Penn State Energy and Environment News

Institute for Computational and Data Sciences is accepting seed grant proposals

| psu.edu

Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) is accepting proposals for its 2024 seed grant program. ICDS seed grants are designed to foster innovative data science and high performance computing-enabled research. Penn State faculty from any campus or college can submit applications now through March 29.

2024 Sustainability Expo to be held April 6 at Shaver's Creek

| psu.edu

The 2024 Sustainability Expo will be held Saturday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.

New structural insights could lead to mechanical enhancement in alloys

| psu.edu

A new class of metallic materials with potential applications in airplane turbines, nuclear reactors and equipment for space exploration can withstand extreme temperatures and resist fractures, but scientists haven’t understood why until now. According to a new study co-led by Penn State researchers, the answer could relate to the material’s short-range order, or the local arrangement of atoms within a material.

Penn State study shows themes for farmers negotiating solar leases

| stateimpact.npr.org

Profit alone isn’t enough for farmers to sign over control of their land.

Dual-energy harvesting device could power future wireless medical implants

| psu.edu

A new wireless charging device developed by Penn State scientists could dramatically improve powering capability for implantable biomedical devices — like pacemakers, insulin pumps and neurostimulators — while still being safe for our bodies, the researchers said.

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.

Carbon sequestration and mineralization

| by Anne Menefee

Addressing the incontrovertible risks of climate change requires deep decarbonization. In addition to green measures like upscaling renewables and improving energy efficiency, there is broad scientific consensus that large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) remains critical to limiting global temperature rise below 2°C.

Machine learning to monitor stored CO2 saves cost and time, researchers report

| psu.edu

Incorporating field data for the first time, Penn State researchers showed machine learning can be a powerful and cost-effective tool for monitoring sequestered carbon dioxide, overcoming a hurdle for the burgeoning technology aimed at combating climate change. The team published their new approach in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.

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.

Pa. environmental, religious and other groups criticize Shapiro plan for ignoring climate change

| stateimpact.npr.org

More than 100 advocacy groups say Shapiro’s “fossil fuels-first all-of-the-above energy strategy” does not move at the speed of climate change.

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.