Past Events: Penn State Energy and Environment Calendar Archive

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.

A faculty workshop on building knowledge and providing practical skills on how to better center equity and inclusion in the search process and career development with a focus on Penn State tenure-line faculty. The Initiative for Faculty Success and Equity Workshop will include a hybrid (in person and livestreamed) morning session open to all Penn State faculty as well as in-person workshops in the afternoon, which will require registration.

Discover energy options with the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) webinar. Discover how these compact power plants can deliver alternative energy solutions. Join us in exploring SMRs' potential in meeting global energy demands sustainably and efficiently.

2024 Women Advancing River Research Seminar Series All seminars will be presented online live at 11:00 a.m. ET on the third Thursday of each month. Seminar recordings will be posted later. Please register in advance for all talks. Salty Waters: Understanding De-icer Dynamics and Impacts from Source to Stream Lauren McPhillips, Penn State (U.S.) Claire Oswald, Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada)  Abstract:

This free, comprehensive, workshop is a cornerstone training event for emerging researchers to launch their microbiome studies and network at Penn State. The Microbiome Kickstart Workshop provides an introduction to microbiome research, experimental design and data analysis, featuring extensive experimental design background and hands-on computational training. Welcoming to all ranks of students, staff and faculty, the workshop equips participants with the awareness and skills to design a microbiome-focused experiment and perform basic microbiome data processing and analyses.

This free, comprehensive, workshop is a cornerstone training event for emerging researchers to launch their microbiome studies and network at Penn State. The Microbiome Kickstart Workshop provides an introduction to microbiome research, experimental design and data analysis, featuring extensive experimental design background and hands-on computational training. Welcoming to all ranks of students, staff and faculty, the workshop equips participants with the awareness and skills to design a microbiome-focused experiment and perform basic microbiome data processing and analyses.

This free, comprehensive, workshop is a cornerstone training event for emerging researchers to launch their microbiome studies and network at Penn State. The Microbiome Kickstart Workshop provides an introduction to microbiome research, experimental design and data analysis, featuring extensive experimental design background and hands-on computational training. Welcoming to all ranks of students, staff and faculty, the workshop equips participants with the awareness and skills to design a microbiome-focused experiment and perform basic microbiome data processing and analyses.