Community Impact Map showcases Penn State outreach across commonwealth
| lockhaven.com
The Penn State Community Impact Map is live and serves as a public resource to highlight the work of commonwealth campuses, colleges and other Penn State units across Pennsylvania.
Center for Socially Responsible AI awards seed funding to seven diverse projects
| psu.edu
The Penn State Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence awarded more than $159,000 to seven interdisciplinary research projects across the University.
Targeted coal plant closures may boost environmental, health outcomes
| psu.edu
Prioritizing closing coal-fired power plants near vulnerable communities could significantly improve air quality and public health outcomes, according to a new multi-institutional study co-led by researchers at Penn State.
$3M grant targets integrated semiconductor for smarter, greener electronics
| psu.edu
The microelectronics industry is nearing a tipping point, according to researchers at Penn State. The silicon chips at the heart of everyday electronic devices are running into performance limits, raising the need for new materials and technologies to continue making faster, more efficient devices. A new $3 million grant may help meet that need.
Penn State, Taipei Tech announce graduate scholarship opportunities
| psu.edu
Starting in summer 2025, the National Taipei University of Technology in Taiwan will provide up to 10 scholarships annually for Penn State graduate students to engage in research and education collaboration at Taipei Tech. Applications for the graduate scholarship opportunities are open until Feb. 10, 2025.
Penn State ranks second in the US in 2025 QS sustainability rankings
| psu.edu
Penn State tied for No. 2 among 237 ranked universities in the United States in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability for 2025, released Dec. 10. Internationally, the University rose 18 places in this year’s rankings to tie for No. 19 out of 1,743 participating institutions worldwide. Penn State also ranked at No. 1 among Big Ten institutions and No. 2 among all U.S. public universities.
Particle that only has mass when moving in one direction observed for first time
| psu.edu
For the first time, scientists have observed a collection of particles, also known as a quasiparticle, that's massless when moving one direction but has mass in the other direction. The quasiparticle, called a semi-Dirac fermion, was first theorized 16 years ago, but was only recently spotted inside a crystal of semi-metal material called ZrSiS. The observation of the quasiparticle opens the door to future advances in a range of emerging technologies from batteries to sensors, according to researchers at Penn State.
Penn State Climate Consortium marks year one of advancing climate action
| psu.edu
In its first year, the Penn State Climate Consortium provided resources, fostered collaborations and created opportunities to advance climate research and solutions.
Jennifer Taylor-Hillebrand named director of Subaward Compliance Office
| psu.edu
Jennifer Taylor-Hillebrand has been named the inaugural director of the Subaward Administration and Compliance Office, housed within Penn State’s Office of Research Administration Services, effective Dec. 9.
Penn State Altoona students compete in state-wide innovation challenge
| psu.edu
Four Penn State Altoona students competed in the America250PA Direct Effect Innovation Challenge final after moving through the first and second rounds of the competition. The event was held at the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg on Nov. 15.
Straining a material’s atomic arrangement may make for cleaner, smarter devices
| psu.edu
What’s the best way to precisely manipulate a material’s properties to the desired state? It may be straining the material’s very atoms, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State. The team discovered that “spray painting” atoms of potassium niobate, a material used in advanced electronics, could tune the resulting thin films with exquisite control. The finding, published in Advanced Materials, could drive environmentally friendly advancements in consumer electronics, medical devices and quantum computing, the researchers said.
Penn State Harrisburg sees significant growth in external research expenditures
| psu.edu
Over the past five years, external research expenditures at Penn State Harrisburg have grown by more than 200%, underscoring the college's expanding impact as a research institution, both regionally and globally.
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. Listen to the podcast.
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