Andrew Read to host town hall focused on Penn State’s research enterprise
| psu.edu
The Penn State community is invited to attend an upcoming town hall conversation hosted by Penn State Senior Vice President for Research Andrew Read and other leaders on Oct. 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Fracking in Pennsylvania hasn’t gone as well as some may think
| stateimpact.npr.org
With all the talk of fracking in Pennsylvania during this presidential race, it’s worth looking at what is at stake for workers, leaseholders and residents who live near oil and gas operations. One quick but important reality check — a president cannot ban fracking in Pennsylvania. Only an act of Congress can prohibit fracking on a national level on private and state land, which is where fracking occurs in Pennsylvania.
Growing Impact: Converting CO2 into fuel
| Featuring Nelson Yaw Dzade
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is abundant and stable, making it difficult to convert into something useful without a lot of energy. Researchers are using advanced computational modeling to find a catalyst that can efficiently transform CO2 into valuable products. This could turn CO2 from a climate issue into a valuable resource.
Atmospheric, climate researcher named IEE 'Person of the Year'
| psu.edu
Kenneth Davis, a professor of atmospheric and climate science in the Penn College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, has been named the Institute of Energy and the Environment's Person of the Year for 2024. He was selected from nominations submitted by the Penn State community.
Stuckeman School to host Centerbrook architects for Oct. 9 lecture
| psu.edu
The Stuckeman School is hosting two principals of Centerbrook Architects, a collaborative firm based in Connecticut, for a lecture at 4 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the Stuckeman Family Building Jury Space.
New MatSE Safety Fund to support safety training for students, labs
| psu.edu
In the vast and varied research that comes out of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) at Penn State, there’s one thing that’s even more important than discovery: lab safety. Making the department a leader in laboratory safety has been a focus since the mid-2000s with the creation of the MatSE Safety Awareness Organization. Since then, the group has been working with faculty, staff, students and industry partners to keep labs safe while ensuring students enter the workforce with stellar safety practices.
Penn State joins national initiative to support public impact research
| psu.edu
Seeking to increase the societal impact of university research, Penn State has joined a multi-year collaborative effort led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to identify and promote new approaches to support faculty and researchers undertaking public impact research.
‘Pennsylvania AgForum’ to address farm stress in agricultural community
| psu.edu
Anyone interested in supporting farmers, addressing farm stress and improving the well-being of the farm community is invited to attend a Penn State Extension workshop titled “Pennsylvania AgForum: Taking Action Together for Our Agricultural Community.” The event will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19, 2025, at Toftrees Hotel and Golf Resort, 1 Country Club Lane, State College.
EarthTalks: Helbing to discuss sustainable aviation fuel on Oct. 7
| psu.edu
Michael Helbing, executive director of the Center for Energy Law and Policy and adjunct professor of law at Penn State, will give the talk, “Flying into the future: sustainable aviation fuel and the policies impacting its development,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, in 112 Walker Building at Penn State University Park.
Q&A: Using a new approach to shine a light on hidden plant microbes
| psu.edu
An approach called metagenomics — a type of DNA sequencing — may help scientists learn more about the microbes that affect plants, according to Penn State researchers.
$4.5M grant to fund 3D-printed high-performance ceramics project
| psu.edu
A new approach using laser processing may enable using 3D printing to create high-performance ceramics that can withstand extreme temperatures and rapid changes in temperature without degradation, according to researchers at Penn State.
Electrochemical extraction of lithium provides sustainable battery solution
| by Hanrui Zhang, Feifei Shi
The increasing demand for lithium has led to rising costs and environmental concerns. Researchers have developed a new method that could provide a more sustainable and affordable way to extract this essential mineral.
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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