Engineering professor elected fellow of two professional societies
| psu.edu
Tak Sing Wong, professor of mechanical engineering and of biomedical engineering, was elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Firefly populations at risk due to climate change, urban development
| psu.edu
Catching fireflies is an iconic summer experience for many people living in North America, but the flickering beetles are on the decline. A new study by a team that includes Penn State researchers has identified factors that may be contributing to declining populations.
Bird flu is infecting more mammals, so what does that mean for us?
| post-gazette.com
In her three decades of working with elephant seals, Dr. Marcela Uhart had never seen anything like the scene on the beaches of Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula last October. This article quotes Troy Sutton, professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences.
Companies aim to release more treated oilfield wastewater into rivers and streams
| yahoo.com
Texas regulators are issuing permits to discharge large volumes of treated “produced water” into some waterways. Questions remain about the toxic pollutants found in the wastewater. This article mentions Penn State research.
Middle-of-the-road mountains form the best carbon sinks
| eos.org
Silicate rock weathering has a sweet spot: erosion that isn’t too fast or too slow. This article quotes Evan Pugh University Professor Susan Brantley.
Threads for Med Ed student club prioritizes sustainability in innovative ways
| psu.edu
Threads for Med Ed, or T4ME, a medical student club at Penn State’s College of Medicine, is taking a creative, multidimensional approach to addressing issues of sustainability. T4ME collects donations of professional clothing from College of Medicine faculty and staff to redistribute to medical students in preparation for their clerkships and/or interviews.
Applications now open to faculty for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for 2025-26
| psu.edu
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program's 2025-26 competition is now open for faculty, staff and administrators, featuring more than 400 awards offered in more than 135 countries. The awards cycle is open until Sept. 16.
Rural health advocate receives Health Equity Champion Award
| psu.edu
Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, was presented with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Health Equity 2024 Health Equity Champion Award. The award was presented during the 2024 Pennsylvania Health Equity Summit.
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects
| theconversation.com
Tau neutrinos are notoriously difficult to spot in detectors like IceCube. But researchers have managed to isolate 7 candidates.
$20M NSF grant to support center to study how complex biological processes arise
| psu.edu
A $20 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation will support the establishment and operation of the National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences at Penn State. The center will enable research that uses existing, publicly available data to glean new insights about how complex biological systems, such as cells, emerge from simpler molecules. Findings from the research could eventually inform the development of disease treatments and other applications such as minimizing the negative effects of aging.
FDA finds traces of bird flu virus in grocery store milk but says pasteurized dairy is still safe
| wfmz.com
The FDA said that it does not think it is likely that the particles would able to infect people but it is conducting additional tests to be completely sure. This article quotes Mark Boudreau, teaching professor of biology at Penn State Brandywine.
For millions of Americans, high-speed internet is unavailable or unaffordable − a telecommunications expert explains how to bring broadband to the places that need it the most
| theconversation.com
Affordable access to high-speed internet brings educational opportunities, economic development and better access to health professionals. This article quotes Christopher Ali, Pioneers Chair of Telecommunications.
The global push to involve youth in climate action is gaining momentum, harnessing their innovative spirit, deep investment in the future, and strong collective voice to combat climate change. Getting young people involved ensures that climate policies are forward-thinking and geared towards sustainable development, while their global solidarity and use of digital platforms amplify the call for urgent action. At the forefront of this movement, Penn State's Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab aims to become a pivotal transnational research hub, empowering young leaders to shape the future of climate and environmental justice. Listen to the podcast.
Join Our Mailing List
IEE publishes a weekly email newsletter and event guide during most of the year containing featured news stories, events, and other announcements.