Feb. 19 EarthTalks: Carbon emissions trading, incentives in building retrofits
| psu.edu
Wangda Zuo, Rahman Azari and Jiazhen Ling will give the talk, “The Economic Impacts of Carbon Emission Trading Scheme on Building Retrofits,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19 in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus.
How a legal loophole allows gas leaks to keep on flowing
| e360.yale.edu
A new federal rule will cut major methane emissions from natural gas production. But residents of Pennsylvania’s fracking region contend that the cumulative impact of smaller leaks, which go unreported, will continue unabated, compromising their air, water, and health. This article quotes Jennifer Baka, associate professor of geography and IEE faculty member.
Penn State ranked first for faculty Fulbright Scholars for second straight year
| psu.edu
Penn State has been ranked first in the nation in faculty Fulbright Scholar awards by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with 12 faculty members offered Fulbright awards for academic year 2023-24.
Plans underway for Penn State AI Week, April 1-5
| happyvalleyindustry.com
Penn State AI Week is set for April 1-5, 2024, with events and activities being planned at Penn State campuses and virtually. “We’re eager to get as much participation as possible for the first-ever Penn State AI Week so we’re planning relevant sessions that are accessible to students, staff, and faculty across all Penn State campuses, both in-person and virtually,” said Penn State AI Hub Director David Hunter.
Heard on campus: Nikki Crowley on 30 years of neuroscience advances
| psu.edu
Nikki Crowley recently spoke at the Ashtekar Frontiers of Science, an annual public lecture series held by the Eberly College of Science, on 30 years of advances in cell signaling and neuroscience.
Spring 2024 Stuckeman lecture series starts with environmental artist, architect
| psu.edu
A virtual lecture from artist and architect Yussef Agbo-Ola, founding principal of Olaniyi Studio, will kick off the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School’s spring 2024 Lecture + Exhibit Series at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.
Applications open for Graduate School's Accelerate to Industry Immersion Week
| psu.edu
Penn State graduate students interested in careers in industry and in gaining business, leadership and communication skills are invited to apply for the Graduate School’s Accelerate to Industry Immersion Week, taking place May 6-10 on the University Park campus.
Dairy cows fed botanicals-supplemented diets use energy more efficiently
| psu.edu
Supplementing the feed of high-producing dairy cows with the botanical extract capsicum oleoresin, obtained from chili peppers, or a combination of that extract and clove oil resulted in the animals using feed energy more efficiently and emitting less methane from their largest stomach, according to a new study conducted by Penn State researchers.
Stable profits, land preservation matter to farmers debating solar leases
| psu.edu
While a stable and predictable profit is an important factor to Pennsylvania farmers considering leasing out their land for solar energy development, it’s not enough on its own, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.
Too warm: Plants, insects, people likely to pay the price for warm winters
| triblive.com
The active milkweed bug Chris Kubiak found this week is not a good sign. The harmless-to-humans bug was out and about at Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve in Fox Chapel, where Kubiak is director of education. It, like most other insects native to the region, should be inactive, waiting out winter. This article quotes Michael Skvarla, entomology professor.
Drought may drive deadly amphibian disease, researchers find
| psu.edu
Unpredictable weather patterns resulting in severe droughts have compromised the microbiomes of some amphibians, negatively affecting beneficial microbiome arrangements and leaving the animals vulnerable to fungal disease.
How the skeletons of our prehistoric ancestors evolved to modern human frames
| discovermagazine.com
As humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farmers, so too did their bone structure. This article quotes IEE faculty member, Timothy Ryan, head and professor of anthropology.
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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