Penn State Energy and Environment News

New project to support, learn from Indigenous communities facing climate change

| psu.edu

Natural disasters due to climate change have impacted over 2 billion people since the year 2000, with those in Arctic and Pacific communities disproportionally affected. An international team, including researchers from Penn State, has been awarded $1 million to compare climate risks and resilience in Arctic and Pacific Indigenous communities.

Planning for an uncertain future in the Colorado River basin

| earth.com

Penn State researchers develop FRNSIC, a tool to help decision-makers navigate the Colorado River's future amid climate change and drought. This article quotes Antonia Hadjimichael, assistant professor of geosciences.

A dozen Ohio counties under quarantine as invasive spotted lanternfly begins breeding

| cincinnati.com

A dozen Ohio counties remain under quarantine for the spotted lanternfly as the invasive species enters its breeding season. Here's how to fight back. This article quotes Penn State Extension expertise.

Tim Palmer visits as part of the Sustainability Showcase Speaker Series

| psu.edu

Penn State Sustainability welcomed photographer, author and Penn State alumnus Tim Palmer as its first speaker of the fall 2024 Sustainability Showcase Speaker Series. On Sept. 18, virtually and at Foster Auditorium in Paterno Library, Palmer discussed his latest book, "Seek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution to Our Flooding Crisis."

EarthTalks: Discussion of land acquisition for carbon sequestration on Sept. 30

| psu.edu

Tara Righetti, Occidental Chair in Energy and Environmental Policies and professor of law the University of Wyoming, will give the talk “Land acquisition for carbon sequestration,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, in 112 Walker Building at Penn State University Park.

Decoteau retires from College of Agricultural Sciences after impactful career

| psu.edu

Dennis Decoteau, professor emeritus of horticulture and plant ecosystem health, recently retired from Penn State after a distinguished 26-year career in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

$1M USDA grant to perfect weed killing method in organic crop production

| psu.edu

Weeds are a major factor limiting yield in organic vegetable and other horticultural crop systems, and the lack of effective biological weed-management solutions is a significant obstacle to the adoption of organic farming practices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a four-year, $1 million grant to a team led by plant scientists and an economist from Penn State to investigate anaerobic soil disinfestation, a microbial-driven process to manage weeds, to support transitioning from conventional to organic production systems.

Choctaw historian to speak on Indigenous gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State

| psu.edu

The Penn State Department of Geography, in collaboration with The Arboretum at Penn State and the Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association (IPSA), will host a special "Coffee Hour" lecture on Friday, Sept. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Arboretum’s Overlook Pavilion.

Replacing 3D printing with plant-derived materials

| lewistownsentinel.com

A sustainable resin material comprising agriculturally derived components could potentially replace plastics used in large-format 3D printing, which can produce furniture, boats and other similarly sized objects, according to a team of Penn State agricultural and biological engineers.

An invasive stink bug is popping up in homes across the country — how to handle them

| audacy.com

If you’ve been celebrating the end of the mosquito season, you may be a little disappointed as a new pest is popping up around the country. This article quotes Penn State Extension expertise.

Earth beneath ice sheet key to predicting sea level rise from warming climate

| psu.edu

Findings from an international team of researchers, including those from Penn State, suggest that Earth's natural forces could substantially reduce the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and its impact on rising sea levels, but only if carbon emissions are swiftly reduced in the coming decades. By the same token, if emissions continue on the current rising trajectory, Antarctic ice loss could lead to more sea level rise in the future than previously thought, according to the researchers.

Chemistry and chemical engineering professor honored with 2024 Cottrell SEED Award

| psu.edu

Bert Chandler, professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at Penn State, is one of 11 distinguished researchers recognized by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement as a recipient of the 2024 Cottrell Plus SEED (Singular Exceptional Endeavors of Discovery) Award.