Soil filters out some emerging contaminants before reaching groundwater
| psu.edu
There is considerable uncertainty surrounding emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and groundwater, and a recent Penn State study of compounds from pharmaceuticals and personal care products didn't add much clarity. But it did provide insight into the transport of the chemicals, according to researchers in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Workshop provides practical science communications training for researchers
| psu.edu
In order to help faculty members and researchers improve their science communication skills, the Institutes of Energy and the Environment is offering training through COMPASS, an organization that was founded to help scientists share their knowledge in a way that effectively communicates their message to the general public but doesn’t compromise the accuracy of the science. The training takes place on Oct. 4–6 and is open to Penn State faculty and graduate students. There is no cost to attend.
Treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater may pollute area water sources for years
| psu.edu
Given Pennsylvania’s abundant natural resources, it’s no surprise that the Commonwealth has become a mecca for hydraulic fracturing. Researchers, however, have recently discovered that releasing millions of gallons of treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater each year into area surface waters may have longer-lasting effects than originally thought.
Recipients of 2017 Human Health and the Environment seed grants announced
| psu.edu
The Human Health and the Environment seed grants for 2017 have been awarded to a pool of interdisciplinary researchers at Penn State. These seed grants were funded by eight separate Penn State research entities and institutes, which collectively contributed more than $500,000. “We had an exceptional pool of proposals from faculty across the university,” Tom Richard, director of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, said. “The projects address emerging contaminants well as legacy environmental problems that seriously impact human health.”
NASA invites Brandywine professor to spread the word about new satellite
| psu.edu
When new scientific technology is released, it takes a team of scientists, teachers, writers and even social media users to get the word out to the public. This summer, Penn State Brandywine Professor of Earth Sciences Laura Guertin is helping NASA publicize the launch of JPSS-1, a new polar satellite.
Grant aimed at solving agricultural water issues through community engagement
| news.psu.edu
A group of institutions led by Penn State has received nearly $2.2 million for the first year of a planned four-year, $5 million project aimed at developing a model for engaging communities and stakeholders to ensure adequate supplies of good-quality water both for and from agriculture. Partners include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, Arizona State University and the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Where the rivers meet the sea
| psu.edu
Penn State researchers have created a new hybrid technology that produces unprecedented amounts of electrical power where seawater and freshwater combine at the coast.
Black History Month Scholar's program highlights faculty research
| psu.edu
Panelists will share their research in three panel discussions for the Black History Month PSU Scholar’s Program, highlighting scholarship by Penn State faculty members of African descent, Feb. 21 and 22 in Pattee Library's Foster Auditorium at University Park.
College of Engineering seed grants support multidisciplinary research efforts
| psu.edu
Penn State's College of Engineering recently awarded funding to four projects through its Multidisciplinary Research Seed Grants program.
Penn State Harrisburg Summer STEM program wows high school students
| psu.edu
Penn State Harrisburg's two-week Summer STEM Enrichment Program introduced high school students to the different scientific disciplines involved in STEM, helping to give them a better sense of what major they might pursue, what careers are available, and what learning at the university level would be like.
NSF award supports research on sustainable energy production
| psu.edu
Bruce Logan, Evan Pugh Professor and Kappe Professor of Environmental Engineering, and Christopher Gorski, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, received a National Science Foundation EAGER award to fund their research on technologies that generate and store electrical energy from waste heat using salinity gradients.
Once a frozen haven, climate-driven rising temperatures are rapidly thawing the Arctic permafrost, posing a major threat to communities and infrastructure. Researchers are investigating how these changes will transform rivers, with potential consequences for erosion, sediment transport, and the entire Arctic landscape. Additionally, their project incorporates art to communicate these critical findings in an engaging way. Listen to the podcast.
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