IEE faculty, staff, and projects in the news
The U.S. buys electricity from Canada. Now it's a focus of the trade war
| npr.org
As a trade war grew this week, Ontario's leader threatened a surcharge on Canadian electricity sold in some U.S. states. The episode highlighted the U.S. reliance on imported Canadian power. This article and National Public Radio segment quotes Seth Blumsack, professor of energy policy and economics.
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Growing Impact: Measuring nitrous oxide emissions (Preview)
| youtu.be
Full episode release date: April 1, 2025.Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas with nearly 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making even small emissions highly impactful. Agriculture, particularly soil management, is the largest source of nitrous oxide. To better understand and manage these emissions, researchers have developed a system for continuous monitoring on farms and other land management purposes.
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Seed Grant Projects
I went to the edge of the world to see the very near future of climate change
| inquirer.com
The Inuit community of Inukjuak in northern Québec has long fought to preserve the traditional culinary practices that define them, but climate change is a threat unlike anything they've faced before.
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Kirk French
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Neal Hutcheson
Neal HutchesonVideographer, Life and Language Project, North Carolina State University -
Laurel Pearson
Laurel Pearson -
Sarah Samisack
Sarah Samisack
The US energy market has its troubles, though it may not be a ‘national emergency’
| theconversation.com
The US produces more oil today than any other country, and there is no clear emergency on the scale of the energy crises of the 1970s. But there are some causes for concern. This article was written by Seth Blumsack, professor of energy & mineral engineering.
Authors
Earth and Mineral Sciences graduate fellow builds belonging safety net for peers
| psu.edu
As an undergraduate student majoring in mathematics at Texas Tech, Nicholas Prince got involved in research and loved it, he said. He never considered earning a doctorate, but his undergraduate research adviser convinced him otherwise. Now, at Penn State, he's a We Are for Science Fellow in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and he's helping to build a support network for graduate students.
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'Growing Impact' discusses environmental contaminants, human health
| psu.edu
Environmental contaminants don’t just pose direct risks to human health — they may also have hidden effects through the microbiome that researchers are working to uncover. The latest episode of Growing Impact discusses how environmental contaminants affect human health, a research focus for Penn State professors Andrew Patterson and Costas Maranas.
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Researchers create game-changing solution to major issue with electric cars: 'We really think this is a revolution'
| thecooldown.com
A research team at Penn State has discovered a more eco-friendly way to mine lithium that involves fewer chemicals.
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Feifei Shi
Assistant Professor, John and Willie Leone Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering (EME) -
Hanrui Zhang
Student refines a century-old math problem that could transform wind energy
| scitechdaily.com
A Penn State engineering student has simplified a century-old math problem, making it more accessible and practical for modern applications. This article features research from a Penn State student.
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Hee Jueng Oh honored by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
| news.engr.psu.edu
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has named Hee Jeung Oh, assistant professor of chemical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, a Young Observer. The award provides recipients $2,500 in fellowship funding and a spot at the 53rd IUAPC General Assembly happening concurrently with the 50th World Chemistry Congress on July 12-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Growing Impact: PFAS and human health
PFAS, synthetic chemicals found in countless everyday products, have made their way into humans and animals around the globe. Although their health effects remain unclear, their widespread presence raises important questions. Scientists are now investigating whether these chemicals might disrupt the human gut microbiome, potentially impacting our health in unexpected ways.
Guests
US student cracks 100-year-old math problem to unlock wind turbines’ true power
| interestingengineering.com
A Penn State engineering student has refined a century-old math problem paving the way for more efficient wind turbine designs.
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Penn State opens doors to world travel, learning for EMS student
| psu.edu
Sofia Hoffman has dreams of a career that will take her around the world — and thanks to her time at Penn State, it’s off to a good start.
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