Penn State Energy and Environment News

Cervone named interim director for the Institute for Computational Data Sciences

| psu.edu

Guido Cervone, a renowned expert in computational science and geoinformatics, will become the interim director of the Institute for Computational Data Sciences, effective April 1. He will take over from Jenni Evans, professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, who will retire in June 2024 after a distinguished career at Penn State.

Carolina azolla plant could help reduce global food insecurity

| earth.com

Researchers from Penn State have shed light on a remarkable yet underappreciated plant to fight food insecurity: Carolina azolla.

2024 Undergraduate Exhibition applications open

| psu.edu

Penn State undergraduates from all campuses are invited to participate in the 2024 Undergraduate Exhibition for Research, Inquiry, and Creative Activity. The virtual exhibition will be open April 15-17, with an in-person component at the University Park campus on Wednesday, April 17. 

Penn State approves $115M laboratory renovation

| wtaj.com

The Penn State University Board of Trustees approved the renovation of Osmond Laboratory at its meeting on Friday, Feb. 16.

Bioethics Program Director Jonathan Marks named a Hastings Center fellow

| psu.edu

Penn State Bioethics Program Director Jonathan H. Marks has been named a fellow by the Hastings Center. He is among 13 new fellows recognized this year for their work advancing scholarship and public knowledge of complex ethical issues in health, health care, life sciences research and the environment.

University Libraries offers spring undergraduate research workshops

| psu.edu

On March 20 and April 3, Penn State University Libraries will present free virtual seminars designed to help undergraduate students conduct and present research. Advance registration is required and all workshops are offered via Zoom.

Q&A with Jessica Menold, a ‘new voice’ for scientific collaboration

| psu.edu

Jessica Menold, Penn State associate professor of engineering design and of mechanical engineering, was named a member of the 2024-26 New Voices cohort of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Common plant could help reduce food insecurity, researchers find

| psu.edu

An often-overlooked water plant that can double its biomass in two days, capture nitrogen from the air — making it a valuable green fertilizer — and be fed to poultry and livestock could serve as life-saving food for humans in the event of a catastrophe or disaster, a new study led by Penn State researchers suggests.

Committee advances plan to rename Chemistry Building as 'Benkovic Building'

| psu.edu

The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (Feb. 15) advanced a proposal to rename the Chemistry Building at the University Park campus in honor of the careerlong scholarly impact of Stephen Benkovic, Atherton Professor of Chemistry. 

Penn State Extension to host webinars on the impact of war on forests in Ukraine

| psu.edu

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is affecting human lives and the environment. Penn State Extension will explore these impacts during its webinar series, “The War in Ukraine: Impacts on the People, Forests, and Environment,” scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. Fridays, beginning March 1 and continuing through May 3.

Penn State chemist Eric Nacsa receives 2024 NSF CAREER Award

| psu.edu

Eric Nacsa, assistant professor of chemistry, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Applications open for pilot Provost Endorsement Program Providers for 2024-25

| psu.edu

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Office of Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs have announced open applications for the Provost Endorsement Program for the 2024-25 academic year. This initiative, part of the University's ongoing efforts to support faculty professional development, invites faculty and academic leaders to apply for the opportunity to lead a program in the coming academic year.