Four students from Stony Brook University have been awarded the Evan R. Liblit Memorial Fund scholarship, marking the first time an international student has received this honor. The 27th annual award ceremony took place on November 13 in East Islip, celebrating Evan R. Liblit's contributions to recycling and solid waste management.
Michael E. White, an attorney with expertise in solid waste management and municipal law, delivered a speech at the event. He emphasized the importance of understanding where waste goes after disposal, stating, “Our communities see solid waste go away, but we need to provide an understanding of where and what is ‘away.’” White currently serves as interim director of The Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI) at Stony Brook.
This year's award recognized two undergraduate and two graduate students for their work in sustainability and waste management. For the first time, international students were eligible for consideration following a unanimous decision by the Liblit Steering Committee last spring.
The ceremony gathered scholars, faculty members, industry representatives, and community leaders to celebrate the students' achievements and discuss Long Island’s waste management challenges.
Since its inception in 1998, nearly 60 students have received scholarships from the memorial fund for their innovative approaches to environmental science.
Michael Cahill, chair of the fund, highlighted the significance of recognizing excellence in environmental science. In his letter to awardees, Cahill noted that “Long Island continues to face a daunting variety of challenges in the management of solid waste.” He also mentioned that over the past five years, the Liblit Committee has organized symposia and webinars to address these issues.
The award winners demonstrated dedication to addressing real-world environmental problems through research and outreach efforts. As they advance in their careers, they represent a new generation committed to sustainable practices.
Award Winners:
Naomi Burson is a senior undergraduate student focusing on soil recovery using earthworms at Stony Brook University's Sustainability Studies Earthworm Ecotoxicology Lab.
Jonathan Gordon is another senior undergraduate researching glyphosate's ecological impact while assisting other students as a teaching assistant.
Sagarika Srivastava is a fourth-year PhD candidate exploring socio-economic factors affecting paper waste generation in her research.
Tegan Castelluccio is a first-year master's student passionate about marine conservation with aspirations for community engagement in sustainability education.
— Alexander Noll
J.D. Allen contributed to this story.