R. Lawrence Swanson

Swanson

Professor
Director, Waste Reduction and Management Institute

Ph.D., 1971, Oregon State University

Larry.Swanson@stonybrook.edu

Coastal oceanography, marine pollution, marine policy, recycling and reuse of waste materials, waste management

10/11/1938 – 10/17/2020


 

Research Interests

My broad research interests concern reducing the impact of waste generation on society. In the context of the ocean, this translates to understanding and identifying the appropriate use of the ocean as part of a comprehensive and sustainable waste management strategy.

I have been interested in the consequences of urban population centers and their infrastructure and waste management practices on coastal waters. Sewage, storm water, and municipal solid waste all have pronounced impacts. In some cases, near-field, short-term effects of these polluting activities have been reduced with advancing technologies; but the far-field, long-term effects are not well understood. Hypoxia, floatable wastes, and cycling of contaminants are major causes of impaired economic and societal uses of coastal resources. My interests have been in using scientific understanding of these issues, within the context of societal costs, to help influence and formulate sound public policy.

The development of secondary materials – materials made from post-consumer waste into new products that have different forms and uses than the original products – is a promising and growing means of reusing waste materials. Understanding the engineering properties, environmental, and public health effects, and the economic and social barriers associated with these materials is important. It is my desire to expand the work that the WRMI has been doing in this area so that we might help create cost- effective, beneficial markets for society’s residue.


Selected Publications

Swanson, R.L., R. Wilson, B. Brownawell, and K. Willig.  Environmental consequences of the flooding of the Bay Park sewage treatment plant during Superstorm Sandy.  Marine Pollution Bulletin.  In press.

Swanson, R.L., K. Lwiza, K. Willig, and K. Morris.  2016.  Superstorm Sandy marine debris wash-ups on Long Island – What happened to them?  Marine Pollution Bulletin 108, Issues 1-2, 215-231.

Swanson, R.L. and M.J. Bowman.  2016.  Between Stony Brook Harbor Tides.  SUNY Press, Albany, NY, 131 pp.

Swanson, R.L., C.B. Bauer, R.E. Wilson, P.S. Rose, and C. O’Connell.  2016.  Physical processes contributing to localized, seasonal hypoxic conditions in the bottom waters of Smithtown Bay, Long Island Sound, New York.  Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 32, Issue 1, 91-104.

Swanson, R.L., M. Dorsch, M. Giampieri, P. Orton, A.S. Parris, and E.W. Sanderson.  2016. Dynamics of the Biophysical Systems of Jamaica Bay. In: E.W. Sanderson et al., eds., Prospects for Resilience.  Insights from New York City’s Jamaica Bay.  Island Press, Washington, D.C.  286 pp.

Latimer, J., M. Tedesco, R.L. Swanson, C. Yarish, P. Stacey, C. Garza, Editors.  2013.  Long Island Sound:  Prospects for an Urban Sea.  Springer-Verlag, 558 pp.

Tedesco, M., R.L. Swanson, C. Yarish, P. Stacey, J. Latimer, C. Garza.  2013.  Synthesis for Management (Chapter 7)  Long Island Sound:  Prospects for an Urban Sea.  Springer-Verlag,  558 pp.

Rose, P.S. and Swanson, R.L.  2013.  Iodine-131 in sewage sludge from a small water pollution control plant serving a thyroid cancer treatment facility. Health Physics, 105(2): 115-120.

Swanson, R.L., B. Brownawell, R.E. Wilson, and C.O’Connell.  2010.  What history reveals about Forge River pollution on Long Island, New York’s south shore.  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60: 804-818.

Wilson, R.E., R.L. Swanson, and H.A. Crowley.  2008.  Perspectives of long-term hypoxic conditions in western Long Island Sound.  Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 113, C12011, doi:10.1029/2007JC004693.

Swanson, R.L. and R.E. Wilson.  2008.  Increased tidal ranges coinciding with Jamaica Bay development contribute to marsh flooding.  Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 24, No. 6: 1565-1569.

Swanson, R.L., M.L. Bortman, T.P. O’Connor, and H.M. Stanford. 2004. Science, policy and the management of sewage materials, the New York City experience. Marine Pollution Bulletin 49:679-687.

R.L. Swanson. 2004. Garbage Crisis. Long Island must act now to avoid coming trash crunch. Opinion. Long Island Newsday. July 20, 2004. p. A33.

R.L. Swanson and D.F. Squires. 2002. Ellis Island, New York and New Jersey. New York History Journal.

Swanson, R.L., V.T. Breslin, and M.L. Bortman. 2001. Recycling technology: plastics. In: McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 9th edition.

Swanson, R.L. and D.J. Tonjes. 2001. New York City 2000 Regional Harbor Survey. New York City Department of Environmental Protection. 98 pp.

Swanson, R.L. and D.J. Tonjes. 2001. Water conservation cleans Long Island Sound. Clearwaters. Summer Vol. 31, No. 2.

Swanson, R.L., D.J. Tonjes, N. Georgas, and B.W. Stephens. 2000. New York City 1999 Regional Harbor Survey. New York City Department of Environmental Protection. 107 pp.

D.J. Tonjes and R.L. Swanson. 2000. How do we measure them? Lessons from Long Island on computing recycling rates. Journal of Urban Technology 7(3):63-79.

R.L. Swanson. 2000. A history of ocean dumping. MSRC Bulletin. 1(9):1-8. State University of New York, Stony Brook.

Swanson, R.L. 1999. Reuse of lead from dental X-rays. The New York State Dental Journal. 65(3):34-36.

Liberti, L., M. Notarnicola, V. Amicarelli, V. Campanaro, F. Roethel, and L. Swanson. 1998. Mercury removal with PAC from flue gases at the Coriano MSW incineration plant. Waste Management and Research. 16(2):183-189.

Swanson, R.L. and C.J. Sindermann, Editors.  1979.  Oxygen Depletion and Associated Benthic Mortalities in New York Bight, 1976.  NOAA Professional Paper 11.  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Rockville, MD, 343 pp.

 

The following news articles are related to Dr. Swanson:

December News from SoMAS

From everyone at SoMAS, we hope you have a Happy Holiday and an excellent New Year! Here's the news for December to close out 2021! The December URECA Student of the Month is Epraim Bryski Epraim Bryski is a senior Civil Engineering major who joined the Coastal and...

“Larry Swanson Waste on Wednesdays” Webinars Start April 7

In conjunction with Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), the Evan R. Liblit Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee is hosting “Larry Swanson Waste on Wednesdays,” — a four-part free seminar series examining the management of solid...

Remembering Larry Swanson

The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences hosted a memorial for Dr. Larry Swanson on Friday November 20, 2020. Family, colleagues, friends and neighbors shared stories of their friend to a crowd of over 200 participants on Zoom and Facebook Live. The stories...

Celebrating Larry Swanson

Larry Swanson October 11, 1938 - October 17, 2020 Service: Friday November 20, 2020  1:30 - 3:30 pm EST on Zoom ID: 97201781650 Password: 942471 The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences invites you to attend an online celebration of the life and legacy of Dr....

2020 Evan R. Liblit Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced

Dean Paul Shepson is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Evan R. Liblit Memorial Scholarships: Lisa Crawford and Stephen Tomasetti have won the Liblit Graduate Scholarships ($4,000 each). Sabrina Holsborg, Noor Hamden, and Kenny Rothwell have won the Liblit...

The Passing of a SoMAS Giant

Dear SoMAS friends and family: It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of a Stony Brook and SoMAS giant, Larry Swanson.  Larry is survived by his wife Dana, and two sons, Larry and Michael. As a loving and devoted dog owner, Larry is also survived...

SoMAS Cohosting “Waste on Wednesdays” Webinars

The Stony Brook University - School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the Evan R. Liblit Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee is pleased to announce “Waste on Wednesdays,” a six-part free webinar series focusing on a number of environmental issues impacting Long...

Research Updates from SoMAS Faculty

Photo above: An automated mesocosm called the Red Sea Simulator that will be used by Dr. Karine Kleinhaus for her NSF-funded project. The end of classes at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences is when research projects kick into full gear. Here are some of...

Celebrating the Top Stories of the Decade

As 2019 draws to a close, so does another decade of Making Scientific Research Count.  The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences accomplished much in the years between 2010 and 2019, recording $82 million in research expenditures, and over 1,300 degree...

New York State Ocean Acidification Task Force to Meet on December 3

The third public meeting of the NYS Ocean Acidification Task Force will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 6:30-8:30 pm in 201 Wang Center.  All are invited to attend. Dr. Brad Peterson from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University will...