Guido Cervone named Institute for Computational and Data Sciences director
| psu.edu
The Penn State Office of the Senior Vice President for Research has announced the appointment of Guido Cervone as the director of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) at Penn State. Cervone has served as the interim director of ICDS since April 2024.
Ag Progress Days displays showcase advanced technology, animal health, invasives
| psu.edu
A new initiative aimed at developing emerging and advanced technologies to enhance food production, agricultural ecosystems and natural resources will be one of the focal points of the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building at Penn State’s 2025 Ag Progress Days, Aug. 12-14.
Spinning up new flexible material for self-powered wearable sensors
| psu.edu
Could clothing monitor a person’s health in real time, because the clothing itself is a self-powered sensor? A new material created by researchers at Penn State through electrospinning, which is a process that draws out fibers using electricity, brings this possibility one step closer.
Driving forward positive change in Pennsylvania communities through scholarship
| research.psu.edu
Microplastic Pollution Research and Outreach, a research project run by Jill Felker, Affiliate Researcher, Penn State Berks and members of her team, have demonstrated great advancements with the support of the Presidential Public Impact Research Award (PPIRA) Program.
College of Ag Sciences names first cohort of Land Grant Research Impact Fellows
| psu.edu
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has launched the Land Grant Research Impact Fellows program. This new initiative recognizes and supports faculty whose research addresses pressing challenges in Pennsylvania and beyond.
A bolt is born! Atmospheric events underpinning lightning strikes explained
| psu.edu
Though scientists have long understood how lightning strikes, the precise atmospheric events that trigger it within thunderclouds remained a perplexing mystery. The mystery may be solved, thanks to a team led by Penn State researchers that has revealed the powerful chain reaction that triggers lightning.
Science Moms' bipartisan mission: Educate other mothers about climate change
| motherjones.com
The group works to demystify climate change and motivate moms to demand plans and solutions that will protect the planet for their kids—and their kids from dangerous, climate-change fueled extreme weather events. This article quotes Erica Smithwick, Distinguished Professor of Geography and Ecology.
Startup works to detect respiratory illnesses through vocal patterns
| psu.edu
Using artificial intelligence-driven pattern recognition, TalkingSick — a startup launched based on research conducted at Penn State — analyzes short voice recordings to detect deviations from a user’s healthy voice baseline. These deviations could signal potential respiratory illnesses before physical symptoms appear. The startup team participated in the U.S. National Science Foundation I-Corps National Teams program in June.
Penn State’s Yang Yang honored for atomic-level understanding of materials
| psu.edu
Yang Yang, an assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics who is affiliated with the Materials Research Institute at Penn State, has been named the inaugural TMS/KIM Young Leaders International Scholar, an award that recognizes early-career researchers with outstanding technical achievements and leadership potential.
Crops, Soils and Conservation Area at Ag Progress Days offers a wealth of wisdom
| psu.edu
Visitors to the Crops, Soils and Conservation Area at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 12-14, can see a variety of exhibits, activities and demonstrations featuring crop management, renewable energy, conservation education, crop planting and natural resources. Specialists from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and other organizations will answer crop production, weed identification and biofuels questions.
Predicting vaccination levels without accurate or timely vaccination data
| psu.edu
Researchers at Penn State and the World Health Organization have developed a new method to estimate and predict regional measles vaccination coverage levels even when accurate or timely survey data on vaccination is not available, which can be used to guide public health interventions to slow or prevent measles outbreaks.
Huck student receives U.S. National Science Foundation fellowship
| psu.edu
Sophia Mucciolo, an ecology student affiliated with the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, recently received a fellowship from the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. She was one of eight students from Penn State selected for the program this year.