Penn State Energy and Environment News

Project reveals pandemic perceptions in Alaskan fishing community

| psu.edu

Penn State researchers examined community member's COVID-19 perceptions in Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the world’s largest commercial salmon fishery, and found perceptions of risk varied across race/ethnicity groups by residency and income.

With microplastics, scientists are in a race against time

| washingtonpost.com

Microplastics are in our blood, lungs, the air we breathe. But their effects are still largely a mystery. This article quotes Sherri Mason, associate research professor and director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend. 

Eco-poet ties narratives of protecting insects to larger themes of resilience

| psu.edu

Penn State Sustainability is hosting eco-poet and author Heather Swan, March 20-23, to explore the importance of insects and the work of those trying to protect them, as well as how these efforts can model more productive narratives about our global future.  

Penn State physicist Zhen Bi receives 2024 NSF CAREER Award

| psu.edu

Zhen Bi, assistant professor of physics, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Libraries hosts talk on Eyak language revitalization and 1899 Alaska expedition

| psu.edu

Jen Rose Smith (dAXunhyuu/Eyak), assistant professor of geography and American Indian studies at the University of Washington, will give a public lecture titled "On Finding Emptiness: The Harriman Alaska Expedition of 1899 and dAXunhyuuga'" on March 28, at 4 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.

March 20 webinar to explore nature’s worth from a health and economic aspect

| psu.edu

Nature impacts our quality of life, health, cost of living, sense of place and economy, according to organizers of a March 20 Penn State Extension land-use webinar. This session will explore nature’s worth from a health and economic perspective. 

AI discovers how Arctic warming influences U.S. weather patterns

| earth.com

The consequences of the diminishing Arctic sea ice, particularly its effects on daily weather patterns across the U.S., are now more clear. This article quotes Assistant Professor of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Melissa Gervais.

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.

Virus hijacking insect sperm causes brutal sterility, find scientists

| interestingengineering.com

Penn State researchers unveil the tale of Wolbachia and its viral accomplice manipulating insect reproduction. This article quotes Seth Bordenstein, professor of biology and entomology.

What winter? Erie area is 'abnormally dry' due to lack of snow, rain

| goerie.com

Not all of Erie County is included under the designation of "abnormally dry" by the U.S. Drought Monitor. This article quotes Joey Akins, a field and forage crops educator with Penn State Extension.