University Libraries announce fall 2023 workshops on data skills topics
| psu.edu
Beginning Sept. 14, the Research Informatics and Publishing department at Penn State University Libraries will offer 19 free workshops on topics such as statistical data analysis, data visualization, big data analytics in the cloud, ScholarSphere, and maps and GIS.
Institute renamed to reflect holistic approach to energy, environmental research
| psu.edu
The newly named Institute of Energy and the Environment has rebranded to better communicate its current structure and collaborative approach to solving energy and environmental challenges.
How will carbon chemistry change in warmer and drier Rocky Mountain streams?
| by Devon Kerins
With drought in the West and decades of declining snowpack in the Rockies, there is less and less water in Rocky Mountain streams. Although water quantity is being discussed, drier, warmer conditions are also impacting water quality.
Climate change strains Pa. farmers with extreme heat, floods, droughts
| lehighvalleylive.com
Hugh McPherson, a fifth-generation farmer in southeastern York County, has stopped growing the perennial favorite McIntosh apple and has switched to varieties that fare better in warmer climates. This article quotes Erica Smithwick, a distinguished professor of geography.
'Growing Impact' podcast discusses fungi as a possible plastic waste solution
| psu.edu
Season 4 of the “Growing Impact” podcast opens with an episode that dives into plastic waste, specifically plastic film, and a potential biological solution of upcycling the material with fungi.
Growing Impact: Upcycling plastics with fungi
| Featuring Gamini Mendis, Luciana Aronne, Josephine Wee
Plastic is everywhere. It's part of our homes, our clothing, our vehicles. It wraps our food, and it's part of virtually every technology. It really is an amazing, versatile, and affordable material. And a highly used plastic is plastic film—as in garbage bags, grocery bags, and plastic wrap. Generally, plastic film is a one-time use material. After that one use, it's usually thrown into a landfill, which comes to nearly 6 million tons every year. Enter our team of researchers who found inspiration from a Netflix documentary. That inspiration? The amazing fungus. Now the team is exploring if fungus could help us manage our plastic waste economically.
Microplastics may increase riverbed sediment movement, erosion
| psu.edu
An international team of researchers have confirmed that microplastics impact how sand travels along riverbeds, which could increase riverbed erosion and have effects on river habitats.
Richard Roush to step down as dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences
| psu.edu
After nine years leading the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, on Sept. 17 Richard Roush will step down as dean of the college and serve as a special adviser to the interim dean through the end of 2023.
More than 70% of Pennsylvania rivers, streams contain PFAS
| stateimpact.npr.org
The USGS tested 61 Pennsylvania rivers and streams for PFAS, and found 76% contained one or more types of the chemical. The highest concentrations of PFAS were found in high-population areas, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Penn State professor to lead DOE climate study in Baltimore area
| arm.gov
An upcoming field campaign supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will study surface-atmosphere interactions around Baltimore, Maryland, to see how they influence the city’s climate. Ken Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science at Penn State, is the principal investigator for this new campaign, called the Coast-Urban-Rural Atmospheric Gradient Experiment (CoURAGE). Campaign operations are expected to start as early as October 2024 and run through September 2025.
Penn State professor to lead field campaign to study climate in Baltimore area
| psu.edu
Kenneth Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science at Penn State, will lead a team of 23 investigators from 13 research institutions in a new field campaign supported by the U.S. Department of Energy to study surface-atmosphere interactions around Baltimore, Maryland, to see how they influence the city’s climate.
20 students receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
| psu.edu
The Graduate School at Penn State welcomes 20 new National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program recipients for the 2023-24 academic year.
Smallholder farmers, despite facing enormous challenges, produce a significant portion of the world's food, especially in regions like Africa and Asia. PlantVillage, a project aimed at empowering these farmers through smartphone technology and machine learning, has grown into a global initiative with ambitious plans to expand its impact and address the growing threat of climate change. Listen to the podcast.
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