Stephanie Butler Velegol wins teaching award from American Institute of Chemical Engineers
| news.engr.psu.edu
Stephanie Butler Velegol, associate department head and teaching professor of chemical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, received the Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Teaching Practice from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) at the institute’s annual meeting on Oct. 28 in San Diego.
Jack Kaye, NASA associate director, research, to give meteorology colloquium talk
| psu.edu
Jack Kaye, associate director for research at NASA, is the speaker for the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science’s colloquium scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. He will give the talk “Integration of Vantage Points, Programs, and Approaches for Space-Based Earth Remote Sensing.”
Plastic pollution is in clouds and could sabotage weather forecasts
| yahoo.com
Microplastics are in the Earth’s atmosphere and could be disrupting weather patterns and climate, according to Penn State University (PSU) scientists. In research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology: Air, the team showed how microplastics can "act as ice nucleating particles" or microscopic aerosols that facilitate the formation of ice crystals in clouds. This article quotes Miriam Freedman, professor of chemistry.
EarthTalks: Chief sustainability officer to discuss decarbonizing the University
| psu.edu
Lara Fowler, chief sustainability officer at Penn State, director of Penn State Sustainability, and teaching professor of law, will give the talk, “Decarbonizing Penn State: How Does Law, Policy, and Financing Fit In?” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus, as well as via Zoom.
Talk to explore flood management, infrastructure funding in New Zealand
| psu.edu
Patrick Walsh, an economist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will give the talk, “Distributional Impacts of Flood Adaptation and Infrastructure Funding in New Zealand,” at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in 157 Hosler Building on Penn State's University Park campus.
Microplastics may affect weather and climate by producing clouds, researchers find
| pbs.org
Clouds affect Earth’s weather and climate in many ways. New research suggests that the presence of microplastic particles may affect weather and climate by producing clouds in conditions where they would not form otherwise. This article was originally written for The Conversation by Miriam Freedman, professor of chemistry, and Heidi Busse, doctoral student in chemistry. It was also published by Wired and Yahoo.
Penn State’s chemical engineering program celebrates 100 years
| psucollegian.com
Penn State’s chemical engineering program started as an “offshoot” of Penn State’s Department of Chemistry, according to professor of chemical engineering Dr. Andrew Zydney’s work “Chemical Engineering at The Pennsylvania
Penn State Sustainable Labs Program kicks off third year with cohort of 21 labs
| psu.edu
Penn State's Sustainable Labs Program, now in its third year, is enhancing sustainability in research labs across the University. The program has expanded to multiple campuses with more than 70 labs and 600 researchers as part of current or past cohorts.
Construction Set to Begin on $89.9M Sackett Building Renovation, Additions at Penn State
| statecollege.com
Work on major renovations and additions to Penn State's historic Sackett Building is expected to begin this month, following approval by the Board of
Plan advances for additions, renovation to Sackett Building
| news.engr.psu.edu
The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance and Investment advanced a proposal today (Nov. 7) for renovations and additions to Sackett Building, which borders the southwest edge of Pattee Mall on the University Park campus.
Microplastics promote cloud formation, with likely effects on weather and climate
| theconversation.com
Clouds affect Earth’s weather and climate in many ways. New research suggests that the presence of microplastic particles could alter these processes. This article was written by Miriam Freedman, professor of chemistry and Heidi Busse, PhD student in chemistry.
Trustees support new Applied Research Laboratory facility at Innovation Park
| psu.edu
The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee advanced a proposal on Nov. 7 to construct a new Applied Research Laboratory Building on the University Park campus.