York professor helps students engage in ecology research in California
| psu.edu
Associate Professor of Biology Anne Vardo-Zalik travels to the Hopland region of California every two years to conduct ecology research. When she presented the possibility of participating in research to fourth-year biology major Laine Rigel and third-year biology major Natalie Weigel, they said they knew they couldn’t pass on the opportunity.
Penn State agricultural economist recognized for excellence in Extension
| psu.edu
Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems in the College of Agricultural Sciences, received this year’s Northeast Region Excellence in Extension Award for an individual, recognizing Schmidt for her development of a research-based agritourism extension program in Pennsylvania.
Penn State Extension specialist honored by national food safety organization
| psu.edu
Martin Bucknavage, Penn State Extension senior program specialist for food safety and quality, has been selected to receive a 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, established to develop and provide training and outreach to support the U.S Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act.
Q&A: How do microbiomes influence the study of life?
| psu.edu
Microorganisms — bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms — may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstein, director of Penn State’s One Health Microbiome Center within the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.
Penn State Altoona professors edit new Northern Appalachia literary field guide
| psu.edu
Todd Davis, professor of English and environmental studies, Carolyn G. Mahan, professor of biology and environmental studies, and Noah Davis, are the editors of “A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia,” published by University of Georgia Press.
A Note from Neeli: Penn State at the forefront of microbiome research
| psu.edu
At Penn State’s award-winning One Health Microbiome Center, faculty and students are collaborating to improve human, agricultural and environmental health. With over 540 members, 125 faculty and 160 graduate students from 42 departments across 10 colleges at Penn State, the center is one of the crown jewels of interdisciplinary excellence in the University's research enterprise.
Is It time to worry about bird flu?
| time.com
Health officials say risk remains low—but that could change. This article quotes Troy Sutton, associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences.
Growing Impact: Feeding a changing world (Preview)
| youtu.be
Episode release date: December 1, 2024. 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 from a small seed grant into a global initiative with ambitious plans to expand its impact and address the growing threat of climate change.
The spotted lanternfly: A major nuisance coming to Michigan backyards
| mlive.com
Buckle up. Michigan is now home to an invasive bug that threatens agriculture and quality-of-life. This article quotes Brian Walsh, spotted lanternfly researcher with Penn State Extension, and Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems.
Collaborative pilot funding available for translational science projects
| psu.edu
Researchers at Penn State and from seven other institutions making the Consortium of Rural States (CORES) Research Collaborative are invited to apply for multi-institutional pilot awards for translational science research projects.
Jack Kaye, NASA associate director, research, to give meteorology colloquium talk
| psu.edu
Jack Kaye, associate director for research at NASA, is the speaker for the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science’s colloquium scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. He will give the talk “Integration of Vantage Points, Programs, and Approaches for Space-Based Earth Remote Sensing.”
Soil organic carbon sequestration, the microbial carbon fee, and the microbial premium
| by Armen Kemanian
While increasing soil organic carbon can help sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, it's challenging due to microbial respiration and other factors. However, practices that promote soil health and prevent carbon losses, such as avoiding land use conversion, can still be beneficial for both soil and climate.
Flooding is the world's most devastating natural disaster, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Millions of Americans live in high-risk flood zones, with the threat amplified by climate change and aging infrastructure. This episode explores how innovative computer modeling and visualizations can help communities plan for future flood risks and develop effective response strategies. Listen to the podcast.
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