Turn research into impact: Apply now for Penn State NSF I-Corps short course
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Invent Penn State’s NSF I-Corps Short Course is accepting applications for its virtual September cohort. The no-cost program helps researchers test a startup idea through customer interviews and educational programming on the lean startup methodology.
Tiny robots use sound to self-organize into intelligent groups
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Animals like bats, whales and insects have long used acoustic signals for communication and navigation. Now, an international team of scientists have taken a page from nature's playbook to model micro-sized robots that use sound waves to coordinate into large swarms that exhibit intelligent-like behavior.
Tree inventory creates map of campus foliage at Penn State Beaver
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Penn State Beaver has joined the Commonwealth Arboreta Network as part of an ongoing initiative across all Commonwealth Campuses.
Heat, health expert named lead of IEE's 'Health and the Environment' theme
W. Larry Kenney has been named lead of the IEE’s 'Health and the Environment' theme, guiding research on environmental challenges and human health.
Q&A: How permanent is permafrost with increasing temperatures?
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The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a two-year, $957,013 grant to Ming Xiao, professor of civil and environmental engineering, to investigate the effect on permafrost and how its melting could expose contaminants to the environment.
New class of protein misfolding simulated in high definition
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New computer simulations that model every atom of a protein as it folds into its final three-dimensional form support the existence of a recently identified type of protein misfolding.
Rural sociologist Florence Becot honored by agricultural safety, health society
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Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the Jim Williams Early Career Achievement Award from the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health at the organization’s recent conference in Portland, Maine.
$5M gift names the Robert V. Waltemeyer Department of Chemical Engineering
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The chemical engineering department within the Penn State College of Engineering has been named the Robert V. Waltemeyer Department of Chemical Engineering through a $5 million endowment from 1956 chemical engineering alumnus Robert V. Waltemeyer and his wife, Gloria.
Master Watershed Stewards offer native trees and shrubs in annual fundraiser
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Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward program will hold its sixth annual native tree and shrub sale this fall in 29 locations across the state. Funds from the sale will support regional Master Watershed Steward volunteer activities, such as stream repair projects, tree plantings and youth education programs.
Overtaking the odds: Do passing zones make rural roads safer?
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Eric Donnell, senior associate dean of the Penn State College of Engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering, and his collaborators used a large data set of Pennsylvania crash statistics and roadway features taken from all state-owned, rural roads to compare the safety performance of roadway segments with passing zones to stretches without marked passing zones.
Q&A: Penn State postdoc leaders uplift community through World Café event
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Eberly College of Science postdoctoral scholars Sebanti Chattopadhyay, a physics postdoc; Mark Lee, a chemistry and biochemistry and molecular biology postdoc; and Arpita Yadav, a biology postdoc, recently helped lead a special World Café to create a space for open conversation and encourage participation, with the goal of fostering discussion and uplifting the postdoc community.
Center for Ag Conservation receives award from state conservation organization
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Penn State Extension’s Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training was recognized for outstanding support and partnership with Pennsylvania’s conservation districts at the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts’ 2025 annual conference held in Champion.