Farewell, StateImpact Pennsylvania
| stateimpact.npr.org
StateImpact Pennsylvania is ending after 13+ years.
State College sustainability coordinator got start at Penn State
| psu.edu
Jasmine Fields found Penn State because of its reputation for world-class research. She loved science and biology and thought she might become a doctor. Soon after, she became interested in protecting the environment and her passions shifted toward creating a more sustainable world. In 2018, she earned her degree in geosciences from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and immediately got to work just down the street.
Rapid lithium extraction eliminates use of acid and high heat, scientists report
| psu.edu
Lightweight lithium metal is a heavy-hitting critical mineral, serving as the key ingredient in the rechargeable batteries that power phones, laptops, electric vehicles and more. As ubiquitous as lithium is in modern technology, extracting the metal is complex and expensive. A new method, developed by researchers at Penn State and recently granted patent rights, enables high-efficiency lithium extraction — in minutes, not hours — using low temperatures and simple water-based leaching.
Penn State Beaver students awarded for projects at undergraduate exhibition
| psu.edu
Penn State Beaver students presented their research, engaged scholarship and creative activity projects Wednesday at the 24th annual John R. Chapin Undergraduate Exhibition. The exhibition allows students to showcase and present their in-depth, original and scholarly work and research.
Harrisburg students awarded for 2025 Capstone projects
| psu.edu
Outstanding student projects were recognized during the Penn State Harrisburg School of Science, Engineering, and Technology Capstone Design Conference held April 25.
Connecting people to nature and each other at Shaver’s Creek
| psu.edu
Paige Sutherland, the wildlife program director at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, is working to create connections to the world around us, whether that’s “people-to-nature” — bringing humans closer to wildlife — or “people-to-people” — connecting visitors to their community.
Penn State shares community-informed institutional strategic plan
| psu.edu
The plan, currently pending final approval from the Board of Trustees, will guide institutional direction and unit-level planning, in which academic and major administrative units create their own strategic plans.
How Penn State is addressing climate change—together
| by Erica Smithwick, Jacqueline O'Connor, Janet Swim
Faculty leaders Erica Smithwick, Jacqueline O’Connor, and Janet Swim share what the Climate Solutions Symposium means to them—and why showing up matters. From wildfires and emissions to policy and public trust, their reflections reveal how Penn State is turning interdisciplinary research into collaborative climate action.
Sukwon Choi named fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
| news.engr.psu.edu
Sukwon Choi, associate professor of mechanical engineering, has been elected to the grade of fellow by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a distinction that recognizes exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the field.
EnvironMentors Research Symposium celebrates student research in sustainability
| psu.edu
Penn State’s chapter of EnvironMentors held its annual research symposium on April 26 at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at Penn State University Park. The EnvironMentors program partners high school students with faculty and undergraduate student mentors in science, technology, engineering and math to plan and conduct environmental research projects.
Consortium on Moral Decision-Making announces seed grant recipients
| psu.edu
The Consortium on Moral Decision-Making at Penn State recently awarded nine seed grants to support interdisciplinary research related to the conceptual and empirical study of human morality and ethical decision-making.
College of Agricultural Sciences graduate students receive awards
| psu.edu
Graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences were recognized for their accomplishments during the 2025 Graduate Student Award Celebration, hosted by the Office for Research and Graduate Education and held recently on the University Park campus.