‘Flavor Madness’ returns: Vote to crown this year’s scoop champion

March 18, 2024

Warmer weather in the forecast means ice cream season is approaching swiftly — along with the chance to vote for your favorite Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream flavor in this year’s Flavor Madness competition.

Environmental resource management student is a USDA Future Leader in Agriculture

March 18, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recognized Emma Chaplin, a second-year student majoring in environmental resource management in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, as a Future Leader in Agriculture.

Bixler named recipient of Eric A. Walker Award

March 13, 2024

Brandon Bixler, a senior majoring in agricultural and extension education in the College of Agricultural Sciences and a Schreyer Honors College Scholar, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Eric A. Walker Award. The award is presented annually to the student who has contributed most to enhancing the reputation of the University through extracurricular activities. Walker was president of Penn State from 1956 to 1970.

Forest, stream habitats keep energy exchanges in balance, global team finds

March 13, 2024

Forests and streams are separate but linked ecosystems, existing side by side, with energy and nutrients crossing their porous borders and flowing back and forth between them. For example, leaves fall from trees, enter streams, decay and feed aquatic insects. Those insects emerge from the waters and are eaten by birds and bats. An international team led by Penn State researchers has now found that these ecosystems appear to keep the energy exchanges in balance — a finding that the scientists called surprising. 

New nasal vaccine platform helps clear COVID-19 infections in an animal model

March 12, 2024

A newly developed intranasal vaccine candidate, called SpyCage, helps to clear COVID-19 infections more quickly than controls in pre-clinical testing, according to a recent study led by researchers at Penn State.

Finalists announced for Graduate School Three Minute Thesis competition March 23

March 11, 2024

Eleven graduate students have been selected for the final round of the inaugural Penn State Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The final in-person round will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, both live-streamed online and in person at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public, and advance registration is required.

Project reveals pandemic perceptions in Alaskan fishing community

March 11, 2024

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.

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

March 11, 2024

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. 

How does a virus hijack insect sperm to control disease vectors and pests?

March 8, 2024

A new study led by researchers at Penn State has clarified how a widespread bacteria called Wolbachia and a virus that it carries can cause sterility in male insects by hijacking their sperm. These findings could improve techniques to control populations of agricultural pests and insects that carry diseases like Zika and dengue to humans.

Teaching excellence recognized in College of Agricultural Sciences

March 7, 2024

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

March 7, 2024

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.

Penn State-hosted summit highlighted collaboration on climate-smart ag projects

March 5, 2024

At the inaugural “Pennsylvania Partners for Climate Smart Commodities Summit,” held in February on Penn State’s University Park campus, a diverse group of stakeholders came together to discuss how climate-smart agriculture offers innovative solutions to help farmers adapt and safeguard their livelihoods.

'Growing Impact' examines PFAS water contamination, evaluation of existing tech

March 4, 2024

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.

Student Engagement Network Grants can fund a wide range of student projects

March 1, 2024

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.

Preisendanz to direct Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences institute

March 1, 2024

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.

Learn more about local government in Pennsylvania during free webinar

February 29, 2024

To provide residents with a better understanding of local government in Pennsylvania, Penn State Extension will offer the free webinar “What is Pennsylvania Local Government?” from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, and from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Monday, March 25.

Hidden Gems: Frost Entomological Museum

February 29, 2024

The wide world of insects is open for exploration at the Frost Entomological Museum at Penn State. Visitors to the facilities can get up-close and personal with weird and wonderful creatures from around the world, ranging from Pennsylvania pollinators to fossils or invasive species.

New role for bacterial enzyme in gut metabolism revealed

February 28, 2024

Synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, bile acids long have been known to play a role in human metabolism. A team led by Penn State researchers has uncovered the mechanism by which bacteria in the gut generate a wide variety of new bile acid species, the functions of which are not yet clear.  

Inaugural Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture to take place March 26

February 28, 2024

The inaugural lecture, set for 6:30 p.m. March 26 in the Hintz Family Alumni Center at University Park, features a conversation with Sybrina Fulton, racial justice activist and mother of Trayvon Martin, a Black youth whose 2012 death helped spark the early #BlackLivesMatter movement. The lecture is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

Penn State College of Ag Sciences seeks partners for statewide tech initiative

February 28, 2024

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences invites collaborators from within and beyond the University to join it as it embarks on a new initiative focused on leveraging emerging and advanced technologies to support sustainable and resilient agricultural systems and the broader living systems that support them.

Cyber-physical heating system may protect apple blossoms in orchards

February 28, 2024

Spring frosts can have devastating effects on apple production, and a warming climate may be causing trees to blossom early, making them more susceptible to the damaging effects of extreme cold events. Growers’ attempts to prevent the flowers from freezing by attempting to heat the canopies of their orchards largely have been inefficient. To deal with the worsening problem, Penn State researchers devised a frost protection cyber-physical system, which makes heating decisions based on real-time temperature and wind-direction data.

Top student teams move to next phase of Nittany AI Challenge

February 27, 2024

Eleven Penn State student teams using artificial intelligence (AI) for good to solve real-world problems in the areas of health, environment, education and humanitarianism are in the final phase of 2024 Nittany AI Challenge.

Penn State Global announces 2023-24 award recipients for global engagement

February 27, 2024

Penn State Global has announced the 2023-24 recipients of its annual awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and academic programs at Penn State who have helped to advance the University’s global engagement goals.

TerraSafe Materials and Penn State partner on sustainable packaging solutions

February 27, 2024

TerraSafe has established a lab in State College and entered a licensing agreement with Penn State to commercialize sustainable packaging solutions developed by researchers at Penn State. The agreement is based on technologies invented by a research team led by Jeffrey Catchmark, professor of agricultural and biological engineering and of bioethics in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Catchmark and his team have worked for years developing technology that can replace conventionally used materials with those that are significantly more environmentally friendly.

Penn State Biorenewables Symposium to unveil new opportunities, April 18-19

February 26, 2024

Professionals and researchers spanning biorenewables-related industries and research programs are invited to join Penn State’s 2024 Biorenewables Symposium, April 18-19, which is designed to help them gain insights into cutting-edge research, cultivate partnerships and explore pathways within the field of biobased energy, products and materials.

Tiokasin Ghosthorse to give public talk on Indigenous knowledge and language

February 26, 2024

Indigenous scholar Tiokasin Ghosthorse will share his extensive knowledge with the community on Mar. 13 in the HUB Flex Theatre and online.

Lecture to discuss behavioral factors that drive what, why and how children eat

February 22, 2024

Kathleen Keller, professor of nutritional sciences and food science at Penn State, will deliver the 2024 Pattishall Research Lecture on March 20. Her lecture will discuss brain and behavioral factors that drive what, why and how children eat, and how these eating behaviors predict the development of childhood obesity.

Ladybug scents offer a more ecologically friendly way to protect crops

February 22, 2024

A team of researchers led by Sara Hermann, assistant professor of arthropod ecology and trophic interactions in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, has developed pest control tools based on chemicals present in interactions between ladybugs and aphids. These tools could offer farmers more sustainable pest-control options.

Master Watershed Steward Cindy Rogers strengthens partnerships in Indiana County

February 21, 2024

After retiring from a career in special education and staff development, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteer Cindy Rogers said she “jumped into environmentalism with both feet,” connecting local organizations and building partnerships that focus on water conservation.  

Dual-energy harvesting device could power future wireless medical implants

February 20, 2024

A new wireless charging device developed by Penn State scientists could dramatically improve powering capability for implantable biomedical devices — like pacemakers, insulin pumps and neurostimulators — while still being safe for our bodies, the researchers said.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
  • Science and News Writer
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Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
  • Associate Director of Communications
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
  • Science and News Writer
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)