2026-27 Huck Seed Grant Program opens call for proposals
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The Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences announced a call for 2026-27 Seed Grant Program funding proposals, due by May 1. Huck seed grants foster innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative life sciences research with the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and generate new research directions leading to impactful externally funded research.
Irrigation gaps in weather models could skew air quality forecasts, study finds
Outdoor air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year, according to the National Weather Service. Accurate air quality forecasts — designed to protect public health, alerting communities to dangerous levels of pollutants linked to asthma attacks, heart disease and premature death — are critical for helping people limit exposure and for guiding regulatory action.
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences staff recognized at annual luncheon
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Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences recognized exceptional staff at its annual Dean’s Staff Appreciation Luncheon held on Dec. 11, 2025, at the Nittany Lion Inn.
Registration open for 2026 Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2026 Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium, a three-day event focused on advancing evidence-based strategies to address climate change impacts worldwide, with dedicated attention to challenges and solutions in Pennsylvania. The symposium will be held May 18-20 at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.
Allison Beese named senior associate director of National Security Institute
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Allison Beese, professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering at Penn State, will assume the role of senior associate director of Penn State’s new National Security Institute on May 15.
Karen Thole named inaugural director of Penn State National Security Institute
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Karen Thole, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering at the University of Michigan, will assume the role of inaugural director of Penn State's new National Security Institute on May 15.
Harrisburg faculty awarded seed grants for international research collaboration
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Penn State Harrisburg’s Office of Global Engagement has awarded seed grants to faculty members to establish interdisciplinary research projects with partner institutions around the globe.
Ag sciences professor elected fellow in American Academy of Microbiology
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Andrew Patterson, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology.
Q&A: How can microbiome science solve problems in agriculture?
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Microbiome — referring to the community of microorganisms inhabiting a specific organism — science may help solve problems facing agriculture, but prior research findings have not yet been translated to practical recommendations for growers, according to a team of scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences that has offered some ways to accelerate the transition.
Foodborne illness wastewater monitoring continues with new FDA funding
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Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Health researchers will continue monitoring household sewage at dozens of municipal plants around the commonwealth for foodborne illness pathogens, with new funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The grant, anticipated to amount to more than $500,000 over five years, will complement related work funded by the FDA since 2016.
Students can ‘Green the Feed’ for sustainability storytelling competition
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“Green the Feed,” a University-wide social media competition sponsored by the Bellisario College’s Sustainability Council, is open to all current Penn State undergraduate or graduate students at every campus. Individual students or teams of up to four are allowed, and entries must include three to five social media posts with images, carousels or short-form video.
The 'Spirit of Chocolate' celebrates chocolate as both science and story
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On Valentine’s Day, the Palmer Museum of Art became a tasting room and a classroom all at once. “The Art of Chocolate: A Guided Tasting Experience,” presented by the Arboretum at Penn State in partnership with Penn State’s Cacao and Chocolate Research Network, paired research with sensory discovery and chocolate with cheese.