New MatSE Safety Fund to support safety training for students, labs
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In the vast and varied research that comes out of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) at Penn State, there’s one thing that’s even more important than discovery: lab safety. Making the department a leader in laboratory safety has been a focus since the mid-2000s with the creation of the MatSE Safety Awareness Organization. Since then, the group has been working with faculty, staff, students and industry partners to keep labs safe while ensuring students enter the workforce with stellar safety practices.
Penn State joins national initiative to support public impact research
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Seeking to increase the societal impact of university research, Penn State has joined a multi-year collaborative effort led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to identify and promote new approaches to support faculty and researchers undertaking public impact research.
‘Pennsylvania AgForum’ to address farm stress in agricultural community
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Anyone interested in supporting farmers, addressing farm stress and improving the well-being of the farm community is invited to attend a Penn State Extension workshop titled “Pennsylvania AgForum: Taking Action Together for Our Agricultural Community.” The event will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19, 2025, at Toftrees Hotel and Golf Resort, 1 Country Club Lane, State College.
Penn State launches search for next executive vice president and provost
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As the University’s chief academic officer, reporting directly to President Neeli Bendapudi, the provost works with deans, chancellors, faculty, and staff across the University and helps set and lead academic priorities, uphold research and teaching excellence, support access and affordability, and advance the land-grant mission.
Climate Consortium workshop leads to speak at Millennium Café this fall
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This fall, the Millennium Café will feature researchers who were awarded Climate Solutions Accelerator workshops by the Penn State Climate Consortium. The talks will occur at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, Oct. 22 and Dec. 3 on the third floor of the Millennium Science Complex.
Expert in promoting well-being of diverse communities to speak at Penn State
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Phillip W. Graham, a leading expert in conducting community-level research to help prevent adolescent interpersonal violence and substance misuse, will offer free lectures Oct. 2-3 to the Penn State community. Graham was recently honored by the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center with the 2024 Bennett Lectureship in Prevention Science.
Revealing microplastics with the Environmental Contaminants Analytical Laboratory
After the mass production of plastics began in the 1950s, plastic waste started to enter the environment. In time, this waste broke down into microplastics. For decades, these often-microscopic fragments of plastic have flowed into and through the water and soil.
Radiocarbon Lab assists floodplain reconstruction
Floodplains have been significantly altered since European settlers introduced mill dams and timbering, which increased erosion and led to rapid sediment accumulation. This transformation dramatically changed the natural landscape. Floodplain restoration regains the ecological benefits of the pre-industrialization landscape and is an effective method to improve water quality, prevent erosion, and boost biodiversity.
Penn State Sustainability to host lecture with artist-activist Diane Burko
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Diane Burko, a Pennsylvania research-based climate artist-activist, will give a lecture at the Palmer Museum of Art on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., as part of Penn State Sustainability’s “Sustainability Showcase Series.”
SustainPSU and Pa. GreenGov Council host annual Commonwealth Sustainability Week
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Building on their ongoing partnership, from Oct. 7 through 11, Penn State Sustainability and the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council will present the annual free online Commonwealth Sustainability Week aimed at empowering governments, organizations and individuals to advance Pennsylvania’s climate goals and to build more resilient communities.
Stuckeman School to host virtual architecture lecture, research open house
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The Stuckeman School is hosting a virtual lecture titled “The 99%” by Victor Meesters of Rotor and Margo Sulnier of Rotor Deconstruction that will be live-streamed at noon on Oct. 2 in the Stuckeman Family Building Jury Space followed by the school’s Research Open House from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Lack of food — not money — drives poaching in East African national parks
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Recreation, park and tourism management researchers at Penn State conducted a survey of 267 households near Mkomazi National Park in northern Tanzania and found that food security was much more important than financial or educational security in motivating people to engaging in poaching or illegal grazing in the park.