SBU’s Collaborative for the Earth Debuts National Broadcast Special on Nuclear Energy

The State University of New York at Stony Brook's Collaborative for the Earthis bringing its thoughtful climate conversations to audiences across the country through a new national broadcast special distributed by American Public Media (APM).

The production examines nuclear energy's contentious role in addressing climate change and America's surging energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and data centers. Host Heather Lynch, director of the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E), explores the history of nuclear power in the United States, current safety and waste concerns, and the geopolitical implications of falling behind global competitors like China in nuclear technology development.

"The Collaborative for the Earth exists to foster dialogue on the environmental challenges that matter most," said Lynch, who also serves as endowed chair for ecology and evolution in the Institute for Advanced Computational Science. "Sharing our work with APM brings these conversations to a national audience, extending our mission beyond the lecture hall and into car radios and smart devices across America."

The special draws from the C4E's Second Annual Stony Brook Global Environmental Forum on nuclear energy, held in partnership with The New York Climate Exchangeon Governors Island in April 2025. That forum brought together more than 100 participants from Stony Brook, Georgia Institute of Technology, New York University and members of the public for a robust examination of nuclear energy as both promise and risk in the climate conversation.

The broadcast special captures the kind of nuanced, cross-disciplinary dialogue that has become the C4E's hallmark. Rather than presenting simple answers to complex questions, the program explores fundamental tensions: Do we need nuclear energy to meet climate goals? Can it be deployed safely and quickly enough to matter? What happens to communities that bear the risks when projects fail?

"We want to foster conversation and debate the tough questions surrounding climate solutions," Lynch explained. "We're really digging deep to tackle the issues that unite us, but even more importantly, the ones that divide us."

The special features insights from Stony Brook faculty including Lance Snead, Dean's Chair for Research at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nicholas Fisher, distinguished professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, as well as dozens of experts from Stanford University, Georgia Tech, University of British Columbia, University of South Carolina, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Moody's Global Project & Infrastructure Finance Group to analyze federal nuclear policy over the last 80 years.

The production brought together a team spanning multiple departments and areas of expertise.

J.D. Allen, lecturer in the Department of Journalism and climate communication specialist in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Stony Brook, reported and produced the special. Terry Sheridan, instructor in the Department of Journalism and senior director of news and education at WSHU Public Radio, provided editing alongside Lori Kie, communications manager in Stony Brook's Office of the Provost. Melanie Formosa, a 2023 journalism graduate who serves as communications and strategy officer at the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, mixed the stories. Graduate journalism student Jordan Vallone contributed fact checking and research, while the university's visual storyteller Dennis Murray created the sound design.

Allen's previous award-winning climate reporting has earned national recognition, including a Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communication from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine for the first season of the Higher Ground podcast in 2021. That work, produced during his time as managing editor at WSHU, reached APM participating stations nationwide with help from Stony Brook's journalism program to find how coastal communities grapple with adaptation strategies.

"Journalists have such an important role to play in helping individuals and communities to engage with challenges facing them and find possible solutions," Allen said. "Serious issues like climate change are going to take people with diverse perspectives, creative ideas and wide-ranging expertise to solve, and journalists can bring those people together and help them understand each other."

The special will be available to NPR member stations this month, with digital distribution details to be announced. The podcast C4E Presents, offering in-depth conversations about climate change research and solutions, is available wherever you stream audio.