Sweeney Visits Montclair State University’s Center for Environmental Sciences

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney toured Montclair State University’s Center for Environmental Sciences today.  The lab has been working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections to help combat harmful algae blooms which plagued New Jersey’s freshwater lakes in recent summers.

“It is amazing to see our students and faculty helping to tackle major environmental problems currently affecting New Jersey, and the country,” said Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Through actively taking on these water preservation efforts, the center helps keep New Jersey’s water clean and safe as well as train the state’s future water scientists. I am very proud of the work that they have accomplished so far and I am looking forward to seeing how they will help the state combat the growing water quality crisis in the years to come.”

Montclair State University has long been integral to the state’s water conservation efforts and is home to the Passaic River Institute, New Jersey Phytoplankton Lab, Habitat Connectivity Project, and NJDEP-certified Water Analysis Laboratory. The institution has been a long-standing partner of the NJDEP, and has been serving as a resource for identifying harmful algal blooms in New Jersey since the summer of 2015.

“Our students are highly committed to ensuring that New Jersey’s drinking and recreational waters are safe for all residents,” said Meiyin Wu, Director of New Jersey Center for Water Science and Technology at Montclair State University.  “It was great to have Senate President Sweeney tour our facilities today and witness firsthand all the strides that our program is making in detecting and preventing damaging algae blooms.  We look forward to continuing our efforts, collaborating with the government and ensuring New Jersey’s water is of the highest quality.”

The Center for Environmental Sciences is a 107,500 square foot facility dedicated to environmental and pharmaceutical life sciences research. The facility also houses the Center for Water Science and Technology where they mainly oversee the research pertaining to the harmful algae bloom.  The goal of the center is to expand its public services to provide water quality testing and technical assistance to conservation groups and municipalities to help ensure safe water for drinking and recreation, in addition to preserving aquatic ecosystems.