US emissions roared back last year after pandemic drop, figures show
| theguardian.com
Planet-heating emissions rose by 6.2% compared to 2020, with rise largely down to increase in cars and trucks on the road
Undergrad research and fellowships workshops slated for spring 2022
| psu.edu
Virtual workshops are scheduled throughout the spring semester for students looking to get involved in undergraduate research and apply for competitive fellowships, scholarships and grants.
Society of Women Engineers wins national award for eighth consecutive year
| psu.edu
For the eighth consecutive year, the Penn State Society of Women Engineers (SWE) received the Outstanding Collegiate Section Gold Mission Award at the annual SWE national conference (WE21), the largest conference for women in engineering and technology. The Penn State student section of the national organization was also recognized, for the first time, with an award for Best Practice in Communication: Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion.
Connecting community and fostering entrepreneurship through design
| psu.edu
Penn State architecture alumni Jason E. Smith and Marilia Rodrigues, of Philadelphia’s KieranTimberlake, were design leads on the new Innovation Hub building in downtown State College, and say the building is designed to instill a feeling of opportunity, of collaborative making, of being a part of something bigger than oneself.
Architecture professor co-edits book on building science, technology research
| psu.edu
A new book co-edited by Rahman Azari, associate professor of architecture at Penn State, offers a variety of perspectives and firsthand experiences from scholars and experts in building science and technology on using various research methods — from simulation-based to experimental methods — in answering the key research questions of the field.
Business Building earns LEED re-certification, jumps from gold to platinum
| psu.edu
Thanks to a collaboration between several members of the Smeal College of Business community and the Office of Physical Plant, the Business Building has received a LEED Platinum certification.
Charting a roadmap to cleaner air
| usnews.com
As carbon dioxide levels return to pre-pandemic levels, a new study suggests changes in both policy and behavior are needed.
Penn State Scranton offering environmental science course for school students
| psu.edu
Thanks to a generous gift from the Keystone Sanitary Landfill and the DeNaples family, Penn State Scranton’s Center for Business Development and Community Outreach will be coordinating a course for high school juniors and seniors that is part of a program focusing on environmental studies at the campus, as well as offering a youth summer camp program for younger children.
Hydrofluorocarbons saved the ozone layer but are warming the earth
| by Rahman Azari, Esther Obonyo
Switching to hydrofluorocarbons led to ozone recovery, but there are drawbacks to hydrofluorocarbons, specifically global warming. Some in the building industry have taken notice of this issue and switched to a different chemical to apply insulation.
Stuckeman School students win engagement grants to attend Greenbuild conference
| psu.edu
Five Stuckeman School students, who also are members of Students for Environmentally Enlightened Design, each received $2,000 Student Engagement Network grants that allowed them to attend the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in San Diego this fall.
Penn State Harrisburg professor, alumna appointed to Chesapeake Bay committee
| psu.edu
Shirley Clark, professor of environmental engineering in Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Science, Engineering and Technology, and Erin Letavic, a 2011 graduate of the master of environmental engineering program at Penn State Harrisburg, have been appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf as the Pennsylvania representatives to the Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee.
Cheap and rugged optical fibers are revealing Earth's hidden motions
| science.org
The demands of the internet era have draped the world in a web of fiber. For geoscientists, fiber had always been a means to an end—a way to hook up a weather station or an undersea pressure sensor. But that has changed in the past few years. Now, the fiber itself is the sensor.
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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