Professor
Director, Waste Reduction and Management Institute
Ph.D., 1971, Oregon State University
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:
Roger Flood’s Retirement Party
SoMAS celebrated Professor Roger Flood's retirement on August 22nd. Photos taken by Malcolm Bowman are available on Google Photos.
SoMAS Faculty Serving on NYS DEC Ocean Acidification Task Force on Coastal Waters
Photo above, from left: SoMAS Professors Larry Swanson, Malcolm Bowman and Carl Safina From DEC ANNOUNCES NEW YORK OCEAN ACIDIFICATION TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE IMPACTS ON STATE’S COASTAL WATERS from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, August...
Celebrating SoMAS Dean Larry Swanson
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, along with guests (and SoMAS Alums) from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, were joined by Stony Brook University Provost Michael Bernstein to celebrate Dean Larry Swanson, whose...
SoMAS Photo Competition 2018
The SoMAS photo competition is an annual event where students (graduate and undergraduate), faculty and staff share their pictures with the SoMAS community and the general public. The Photo Competition will be divided into three categories with a single winner in each...
Artificial Reef Creation off Shinnecock Inlet
On May 31st, 2018, SoMAS faculty Chris Gobler, Joe Warren, Brad Peterson, Mike Frisk and Interim Dean Larry Swanson joined New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the first phase of the "largest artificial reef expansion in New York state history." The Shinnecock reef uses...
SoMAS Convocation 2018
Congratulations to our graduates! The annual SoMAS Convocation occurred on Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Student Activities Center auditorium. Students gathered with their friends and family and SoMAS faculty and staff to celebrate the completion of their journey at...
SoMAS Shines at Earthstock
SoMAS had great, enthusiastic participation at Earthstock this year. Thank you to everyone at SoMAS who helped with the event in some way: Interim Dean Larry Swanson kicked the week off with his lecture, “Dredging Stony Brook Harbor,” at the Three Village Historical...
SoMAS Helps Earthstock 2018 Combine Traditions and Innovations
Photo above: Mark Lang cavorts with the dancing sand shrimp. From Earthstock 2018 to Combine Traditions and Innovations by Glenn Jochum on SBU Happenings, April 11, 2018 Earthstock, Stony Brook’s annual celebration of Earth Day, kicks off Monday, April 16, featuring...
SoMAS Professor Analyzes Storm Damage on North Shore
Photo above by R. Lawrence Swanson: An eroding bluff at Long Beach has been stabilized by constructing a stone seawall at the bluff’s base. The bluff has been terraced to capture material that rolls down from the top and can be planted with vegetation that will help...
SoMAS Faculty Testify Against Off Shore Drilling
Photo above: Interim Dean Larry Swanson speaks about how oil from drilling offshore Long Island would reach our shores based on his research on prevailing winds and the movement of plastics debris in the Atlantic. Photo by Assemblyman Steve Englebright. Content...