Penn State Energy and Environment News

Robert J. Kumpf to present 2024 Richard E. Tressler Lecture on March 14

| psu.edu

The 2024 Richard E. Tressler Lecture in Materials will be held at 3:05 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in 111 Wartik Laboratory on the Penn State University Park campus. Robert J. Kumpf, managing director at Deloitte, will deliver the lecture, “The long history and bright future of applied materials science.”

2024 Climate Solutions Symposium registration open

| psu.edu

Registration is open for the 2024 Climate Solutions Symposium, which is designed to bring people together to stimulate projects and partnerships where Penn State’s interdisciplinary research strengths can inform and transform climate solutions.

Eco-poet ties narratives of protecting insects to larger themes of resilience

| psu.edu

Penn State Sustainability is hosting eco-poet and author Heather Swan, March 20-23, to explore the importance of insects and the work of those trying to protect them, as well as how these efforts can model more productive narratives about our global future.  

Penn State physicist Zhen Bi receives 2024 NSF CAREER Award

| psu.edu

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

Penn State ranks first in Big Ten in sustainability performance

| onwardstate.com

The university jumped from a 2021 score of 74.49 to a 2024 score of 76.41, which is the highest rating among participating Big Ten universities.

Penn State rates highly in the STARS sustainability performance rating

| psu.edu

Penn State’s University Park campus recently received notice of its fifth Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, with an improved gold rating — from a score of 74.49 in 2021, to 76.41 in 2024. This latest rating places Penn State at the top of participating Big Ten institutions in sustainability performance.

Electrical engineering researcher Abhronil Sengupta awarded NSF CAREER

| psu.edu

Abhronil Sengupta, the Joseph R. and Janice M. Monkowski Career Development Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, earned a five-year, $500,000 U.S. NSF CAREER Award.

Teaching excellence recognized in College of Agricultural Sciences

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Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has recognized seven faculty members for outstanding teaching in 2023.

Club connects students from diverse perspectives to learn about One Health

| psu.edu

Penn State's One Health Club seeks to connect students from any major, college or perspective who are interested in learning about the intersection of animal health, public health and environmental health.

Q&A: Sensors that monitor neurological conditions in real time

| psu.edu

A team of researchers led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, the James L. Henderson, Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, created a highly-sensitive and cost-effective sensor to better monitor the concentration in sweat or urine of dopamine and tyrosine, a neurotransmitter and an amino acid that are present in the brain.

Researcher works to lower cost of hydrogen production

| psu.edu

Penn State doctoral candidate Arash Emdadi and his lab mates are working to improve the hydrogen production method to make it more cost effective and environmentally friendly. Emdadi recently took the concept through the Invent Penn State regional NSF I-Corps short course program, which helps researchers gain valuable insight into entrepreneurship and develop valuable skills in connecting with customers.

Edward Smith named distinguished professor of aerospace engineering

| news.engr.psu.edu

Edward Smith, professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering, has been named a distinguished professor by Penn State's Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.