Penn State Energy and Environment News

Teaching excellence recognized in College of Agricultural Sciences

| psu.edu

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.

'Growing Impact' examines PFAS water contamination, evaluation of existing tech

| psu.edu

The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast examines the challenges and potential negative health outcomes of PFAS in drinking water, highlighting efforts to evaluate decontamination technologies for safer community water sources.

Preisendanz to direct Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences institute

| psu.edu

Heather Preisendanz, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named director of the Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science.

Student Engagement Network Grants can fund a wide range of student projects

| psu.edu

Undergraduate students from all campuses and majors can now apply for a Student Engagement Network Grant to support a variety of engagement experiences during Maymester and summer 2024. Engagement experiences can take many forms and grants of $1,000 to $2,000 can help students cover many kinds of costs.   

Growing Impact: Low-cost PFAS filtration

| Featuring Stephanie Butler Velegol, Enrique Gomez, Faith Kibuye, Heather Preisendanz, Juliana Vasco-Correa

For decades, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been a staple in products from detergents to cosmetics, making items more durable and resistant to water and stains. However, these "forever chemicals" persist in the environment and are now ubiquitous, even in our drinking water. Emerging evidence links PFAS exposure to significant health risks, prompting a team of researchers to evaluate affordable filtration technology, especially in communities reliant on well water. 

New demands to measure emissions raise cautious hopes in Pennsylvania among environmental sleuths who monitor fracking sites

| msn.com

For the first time, Pennsylvania fracking companies are facing real-time scrutiny from federal and state regulators over emissions of methane and other harmful air pollutants at drilling sites and storage facilities for toxic wastewater left over from oil and gas extractions. This article quotes Dave Yoxtheimer, Senior Research Assistant, Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, and Kenneth Davis, a professor of climate and atmospheric science.

Equity and inclusion, peer review grants available from Schreyer Institute

| psu.edu

The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence invites proposals for the Advancing Equity and Inclusion Grant program and grants for units to support updates to their peer review guidelines.

Penn State College of Ag Sciences seeks partners for statewide tech initiative

| psu.edu

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences invites collaborators from within and beyond the University to join it as it embarks on a new initiative focused on leveraging emerging and advanced technologies to support sustainable and resilient agricultural systems and the broader living systems that support them.

Top student teams move to next phase of Nittany AI Challenge

| psu.edu

Eleven Penn State student teams using artificial intelligence (AI) for good to solve real-world problems in the areas of health, environment, education and humanitarianism are in the final phase of 2024 Nittany AI Challenge.

Penn State announces new public-impact research funding opportunities for campuses

| psu.edu

Penn State’s faculty, staff and students have always conducted research that serves the greater good. Now, by launching two new funding opportunities, the University aims to provide even more support to researchers and students at its Commonwealth Campuses who are conducting impactful work that benefits communities and improves the well-being of local residents. Applications are now being accepted and are due by April 12.

Nominations open for the 2024 University-wide Sustainability Awards

| psu.edu

Nominations are being accepted through March 22 for the 2024 Sustainability Awards. All members of the University community and the public are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates.