Two student teams awarded $25,000 for using artificial intelligence for good
| news.psu.edu
A panel of judges named InsectEye and AI-powered Recycling the winning teams in the 2021 Nittany AI Challenge. The teams will receive a combined total of $25,000 in funding to continue moving their solutions forward.
New tool predicts changes that may make COVID variants more infectious
| psu.edu
Researchers have created a novel framework that can predict with reasonable accuracy changes in the virus’ spike protein that may confer increased infectivity to the virus, which could enable the computational surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and provide advance warning of potentially dangerous variants.
Penn State Harrisburg to host research showcase, Oct. 7 and 8
| news.psu.edu
Penn State Harrisburg will host the inaugural two-day research showcase, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 7 and 8, highlighting research accomplishments of Penn State Harrisburg faculty, staff and students. Renowned oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle will serve as keynote speaker.
Engineering science and mechanics professor receives lifetime achievement award
| news.psu.edu
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, recently honored Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Evan Pugh University Professor and Charles Godfrey Binder Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, with the 2022 SPIE Smart Structures and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award.
U.S. soybean, corn yields could be increased through use of machine learning
| news.psu.edu
Research guided by a plant pathologist in the College of Agricultural Sciences suggests that machine-learning algorithms that are programmed to recognize changing weather patterns could show producers and agricultural managers how to increase soybean and corn yields in the United States.
Small but mighty: Microgreens go from trendy vegetables to functional food
| news.psu.edu
Starting decades ago as fashionable, high-value gourmet greens, today microgreens have gained popularity among consumers for their nutritional profile and high content of antioxidant compounds. Now, a new study suggests that the tiny plants have the potential to help provide global nutrition security.
Student Farm at Penn State hosts 6th annual Harvest Festival celebration
| news.psu.edu
The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State will once again be welcoming the campus and community to the farm for its 6th annual Harvest Festival. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7.
Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks
| psu.edu
As early as 18,000 years ago, humans in New Guinea may have collected cassowary eggs near maturity and then raised the birds to adulthood, according to an international team of scientists.
Mitigating carbon may have unintended consequences
| psu.edu
Controlling carbon release into the atmosphere will reduce carbon dioxide and slow global warming, but could there be unintended consequences for human health? Now, though a three-year, $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers will investigate potential positives and negatives of decarbonization.
Penn State to play key role in Mid-Atlantic NSF I-Corps Hub
| news.psu.edu
The National Science Foundation has awarded Penn State $1.5 million as one of eight universities selected to participate in the Mid-Atlantic NSF I-Corps Hub, led by the University of Maryland. This funding will enable Penn State to expand entrepreneurial training to academic researchers in science and engineering to foster and maintain U.S. global leadership in innovation.
Program to enhance inclusion and belonging for Penn State STEM professionals
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An innovative program to help increase inclusion among underrepresented groups within STEM professions recently received a grant from Penn State’s Office of Educational Equity. The program, known as the Research Professionals Network, or ResearchPros, seeks to bridge communications and strengthen connections between IT and research staff through a community of practice model.
Proposals sought for diversity and inclusion initiatives at Penn State
| news.psu.edu
The Equal Opportunity Planning Committee (EOPC) invites Penn State faculty and staff to submit proposals for EOPC funding to support the University’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts and advance the University’s strategic plan with investments in programs and ideas.