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.
Will buying a new electric Ford F-150 Lightning help save the world from climate change?
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The Ford F-150 is the most popular vehicle in the U.S., so interest is high on the electric vehicle "Lightning" model. But are EVs really better for the environment than internal combustion engine vehicles?
How are we adapting? A nexus approach for addressing food-energy-water vulnerabilities in the face of climate change
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In 2021, the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the sixth assessment report, highlighting how climate change shapes our environmental futures with more frequent and intense extreme events such as drought, floods, and sea-level rise. These natural hazards impact the ability of society to access food, energy, and water resources and introduce risks to human survival and wellbeing.
A change in season, a change in water?
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For many households, a change in the season could mean a change in their water supply. What impacts household water supply for one family, however, might not affect another in the same way.
Redressing a flood of historic injustices
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Penn State’s recent entry into the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) design competition demonstrates how students may play a significant role in identifying ways to redress historic injustices and as importantly, not perpetuate past racist policies as communities adapt to changing sea levels.
Making the Invisible Visible: Groundwater and water insecurity in Pennsylvania
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NameAndrew Warner
March 22 is World Water Day, and this year’s theme—Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible—has Water Initiative Director Andrew Warner thinking of home… that is, Pennsylvania.
How a walk in the park could save the environment
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NameTimothy Mateer - Profile Photo
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The dual mandate of providing for both human health and ecological health becomes a fine line to walk for outdoor recreation managers in the United States. However, there could be a potential pathway to understanding how outdoor recreation may support both human and environmental well-being.
Nuclear waste's need for a new kind of cement
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NameTitus Reed - Profile Photo
Storing spent nuclear fuel rods has long been a challenge. But a new material that is being developed may help store nuclear waste more safely and for a longer time. It may also reduce carbon emissions by replacing an ingredient in concrete, a major greenhouse gas generator.
Indigenous knowledge is key to a sustainable future
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NameKristina Douglass
Traditional ecological knowledge held by Indigenous groups around the world is key to understanding resilience and cultural survival in the face of intensifying climate change. In fact, there are hundreds to thousands of years of knowledge that can be an important component of future climate research.
Hydrofluorocarbons saved the ozone layer but are warming the earth
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Switching to hydrofluorocarbons led to ozone recovery, but there are drawbacks to hydrofluorocarbons, specifically global warming. Some in the building industry have taken notice of this issue and switched to a different chemical to apply insulation.
Communicating climate solutions at the intersections of science and art
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Scientists are continually looking to expand how they communicate their science. Laura Guertin found that through art—specifically, quilting—she is able to share her science and engage in conversations around climate change.