Penn State recognized for green power leadership
| psu.edu
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized Penn State in its latest Top 30 College & University List of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. Penn State ranks No. 14 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten in terms of total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used of green energy.
Rock Ethics Institute accepting nominations for 2022 Stand Up Awards
| psu.edu
The Rock Ethics Institute is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Stand Up Awards. The annual Stand Up Awards recognize Penn State undergraduate students for their demonstrating ethical leadership by "standing up" for a cause, idea or belief. Nominations must be submitted online no later than Feb. 4, 2022.
Marie Hardin shares perspective on running and growth in a new video series
| psu.edu
In a new video series titled “Perspective: Leaders at Penn State,” Marie Hardin, dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State, reflects on her love for running as an opportunity to find clarity and envision greater possibilities — particularly in the face of challenge and in times of being tested.
Energy, economics, investment expert earns GEMS alumni award
| psu.edu
Peter Rigby, a 1979 Penn State graduate in petroleum and natural gas engineering, was awarded the 2021 Graduates of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) Alumni Achievement Award and accepted the award in September at the college’s Obelisk Society dinner.
People prefer climate change policies that give incentives, energy alternatives
| psu.edu
Taking action against climate change requires coordinated efforts and the support and cooperation of the public, and three new studies offer clues about the types of policies Americans are more likely to support and why.
Drastically improved electric vehicle batteries possible with $2.9M grant
| psu.edu
In pursuit of commercially-adoptable electric vehicle batteries with twice the energy density and cycle life of current technology, Penn State researchers have been awarded $2.9 million from the United States Department of Energy.
New faculty fellowship to help advance diversity, equity, inclusion
| psu.edu
Laura Leites, associate research professor of quantitative forest ecology, has been named Penn State's inaugural Equity Leadership Fellow. The new fellowship in Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity aims to help faculty members develop as leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion while creating opportunities to make a positive impact at Penn State.
Key to resilient energy-efficient AI/machine learning may reside in human brain
| psu.edu
A clearer understanding of how a type of brain cell known as astrocytes function and can be emulated in the physics of hardware devices, may result in artificial intelligence and machine learning that autonomously self-repairs and consumes much less energy than the technologies currently do, according to a team of Penn State researchers.
‘It is a game changer’: Waging war on climate change from space
| politico.com
The explosion of Earth observation satellites may be the key to getting control of the crisis — if the data is shared and the capacity is built to utilize it.
Penn State research expenditures total $993 million
| psu.edu
Penn State's research expenditures reached a total of $993.1 million in fiscal year 2020-21, an overall 1.5% decrease from the previous year. “Despite this slight decrease, we were able to maintain a solid research portfolio during the pandemic," said Senior Vice President for Research Lora Weiss. “Our federal expenditures remained healthy and our industry partners continued investing in our research.”
Where is RGGI now? Pennsylvania could join the emissions-reduction program soon, but obstacles remain
| stateimpact.npr.org
Pennsylvania could join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced “reggie”) early next year, in a move that supporters say is the most important thing the state can do to immediately address climate change. Get to know the cap-and-trade program that’s created controversy in Pennsylvania.
Seed-grant recipients to put a human face on materials research
| psu.edu
The Materials Research Institute and the College of Engineering have announced the recipients of the Materials Matter at the Human Level seed grants. The grants were developed to continue the history of MRI and the College of Engineering partnering to fund materials projects that benefit humankind, including those aimed at improving the health and economic development of under-resourced populations.