Chatbots overemphasize sociodemographic stereotypes, researchers report
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Artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, which can be trained to reflect certain demographic attributes such as race or ethnicity, rely on superficial stereotypes that diminish the authentic experiences of the humans they're meant to represent, according to researchers in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Allison Beese named senior associate director of National Security Institute
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Allison Beese, professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering at Penn State, will assume the role of senior associate director of Penn State’s new National Security Institute on May 15.
Karen Thole named inaugural director of Penn State National Security Institute
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Karen Thole, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering at the University of Michigan, will assume the role of inaugural director of Penn State's new National Security Institute on May 15.
Harrisburg faculty awarded seed grants for international research collaboration
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Penn State Harrisburg’s Office of Global Engagement has awarded seed grants to faculty members to establish interdisciplinary research projects with partner institutions around the globe.
Ag sciences professor elected fellow in American Academy of Microbiology
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Andrew Patterson, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology.
Q&A: How can microbiome science solve problems in agriculture?
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Microbiome — referring to the community of microorganisms inhabiting a specific organism — science may help solve problems facing agriculture, but prior research findings have not yet been translated to practical recommendations for growers, according to a team of scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences that has offered some ways to accelerate the transition.
Foodborne illness wastewater monitoring continues with new FDA funding
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Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Health researchers will continue monitoring household sewage at dozens of municipal plants around the commonwealth for foodborne illness pathogens, with new funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The grant, anticipated to amount to more than $500,000 over five years, will complement related work funded by the FDA since 2016.
Students can ‘Green the Feed’ for sustainability storytelling competition
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“Green the Feed,” a University-wide social media competition sponsored by the Bellisario College’s Sustainability Council, is open to all current Penn State undergraduate or graduate students at every campus. Individual students or teams of up to four are allowed, and entries must include three to five social media posts with images, carousels or short-form video.
The 'Spirit of Chocolate' celebrates chocolate as both science and story
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On Valentine’s Day, the Palmer Museum of Art became a tasting room and a classroom all at once. “The Art of Chocolate: A Guided Tasting Experience,” presented by the Arboretum at Penn State in partnership with Penn State’s Cacao and Chocolate Research Network, paired research with sensory discovery and chocolate with cheese.
Commonwealth Campus investments strengthen faculty, student research excellence
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During fiscal year 2026, Penn State’s Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses has invested more than $460,000 in faculty and student research across the Commonwealth Campuses.
Penn State Water Conference announces last call for abstracts, registration
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The 2026 Penn State Water Conference has announced a last call for abstracts and registration for the two-day interdisciplinary event on March 26-27.
Some pesticides can slip under natural protection into streams, researchers find
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Penn State researchers and their colleagues found that vegetative buffers, like shrubs or grasses, likely reduces the amount of specific pesticides from reaching a stream. However, the buffers are not protective against all pesticides entering waterways.