Penn State ranks first in Big Ten in sustainability performance
| onwardstate.com
The university jumped from a 2021 score of 74.49 to a 2024 score of 76.41, which is the highest rating among participating Big Ten universities.
A 'rain tax' spurs a storm of controversy in the Philly region, and a court case with broad implications
| inquirer.com
More towns around the country are charging stormwater fees. A court case may affect their future in Pennsylvania. This article quotes Andy Yencha, educator with Penn State Extension.
Penn State rates highly in the STARS sustainability performance rating
| psu.edu
Penn State’s University Park campus recently received notice of its fifth Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, with an improved gold rating — from a score of 74.49 in 2021, to 76.41 in 2024. This latest rating places Penn State at the top of participating Big Ten institutions in sustainability performance.
Study explores impacts of Arctic warming on daily weather patterns in the U.S.
| psu.edu
Arctic sea ice is shrinking as the world continues to warm, and a new study led by researchers at Penn State may provide a better understanding of how the loss of this ice may impact daily weather in the middle latitudes, like the United States.
Teaching excellence recognized in College of Agricultural Sciences
| psu.edu
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has recognized seven faculty members for outstanding teaching in 2023.
Club connects students from diverse perspectives to learn about One Health
| psu.edu
Penn State's One Health Club seeks to connect students from any major, college or perspective who are interested in learning about the intersection of animal health, public health and environmental health.
'Growing Impact' examines PFAS water contamination, evaluation of existing tech
| psu.edu
The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast examines the challenges and potential negative health outcomes of PFAS in drinking water, highlighting efforts to evaluate decontamination technologies for safer community water sources.
Preisendanz to direct Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences institute
| psu.edu
Heather Preisendanz, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named director of the Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science.
Student Engagement Network Grants can fund a wide range of student projects
| psu.edu
Undergraduate students from all campuses and majors can now apply for a Student Engagement Network Grant to support a variety of engagement experiences during Maymester and summer 2024. Engagement experiences can take many forms and grants of $1,000 to $2,000 can help students cover many kinds of costs.
Growing Impact: Low-cost PFAS filtration
| Featuring Stephanie Butler Velegol, Enrique Gomez, Faith Kibuye, Heather Preisendanz, Juliana Vasco-Correa
For decades, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been a staple in products from detergents to cosmetics, making items more durable and resistant to water and stains. However, these "forever chemicals" persist in the environment and are now ubiquitous, even in our drinking water. Emerging evidence links PFAS exposure to significant health risks, prompting a team of researchers to evaluate affordable filtration technology, especially in communities reliant on well water.
New demands to measure emissions raise cautious hopes in Pennsylvania among environmental sleuths who monitor fracking sites
| msn.com
For the first time, Pennsylvania fracking companies are facing real-time scrutiny from federal and state regulators over emissions of methane and other harmful air pollutants at drilling sites and storage facilities for toxic wastewater left over from oil and gas extractions. This article quotes Dave Yoxtheimer, Senior Research Assistant, Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, and Kenneth Davis, a professor of climate and atmospheric science.
Equity and inclusion, peer review grants available from Schreyer Institute
| psu.edu
The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence invites proposals for the Advancing Equity and Inclusion Grant program and grants for units to support updates to their peer review guidelines.
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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