Two campuses earn ‘Research Colleges and Universities’ Carnegie Classification
| psu.edu
Penn State Behrend and Penn State Harrisburg have received the new Carnegie Classification for “Research Colleges and Universities” — a designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that recognizes institutions with at least $2.5 million in research and development expenditures from external and internal funding in an average year. Overall, Penn State retained its Research 1 (R1) standing, indicating the highest levels of research expenditures and doctorate production.
Pennsylvania Housing Research Center to host residential construction conference
| psu.edu
The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State, will host a residential construction conference March 26-27 at the Central Hotel and Conference Center in Harrisburg.
New thermoelectric generator converts waste heat into electricity
| interestingengineering.com
Innovative design from US researchers could mean thermoelectric generators can be retrofitted on existing cars and help reduce emissions. This article mentions Penn State research.
John Mauro named head of Department of Materials Science and Engineering
| psu.edu
John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been named head of Penn State’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, effective July 1. Mauro will succeed Susan Sinnott, who has served as the head of the department since 2015.
Does charging your phone to 100% ruin your battery? Here's the truth.
| huffpost.com
Many of us are in the habit of plugging our phones in to charge overnight so we start each day at 100%. However, you might not be doing yourself ― or your battery ― any favors in the long run. This article quotes Chao-Yang Wang, professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Feb. 17 EarthTalks: Translating STEM research to improve K-12 education
| psu.edu
Kathleen Hill, director of the Center for Science and the Schools, and professor of science education, will give the talk, “Center for Science and the Schools: Translating STEM Research to Improve K-12 Education,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus.
Earth and Mineral Sciences has strong participation in Sustainable Labs Program
| psu.edu
Eleven research labs in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences have earned "My Green Lab" certifications at one of the three highest levels available: gold, platinum or green. The Penn State Sustainable Labs Program provides educational support and networking opportunities to labs across the University, helping them implement changes to become more energy- and resource-efficient.
Sustainable Labs Program increases participant engagement, welcomes new labs
| psu.edu
Penn State’s Sustainable Labs Program will host two virtual information sessions on Feb. 18 and 21 to provide an overview of the initiative, answer questions and guide prospective participants through the application process.
CA bill would make oil and gas companies liable for natural disasters
| iwf.org
California lawmakers want to hold oil and gas companies responsible for damages attributed to natural disasters, including high-intensity wildfires, under a new bill. This article cites a blog post by Hannah Wiseman, an IEE faculty member and professor of law at Penn State Law.
Re-constructing opportunities for students
| psu.edu
The construction engineering and management program in the Penn State Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering aims to provide students with the educational and leadership skills they need to help maintain and continue growth in the construction industry. Two Penn State engineering alumni rebuilt the program to fulfill the need for skilled industry leaders.
New smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring
| psu.edu
Researchers from Penn State and China’s Hebei University of Technology uncovered a new property of a sensor material, enabling the team to develop a new type of flexible sensor that can accurately measure both temperature and physical strain simultaneously but separately to more precisely pinpoint various signals.
Heard on Campus: Lukas Muechler on quantum materials
| psu.edu
Lukas Muechler, assistant professor of chemistry and physics at Penn State, recently spoke at Ashtekar Frontiers of Science, an annual public lecture series held by the Penn State Eberly College of Science, on the field of quantum materials.