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Growing Impact Podcast

Exploring science-based solutions for a changing world

Growing Impact is a podcast by the Institute of Energy and Environment (IEE) that explores cutting-edge projects of researchers and scientists who are solving some of the world's most challenging energy and environmental issues. Each project has been funded through the IEE Seed Grant Program.

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Podcast cover titled ‘Decoding Wildfire Smoke Forecasts.’ A person holds a smartphone displaying an air quality app showing a PM2.5 reading in the unhealthy range. Logos for Penn State’s Institute of Energy and the Environment and the Growing Impact podcast appear at the top.

Growing Impact: Decoding wildfire smoke forecasts

In this episode:

As long-distance smoke reaches the Northeast, residents face confusing and often conflicting air-quality information. This episode explores how people interpret alerts, why forecasts disagree, and what clearer communication could mean for community preparedness.

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Graphic with the Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logos over a modern glass building, featuring the words “Energy Saving Smart Windows.”

Growing Impact: Energy-saving smart windows

In this episode:

How do you keep a building comfortable without wasting energy? A Penn State team is tackling that question with an innovative smart window. Using a responsive polymer, the window can block visible light, infrared heat, or both—automatically, without sensors or electricity. The technology could dramatically reduce energy use in buildings while giving architects new freedom to design spaces that work with, rather than against, the sun.

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Two wooden canoes float on a calm river in the Amazon rainforest, surrounded by dense green trees under a partly cloudy sky. Overlaid text reads “Indigenous Communities and Amazon Oil,” with the Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logos in the top corners.

Growing Impact: Indigenous communities and Amazon oil

In this episode:

The Amazon, home to rich biodiversity and vital carbon-storing ecosystems, is also the ancestral land of Indigenous communities who are grappling with the devastating effects of oil extraction across Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. These communities live amid widespread pollution from oil spills, toxic chemicals, and industrial infrastructure, which threaten their way of life and the health of their environment. In response, they are working alongside researchers to map the environmental destruction and strengthen their efforts to hold oil companies accountable while fighting to protect their lands and preserve their cultural heritage.

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A silhouette of a person holding an infant, set against a vivid sunset over the ocean. The image includes text that reads: “Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment. Growing Impact. CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME HEAT, & INFANT HEALTH.”

Growing Impact: Climate change, extreme heat, and infant health

In this episode:

Heat significantly affects pregnant women and infants, increasing risks like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and developmental issues in children. Expectant mothers are more vulnerable due to physiological changes, while infants face heightened danger because of immature temperature regulation. These challenges are further intensified for families with limited resources. Researchers are investigating these impacts to provide lawmakers with the knowledge needed to create protective measures for these at-risk groups.

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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logo, with the title "Cooling high performance buildings" with a background of a modern office building with air vents visible in the ceiling

Growing Impact: Cooling high-performance buildings

In this episode:

Cooling is energy-intensive, with air conditioning consuming a significant portion of electricity in homes and commercial buildings, while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This creates a cycle of increasing energy demand for cooling. However, innovative materials that cool when strained offer a promising, sustainable solution for various applications.

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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment, Growing Impact: Measuring nitrous oxide emissions

Growing Impact: Measuring nitrous oxide emissions

In this episode:

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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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment: Growing Impact: PFAS and human health

Growing Impact: PFAS and human health

In this episode:

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.

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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logo, with the title "Seismic sensing with fiber optics" with a background of blue glowing fiber optic cables

Growing Impact: Seismic sensing with fiber optics

In this episode:

The Earth can shift suddenly, with sinkholes and landslides posing serious risks to people and property. Scientists are now using existing fiber optic cables in cities to detect potential geohazards before they strike. This innovative approach is expanding to monitor flooding and even track human movement, unlocking new possibilities for data collection and understanding our world.

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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logo, with the title "Low-carbon cement from farm waste" with a background of a red farm machine harvesting corn

Growing Impact: Low-carbon cement from farm waste

In this episode:

Cement, a major component of concrete, is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. Researchers are exploring agricultural waste as a potential alternative to cement, aiming to reduce carbon footprint while also finding new uses for farm byproducts. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of this solution depend on the collaboration between researchers and farming communities.

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Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment and Growing Impact logo, with the title "Feeding a changing World" with a background of Earth from space focusing on the African continent

Growing Impact: Feeding a changing world

In this episode:

Smallholder farmers, despite facing enormous challenges, produce a significant portion of the world's food, especially in regions like Africa and Asia. PlantVillage, a project aimed at empowering these farmers through smartphone technology and machine learning, has grown into a global initiative with ambitious plans to expand its impact and address the growing threat of climate change.

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