Penn State Energy and Environment News

Shedding light on the rules that govern the U.S. power grid

| news.psu.edu

Seth Blumsack is a part of a multi-university team that is studying the decision-making process that governs how people in the U.S. receive electricity.

Citizen scientists may be an untapped resource for water quality improvement

| psu.edu

Raising awareness and offering technological tools to the thousands of citizens groups in the U.S. that monitor water quality might help community leaders tap these volunteers as a way to improve access to plentiful, clean water and possibly avoid water-related crises.

From the Ground Up: Energy resilience begins with our buildings

| psu.edu

To solve our energy challenges, say these Penn State research engineers, we need to start with buildings, communities, and generating electricity close to the people who will use it.

Penn State No. 1 US producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars for 2019-20

| psu.edu

Penn State has been recognized as the top U.S. producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars for 2019-20 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In addition, the University is listed as a top producer of student Fulbright recipients.

Sediment loading is key to predicting post-wildfire debris flows

| psu.edu

The mudslides that follow wildfires in Southern California can be deadly and difficult to predict. New research can help officials identify areas prone to these mudslides and respond before disaster occurs, according to scientists.

Herringbone pattern in plant cell walls critical to cell growth

| psu.edu

The alternating angle of the many layers that make up a plant's cell wall is critical for cell growth, according to a new study by Penn State researchers.

Energy, chemical engineering professor receives fellowship

| psu.edu

Hilal Ezgi Toraman, assistant professor of energy engineering and chemical engineering at Penn State, has been named the Virginia S. and Philip L. Walker Jr. Faculty Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering. Chemical engineering professor receives fellowship

Emerging organic contaminant levels greatly influenced by stream flows, seasons

| phys.org

Flow rates and time of year must be taken into account to better understand the potential risks posed by emerging organic contaminants in rivers and streams, according to Penn State researchers who studied contaminant concentrations and flow characteristics at six locations near drinking water intakes in the Susquehanna River basin.

Professor to study food-energy-water decision-making

| psu.edu

Caitlin Grady, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-hire of the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State, received a NSF CAREER Award to examine food-energy-water decision-making.

Researchers look at novel methods to enhance battery performance

| news.psu.edu

Researchers at Penn State are looking at innovative ways to improve energy storage in an effort to better utilize renewable energy technologies.

Undergraduate team wins asphalt pavement mix design competition

| psu.edu

Three undergraduate students studying civil engineering at Penn State have been honored with the top prize for their work in the Inaugural Northeast Regional Council Mix Competition, sponsored by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance.

Spring speakers for Coffee Hour lecture series announced

| psu.edu

The Department of Geography Coffee Hour lecture series resumes on Friday afternoons beginning Jan. 31 through April 24 for the spring 2020 semester on Penn State's University Park campus. Topics range from innovations in GIScience, to food security to land use and justice issues, among others.