Penn State Energy and Environment News

EarthTalks seminar discusses human heat stress, politics of climate change

| news.psu.edu

James Kasting, Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences at Penn State, will discuss the dangers of human heat stress and the politics of climate change at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will be broadcast via Zoom.

NASA Pa. Space Grant accepting graduate research fellowship applications

| news.psu.edu

The NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium is currently accepting applications to its graduate research fellowship program. The program offers funding to outstanding students in the STEM, education and humanities fields who are conducting research related to NASA’s science and outreach missions.

NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium accepting undergraduate applications

| news.psu.edu

The NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium is accepting applications for the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholarship Program. The statewide program awards a limited number of one-year scholarships to rising juniors and seniors who are enrolled full-time at an accredited Pennsylvania college or university. Online applications, including all supporting materials, are due by midnight on March 1.

Revamped webinar series to feature energy, environment topics, facilities

| news.psu.edu

The Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories (EESL) announced an expanded webinar series starting on, Feb. 3, which will discuss diverse energy and environmental topics and the ways Penn State can support analytical needs through EESL and other facilities.

The complex mystery of membranes

| psu.edu

A desalination membrane acts as a filter for salty water: Push the water through the membrane, get clean water suitable for agriculture, energy production and even drinking. The process seems simple enough, but it contains complex intricacies that have baffled scientists for decades — until now.

Penn State's industryXchange explores collaborations in artificial intelligence

| psu.edu

The Penn State College of Engineering hosted the fourth annual industryXchange on Dec. 7-8. The virtual event brought together members of industry, Penn State faculty and students, and government agencies to explore collaboration opportunities on this year’s focus, “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.”

Seed grant call to bolster University energy, environmental research

| news.psu.edu

The Institutes of Energy and the Environment announced its 2020–21 Seed Grant Program, which fosters basic and applied interdisciplinary energy and environmental research that leverages faculty expertise across the University.

Kernels of history

| news.ucsb.edu

Genetic testing of ancient maize reveals South American varieties played major role in development of the grain.

'No Time for Silence' team honored for work on anti-racism initiative

| news.psu.edu

Penn State professor Jose D. Fuentes has received an American Geophysical Union 2020 Presidential Citation as part of the team that launched the anti-racism initiative "No Time for Silence."

Researchers encouraged to apply for 2021-22 Seed Grant Program

| news.psu.edu

ICDS is accepting applications for its 2021-22 seed grant program aimed at funding projects that can leverage artificial intelligence — AI — to advance transformative research, as well as use the technology to enhance the process of scientific discovery itself.

Webinar to discuss new living materials seed-grant program

| news.psu.edu

The Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems will host an informational webinar in support of its inaugural Living Multifunctional Materials Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program. The webinar will be held 9–10:30 a.m. on Dec. 15.

Understanding agriculture’s impacts on 'the zone where rock meets life'

| news.psu.edu

Penn State researchers working at Cole Farm are studying the effects of agriculture on the critical zone, the porous boundary layer extending from bedrock to treetops where rock, water, soil, air and living organisms interact. Research at the farm is shedding light on critical zone processes, and how to manage boundary-layer resources in environmentally and economically sustainable ways.