From Stony Brook University's Collaborative for the Earth, C4E Presents explores environmental science, climate change, and actionable climate solutions through engaging talks with environmental scholars and scientists. Host Heather Lynch guides listeners through environmental science issues, including marine plastics and climate attribution, to confront today's toughest climate challenges. Discover expert perspectives and solutions for a healthier planet. Learn more at stonybrook.edu/c4e/
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America’s Nuclear Future | C4E Presents: National Special #001
Season 3
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 55:47
This special episode of Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) examines how U.S. efforts to move away from fossil fuels collide with surging electricity demand from AI and data centers, prompting companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to pursue nuclear power.
Distributed by American Public Media from January through April 2026, C4E presents in its first national radio broadcast the history of nuclear energy in the United States, from Eisenhower’s 1953 “Atoms for Peace” through Three Mile Island, and changing public opinion under the Trump administration. Today, approximately 94 reactors supply just over 18% of U.S. utility-scale electricity. The narrative episode explores the restarting of shuttered plants, the promise and skepticism around small modular reactors, and shifts in energy policy as climate solutions that were discussed during an April 2025 Governor’s Island forum debate, in partnership with The New York Climate Exchange.
For all things Stony Brook on social media: https://gosbu.co/m/social
C4E Presents is a production of Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth.
Special thanks to The New York Climate Exchange and Stony Brook’s Office of the Provost, Office of Marketing and Communications and the MS in Journalism program for their support.
Host: Heather Lynch
Writer: J.D. Allen
Editors: Terry Sheridan, Lori Kie
Producers: Jordan Vallone, Melanie Formosa
Post Production: Denis Murray
Program Manager: Jennifer Gilday
Passenger Pigeon Comeback | C4E Presents #044
Season 3 · Episode 14
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 50:23
Ben Novak is bringing back the extinct passenger pigeon. Host Heather Lynch and Novak, program manager for the Biotechnology for Bird Conservation Program for Revive & Restore, discuss de-extinction, restoring ecosystem function by using gene editing or selective breeding to give living relatives traits needed to fill extinct species’ ecological roles, and correcting Jurassic Park misconceptions about using ancient DNA directly. Novak explains how museum specimens provide fragmented DNA for sequencing and the limits of mapping genomes, emphasizing goal-oriented trait recovery over perfect genetic identity.
Ocean Iron and Wetland Resilience | C4E Presents #037
Season 3 · Episode 7
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 • Duration 52:08
Stephen Baines is focused on the ecological reshaping of coastal wetlands. Host Heather Lynch and Baines, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, discuss the impact of non-native species, nitrogen's role in marsh stability, the influence of iron fertilization on ocean ecosystems, and the complexities of coastal conservation. Baines is concerned about keeping coastal marshes intact amid rising sea levels and human infrastructure, and the importance of native plant gardening to support local biodiversity.
Learn more with:
“Lakes as sentinels of climate change” by Rita Adrian, Catherine M O'Reilly, Horacio Zagarese, Stephen B Baines, Dag O Hessen, Wendel Keller, David M Livingstone, Ruben Sommaruga, Dietmar Straile, Ellen Van Donk, Gesa A Weyhenmeyer, Monika Winder
00:33 Impact of Climate Change on Species Redistribution
00:59 Exploring Coastal Wetlands and Marshes
01:31 Understanding Salt Marsh Plant Species
Eco-Conscious Nursing | C4E Presents #036
Season 3 · Episode 6
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • Duration 33:27
Pamela Ginex explores the impacts of disasters on emergency preparedness and patient care. Host Heather Lynch and Ginex, assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Stony Brook University, discusses how hospitals and clinics can be prepared for climate-related disasters like hurricanes and heat waves. Ginex highlights the need for proactive measures for those with known toxic exposures and the role of sustainability in healthcare, as well as the necessity of integrating environmental awareness into medical training to better support the health sector in the face of climate change.
02:25 The Versatility and Demand of Nursing Careers
03:52 Climate Disasters and Cancer Care
05:42 Personal Experiences During Hurricane Sandy
08:29 Hospital Preparedness for Climate Disasters
15:07 Heat Stress and Cancer Treatment
Queen Bees and Peer Review | C4E Presents #035
Season 3 · Episode 5
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • Duration 52:03
Rafael D’Andrea is focused on understanding what makes the queen bee different from her peers. Host Heather Lynch and D’Andrea, assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, to discuss mathematical models in understanding nature, and the importance of collaboration and data sharing in scientific research. D’Andrea explains his research on eusociality in animals and the factors contributing to diversity in tropical forests. Additionally, they delve into potential biases and the need for reforms of the peer review process.
Stony Brook University Hospital is on the front lines of sustainability. Host Heather Lynch speaks with CEO Carol Gomes, Director of Healthcare Safety Barbara Boyle, and Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, executive director of the nutrition division at Stony Brook Medicine, to explore how the hospital is reducing waste and emissions. They say Stony Brook's commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and promoting sustainable practices both within the hospital and the local community requires retrofitting facilities with LED lighting, rethinking waste management in the operating rooms, and deploying community outreach programs, including rooftop garden initiatives,
01:22 Stony Brook University Hospital's Environmental Achievements
Contamination Proliferation | C4E Presents #033
Season 3 · Episode 4
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 • Duration 48:07
Jaymie Meliker’s research seeks to inform policy and individual actions to mitigate environmental exposure to health risks. Host Heather Lynch and Meliker, a professor in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Family Population and Preventative Medicine at Stony Brook University, explore critical topics at the intersection of public health and environmental science, including the nuanced impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns, methods for studying community-level depression, and the complex relationship between stay-at-home orders and domestic violence. The discussion dives into various environmental pollutants, such as PFAS, heavy metals like cadmium and arsenic, and their implications for public health.
Carrie Mongle examines fossilized teeth to understand how early humans grew, lived, and ate. Host Heather Lynch and Mongle, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and Turkana Basin Institute at Stony Brook University, dive into the intricacies of human evolution, discussing the key players and distinctive features that separate modern humans from other hominins. Mongle also discusses her research on the hand morphology of Paranthropus boisei, highlighting the evolutionary insights gained from studying fossilized teeth and hands.
03:32 Future Human Evolution and Selective Pressures
05:33 Human Adaptations to Extreme Climates
08:45 The Role of Diet in Human Evolution
16:33 The Importance of Teeth in Evolutionary Studies
Sharks in Our Waters | C4E Presents #031
Season 3 · Episode 2
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • Duration 38:33
Oliver Shipley tracks sharks in the New York Bight. Host Heather Lynch and Shipley, an assistant professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University, discuss the use of isotopes in marine food web studies, shark population trends, the reasons behind the recent rise in shark sightings off Long Island, and the implications of offshore wind farms on marine species. Shipley provides insights into balancing environmental impacts and the integration of scientific research in effective marine conservation strategies.
Released in March 2024, the collection is the cumulation of a collaborative effort spanning 13 SUNY schools and 70 student artists and writers across New York State. In it, through writing, photography, artwork and more, SUNY students capture the diversity of New York State’s rich environment.
C4E Presents is a production of Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth.
Host: Heather Lynch
Editor: J.D. Allen
Program manager: Jennifer Gilday
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