Past Events: Penn State Energy and Environment Calendar Archive

The layer by layer processing of AM has opened the door to novel designs and development of new materials that can help meet future engineering challenges.  The Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) is a multidisciplinary, intercollegiate research lab dedicated to cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies (AM) and houses advanced equipment to support AM research of metal, polymer, and ceramic materials.  This presentation will provide an overview of CIMP-3D’s facilities and capabilities, its operational structure and collabor

Fungal-based materials, also known as fungal biomaterials or mycelium materials have been identified by many national initiatives and research programs as an area of high growth potential. Manufacturing of fungal biomaterials has the potential to revolutionize traditional manufacturing in the United States. Here, I will discuss how fungal evolutionary diversity impacts the properties and behavior of resulting materials spanning from food to biomedical scaffolds.

UIDP Penn State 2024 will examine what it takes to drive multi-stakeholder R&D that addresses global challenges. The University-Industry Demonstration Partnership's (UIDP) fall conference brings together thought leaders and on-the-ground practitioners with the savvy to drive new partnerships. You’ll meet partnership connections, explore new approaches to shared challenges, and tackle contemporary issues in cross-sector research partnership.

A webinar series highlighting opportunities and challenges of transdisciplinary approaches within agricultural research. Presented by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the National Agricultural Library, the seminar series will examine strategies for implementing transdisciplinary approaches, team-building and overcoming challenges to encourage the adoption of and training in transdisciplinary systems.

UIDP Penn State 2024 will examine what it takes to drive multi-stakeholder R&D that addresses global challenges. The University-Industry Demonstration Partnership's (UIDP) fall conference brings together thought leaders and on-the-ground practitioners with the savvy to drive new partnerships. You’ll meet partnership connections, explore new approaches to shared challenges, and tackle contemporary issues in cross-sector research partnership.

Coffee Hour is a weekly lecture hosted by the Department of Geography celebrating interdisciplinary scholarship and collegiality. Topics range from innovations in GIScience, to food security, to land use and justice issues, among others. All members of the Geography, Penn State, and surrounding community are invited to attend. Speaker: Karl Zimmerer Professor of Geography, Ecology, and Rural Sociology at Penn State   Lecture Title: "Thresholds of Research in Environment-Society Geography: A Personal Retrospective and Prospectus." 

On the road with Woolly: ​Stable isotope approaches to large herbivore mobility in the North American Mid-Continent, presented by Chris Widga, EMS Museum and Dept. of Geosciences

This presentation will highlight innovative research in Smart Mobility, showcasing both methodological advancements and practical applications. We will begin with an overview of the research facilities and expertise in the field of smart mobility at Penn State. The discussion will then focus on key research initiatives, including advancements in Cooperative Driving Automation for safety and system efficiency, infrastructure support for Automated Vehicle deployment, and the development of sustainable transportation electrification and efficient charging infrastructure.

Recently, there has been a growing demand for graduate students of all disciplines to communicate well with diverse audiences about what they do and why they do it. In two consecutive sessions devoted to the composition and delivery of a short research or scholarship presentation, we will explore how structured and dynamic communication can set a speaker on a path for success. In the first session, participants will have an opportunity to draft content that summarizes their project in effective ways that will reach a non-specialized audience.

The nuclear fission energy sector predominantly relies on innovations from the 1960s to 1980s, largely due to the high costs associated with modern nuclear demonstration activities. Conversely, the fusion energy sector invests heavily in exploring new, riskier frontiers with the aim of achieving commercialization.

A collaboration between the Borough of State College and Community Conferencing for community-building dialogue.  Event Structure 60 minute panel discussion with local experts 10 Min intermission 50 minute group discussion (audience & panelists) focused on community understanding and action. Moderator Grant Rowe-- Sustainability Program Coordinator, Penn State Sustainability Panelists

Humans have profoundly transformed the Earth's surface, driving significant changes in local and global climates. The widespread combustion of fossil fuels has altered the planetary energy balance, leading to global warming and climate change. Additionally, our growing population's demand for food and space has resulted in deforestation, desertification, and urban sprawl, leaving few areas untouched by human influence. These land-use changes have profound impacts on climate dynamics, often rivaling the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

To achieve decarbonization goals, electric utilities are being asked to make large capital investments in generation and transmission infrastructure during a time of heightened policy uncertainty. A growing body of empirical research finds economic and environmental policy uncertainty deters investment. In these studies, policy uncertainty is measured as the number of newspaper articles that reference chosen uncertainty-related keywords.

Department of Geosciences Colloquium Series Fall 2024 Lily Thompson Sewanee | The University of the South Host: Miquela Ingalls

Shape memory polymers have many potential applications which includes biomedical devices, smart textiles, and soft robotics. These polymers store elastic energy by freezing stretched polymer chains in an extended state, which is analogous to a spring. I will discuss how the work that can be done by these systems is a combination of elastically stored energy (i.e., a spring) and energy stored through a phase change (i.e., transitioning between crystalline and amorphous solid states) while highlighting opportunities for new interdisciplinary applications.

The Penn State Plant Institute serves to develop and support a wide diversity of students, staff and faculty involved in many different areas related to plant science and applications.

Discover how groundwater impacts every Pennsylvanian's drinking water, whether it comes from a public supply or a private well. Half of us rely directly on groundwater, which can naturally contain iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. These elements may cause metallic flavors, staining, and odors, and can even lead to slime-forming bacteria in wells. Join our webinar to learn about these common issues and effective solutions for maintaining water quality.

Water Academy 2024: Empowering Interdisciplinary Water Scholars with Transferable Skills

If you have a private water system, it is your responsibility to test it regularly to ensure it meets drinking water standards. Learn about the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab drinking water testing program, including available test packages, how to collect a water sample, and assistance with interpreting the results. The free one-hour webinar will outline the water testing services provided by the Penn State Ag Analytical Lab. Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.

Calling all attorneys and energy professionals! Get ready for the fourth annual Penn State Solar Law Symposium, held virtually. Co-sponsored by Penn State Extension, Penn State’s Center for Energy Law and Policy, and the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, this event is tailored for those with beginning and intermediate levels of solar law knowledge. Join us for an insightful exploration of gridscale solar development, advancements in merchant-generator photovoltaic electricity production, and groundbreaking Penn State research on the rural impact of solar development.