Insights and Innovations is a column featuring brief essays, Q&As, op-eds, and expert commentary on energy and environmental topics. Contributors include faculty, graduate students, and researchers from across Penn State.
How youth culture is reimagining climate action
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Young people are using culture, creativity, and digital media to reimagine climate action. See how their everyday choices are shaping a sustainable future.
Why drone-planted forests can struggle to take root—and a nature-inspired solution
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As deforestation accelerates, reforestation efforts face a major hurdle: most scattered seeds don’t survive. New bio-inspired research is developing natural seed coatings to help seeds withstand tough conditions and improve their chances of taking root.
How Penn State is addressing climate change—together
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Faculty leaders Erica Smithwick, Jacqueline O’Connor, and Janet Swim share what the Climate Solutions Symposium means to them—and why showing up matters. From wildfires and emissions to policy and public trust, their reflections reveal how Penn State is turning interdisciplinary research into collaborative climate action.
Why AI uses so much energy—and what we can do about it
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From powering massive data centers to generating e-waste, AI’s environmental footprint is growing fast. In this Q&A, a computer scientist explains how smarter design, better infrastructure, and interdisciplinary research can help reduce AI’s impact while advancing innovation.
IEE then and now
As we celebrate the start of our 63rd year this month, we’re taking a look back, literally, at the Institute of Energy and the Environment—its history, its evolution, and how its work has changed over time. From early research efforts to today’s interdisciplinary approach to energy and environmental challenges, the institute continues to adapt and grow.
The Colorado River crisis: Water shortages, climate change, and sustainable management
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The Colorado River faces challenges from overallocation, climate change, and rising demand, but ongoing conservation efforts, innovative management strategies, and collaboration are helping to ensure its sustainability for the millions who depend on it.
How electricity markets shape grid reliability: Which model works best?
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The 2021 Texas power crisis exposed critical weaknesses in electricity market structures, as millions faced outages due to extreme weather. Through laboratory experiments, researchers compare three market designs to determine which best incentivizes investment and ensures a reliable power supply in the face of growing climate challenges.
Microplastics: Sources, health risks, and how to protect yourself
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Plastic is everywhere, and it is essential to modern life. Yet it comes with a hidden cost: microplastics, tiny pollutants that have become a growing concern for both the environment and human health.
California’s wildfire crisis: Expert insights on causes, spread, and solutions
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California’s wildfire crisis highlights the impact of climate change, powerful winds, and human activity on fire behavior. Expert insights reveal the factors driving these disasters and the innovative technologies being used to mitigate their effects.
How the Los Angeles wildfires expose climate risks and solutions
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The devastating Los Angeles wildfires reveal the growing risks of climate change and the urgent need for solutions. Explore how these fires are out of sync with nature's cycles, why extreme weather is intensifying, and the steps we can take to protect communities and build a resilient future.