Trio of female mechanical engineering professors to lead new research centers
| psu.edu
Three professors from the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering have been selected as the directors of newly announced research centers at the University, with all poised to make tangible impacts in research and grow the representation of women in STEM leadership.
Identifying the sources of salt pollution
| psu.edu
Nathaniel Warner, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, received a new National Science Foundation CAREER Award to research new methods of collecting water quality data.
How does flooding affect homeownership?
| news.psu.edu
Flooding is the costliest natural disaster, according to environmental economist Katherine Zipp. Over the last 20 years, flooding has caused $500 billion in global damages. In that same time period, flooding in the U.S. caused $60 billion in damages, $45 billion of which has occurred in the past five years. Zipp is part of a team that is studying how floodplain damages affect long-term housing development in high flood-risk areas.
Professor to lead Center for Gas Turbine Research, Education, and Outreach
| psu.edu
Jacqueline O’Connor, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, will lead the newly created Center for Gas Turbine Research, Education, and Outreach.
Computers scour satellite imagery to unveil Madagascar's mysteries
| psu.edu
Scientists may be a step closer to solving some of anthropology’s biggest mysteries thanks to a machine learning algorithm that can scour through remote sensing data, such as satellite imagery, looking for signs of human settlements.
Forest soils release more carbon dioxide than expected in rainy season
| psu.edu
Current carbon cycle models may underestimate the amount of carbon dioxide released from the soil during rainy seasons in temperate forests like those found in the northeast United States, according to Penn State researchers.
Shedding light on the rules that govern the U.S. power grid
| news.psu.edu
Seth Blumsack is a part of a multi-university team that is studying the decision-making process that governs how people in the U.S. receive electricity.
Citizen scientists may be an untapped resource for water quality improvement
| psu.edu
Raising awareness and offering technological tools to the thousands of citizens groups in the U.S. that monitor water quality might help community leaders tap these volunteers as a way to improve access to plentiful, clean water and possibly avoid water-related crises.
From the Ground Up: Energy resilience begins with our buildings
| psu.edu
To solve our energy challenges, say these Penn State research engineers, we need to start with buildings, communities, and generating electricity close to the people who will use it.
Penn State No. 1 US producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars for 2019-20
| psu.edu
Penn State has been recognized as the top U.S. producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars for 2019-20 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In addition, the University is listed as a top producer of student Fulbright recipients.
Sediment loading is key to predicting post-wildfire debris flows
| psu.edu
The mudslides that follow wildfires in Southern California can be deadly and difficult to predict. New research can help officials identify areas prone to these mudslides and respond before disaster occurs, according to scientists.
Herringbone pattern in plant cell walls critical to cell growth
| psu.edu
The alternating angle of the many layers that make up a plant's cell wall is critical for cell growth, according to a new study by Penn State researchers.
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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