Engineering design professor named engineering education fellow
| psu.edu
Sarah Zappe, assistant dean for teaching and learning and director of the Leonhard Center in the Penn State College of Engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education, one of the organization’s highest honors. The recognition acknowledges her significant contributions to engineering education through leadership, scholarship and service to the profession.
Electrical engineering entrepreneurs present posters at departmental competition
| psu.edu
Student and faculty researchers in Penn State’s Department of Electrical Engineering presented their work at the 2026 Electrical Engineering Student Research Poster Competition, which took place on April 6 in the Electrical Engineering West Building. Among the presenters were awardee teams from the department’s new EEntrepreneurship programs, who showcased their progress toward commercializing their research.
GAP funding awarded to 12 Penn State research commercialization projects
| psu.edu
Twelve research projects have been selected for the 2026 Penn State Commercialization GAP Fund. Awarded projects receive $75,000 in funding and other support to develop promising proof-of-concept research into commercial ready technology.
Research grant to support exploring sustainable architectural practices in Andes
| psu.edu
José Ibarra, assistant professor of architecture in the Stuckeman School at Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, has received funding from the prestigious Graham Foundation to conduct fieldwork across the Andes mountains in South America.
Penn State Extension agricultural guide receives national award for excellence
| psu.edu
Penn State Extension recently was lauded by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals for a publication on conservation funding for farmers and conservation professionals.
AI and the Economy Initiative builds momentum with second workshop
| psu.edu
Penn State’s AI and the Economy Initiative hosted nearly 350 researchers from academia and the public sector to examine the economic and societal impacts of artificial intelligence.
Penn State Berks students conduct impactful research across diverse fields
| psu.edu
At Penn State Berks, students are conducting research that makes an impact, from emotional regulation in children to microbial life in the Blue Marsh Watershed. This past year, more than 100 Penn State Berks students conducted undergraduate research beyond the classroom, mentored by more than one quarter of the college’s faculty.
How Pennsylvania towns are protecting themselves from the noise, heat and utility costs of massive data centers
| by Mike Helbing
Pennsylvania has become a hot spot for data center proposals and public backlash about where to build them.
Recreation, park and tourism management faculty receives award for research
| psu.edu
Andrew Mowen, professor of recreation, park, and tourism management, received the Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation for his work shaping the future of parks and recreation through influential research, statewide impact and mentorship of professionals.
Huck names Leadership Fellows for 2026-27
| psu.edu
The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has selected three faculty members to serve as Huck Leadership Fellows for the 2026-27 academic year. The competitive program prepares faculty for future leadership roles while engaging them in strategic initiatives that advance interdisciplinary research at Penn State.
Pinto Duarte named interim head of Department of Architecture
| psu.edu
José Pinto Duarte, Stuckeman Chair in Design Innovation and director of the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing at Penn State, has been appointed interim head of the Department of Architecture in the Stuckeman School, College of Arts and Architecture, effective July 1.
Scientists have detected something deeply alarming at the bottom of the ocean
| futurism.com
Climate researchers are increasingly worried about weakening ocean currents in the North Atlantic, though split on what's causing them.