Penn State Energy and Environment News Feed

Best solar panels for your home in 2024

| cnet.com

The best solar panels have great efficiency, warranties and performance. Here's how the most popular residential solar panels stack up. This article quotes Daniel Ciolkosz, associate research professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

Penn State Berks faculty receive inter-institutional research seed grant

| psu.edu

With approximately 12% of the population in Berks and Schuylkill Counties living in poverty, food banks are a critical resource for those who face hunger issues. Penn State Berks faculty are collaborating with faculty at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local food banks. The team has recently received a seed grant from the Penn State Institute for Computational Data Sciences as part of the Inter-Institutional Program for Diversifying Research to explore this issue.

Penn State's new engineering buildings

| onwardstate.com

The Penn State engineers got some swanky new additions to their study spots and classrooms.

Faculty invited to join the Engaged Scholarship Community of Practice

| psu.edu

To help faculty navigate experiential learning partnerships, Penn State Sustainability's Sustainable Communities Collaborative and Living Labs have coordinated an Engaged Scholarship Community of Practice. Twice a semester, beginning Sept. 18, an online meeting will provide the opportunity for faculty to meet, learn from each other and experts in the field, and determine upcoming agendas. 

Undergraduates invited to research readiness workshop series

| psu.edu

Undergraduate students interested in research are invited to participate in a series of virtual sessions designed to help them get started, find opportunities and succeed in their research endeavors.  

Are lawsuits effective ways to protect the climate and environment?

| by Hannah Wiseman

Lawsuits are a method used by numerous groups to try to protect the climate and environment, from suing governments to accusing companies of misleading marketing. We spoke with Hannah Wiseman, an IEE faculty member and professor of law at Penn State Law, about these lawsuits and their impact on the environment and climate.

Penn State Sustainability to host photographer, author and alumnus Tim Palmer

| psu.edu

Penn State Sustainability is hosting award-winning photographer, author and Penn State alumnus Tim Palmer on Sept. 18. Palmer will lead a public talk and book sale/signing at noon at Foster Auditorium in Paterno Library and online to discuss his latest book, "Seek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution to Our Flooding Crisis."

Webinar to address blight remediation through intergovernmental partnership

| psu.edu

Municipal resource shortages and turnover of staff and elected officials can make it difficult to apply best practices for blight mitigation consistently. A Sept. 18 Penn State Extension land-use webinar will focus on how Westmoreland County, in collaboration with the Local Government Academy, is addressing blight and disinvestment through an intergovernmental partnership.

Stuckeman School to host architect and graphic design alum for lectures

| psu.edu

The Stuckeman School is hosting two guest lectures at 4 p.m. on Sept. 11: Dinora Martínez Schulte, co-founder and principal of the design firm MANUFACTURA in Mexico, and Thomas Wilder, a 2008 graphic design alumnus and global principal at Wolf Ollins, an international brand consultancy agency.

Senior vice president for research provides updates on Penn State Research Foundation

| psu.edu

At its Sept. 5 meeting, the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Research and Technology heard from Andrew Read, senior vice president for Research, about the mission of the Penn State Research Foundation, as well as an update on its activities.

Geography 'Coffee Hour' lecture series to begin with Sept. 6 talk by Karl Zimmerer

| psu.edu

The Penn State Department of Geography will kick off its fall 2024 "Coffee Hour" lecture series with a talk by Karl Zimmerer, professor of geography, ecology, and rural sociology. The event will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus and also will be accessible via Zoom.

The Page Center, alumnus Larry Foster’s ‘lighthouse,’ celebrates 20 years

| psu.edu

The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication is celebrating 20 years of enhancing ethics and responsibility in all areas of public communication.