked by the influence of human activity on Earth.

The School will celebrate with a series of speakers and events, starting with journalist Andrew Revkin, who will address "Welcome to the Anthropocene: A Geological Age of Our Making" on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. in Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center.  Revkin was a reporter for The New York Times from 1995 to 2009 and currently writes the Dot Earth environmental blog for The Times. The lecture is free and open to the public. A full reception will follow. Register here.

Executive Dean Bob Goodman invites alumni and friends to the new website: "SEBS and NJAES in the Rutgers 250." The website takes visitors on a pictorial journey through our own history of more than 150 years, and it highlights the news and events of the School and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station that focus on the yearlong celebration of Rutgers 250.

Some events in the planning are a celebration of the 100 years of Rutgers Gardens and the 70th anniversary of the Department of Food Science. On the Experiment Station side, the website will feature plant-breeding breakthroughs, such as the new Scarlet Strawberry™ and the Scarlet Knight™ and Crimson Queen™ cranberries, to name a few.

As Dean Goodman says, "I invite you to explore, participate, learn, hear our call to action, and celebrate with us during Rutgers' 250th anniversary year. I urge you to think about what you can do to ensure that our future is bright. I'm confident that School and NJAES faculty, students, alumni, and staff will strive to be 'revolutionary' for the next 250 years."

Come to celebrate the official launch of Rutgers' 250th anniversary. We'll hear a fife and drum performance, enjoy refreshments, mingle with reenactors dressed as famous figures from our history, view the premiere showing of the anniversary video "Our Revolutionary Spirit," and ring in the start of our university's yearlong celebration at 4 p.m. on Charter Day, November 10, 2015, on the lawn of Old Queens. Everyone is invited to attend - alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends. And it is easy to stay tuned to the events and programs of the celebration simply by bookmarking 250.rutgers.edu.

President Barchi addresses dignitaries.

University and School officials, dignitaries, faculty, staff, students, and alumni turned out on October 27 to formally dedicate the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) and its new building on the G.H. Cook Campus. Speakers at the event included University President Robert Barchi, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, New Brunswick Chancellor Richard Edwards, Executive Dean Bob Goodman, and IFNH Director Peter Gillies, among others.

The Institute will focus on interdisciplinary approaches to making New Jersey - and the nation and the world - a healthier place through healthful diets, early intervention, exercise physiology, nutritional research, wellness programs, and more. The 80,000 square foot facility is considered unique among Rutgers buildings. Its open design is reflective of new trends in interdisciplinary collaboration. Read all about it.

November 7, 2015 - Rutgers vs. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, MI

November 10, 2015 - Kick off the Rutgers 250 yearlong celebration, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Old Queens (see story above)

November 12, 2015 - "Welcome to the Anthropocene: A Geological Age of Our Making," a lecture by journalist Andrew Revkin, 7:30 p.m. at Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center (see details above)

November 14, 2015 - Rutgers vs. University of Nebraska, High Point Solutions Stadium

November 21, 2015 - Rutgers vs. Army, noon at West Point, NY

November 28, 2015 - Rutgers vs. University of Maryland, High Point Solutions Stadium

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday through November - New Brunswick Community Farmers Market, various locations near the Cook Campus (see details)

Every Friday through November 20, 2015 - Rutgers Gardens' Farm Market, 112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick

December 1, 2015 - Retired Faculty Lunch, 11:30 a.m to 2 p.m., University Inn and Conference Center