Plant sciences student finds new ways to cultivate goodwill in her community

June 8, 2020

Rising senior Amanda Grub is using her education in the College of Education to bring community-supported agriculture to her hometown, while also building little libraries and completing a virtual internship with the University's Agriculture and Environment Center.

Research team to study food resilience in the face of catastrophic global events

June 8, 2020

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all become aware of how a global crisis can affect our access to food. But imagine the food security impacts of an even worse scenario — an all-out nuclear war, a large asteroid strike or a supervolcano eruption. Such catastrophes could block out sunlight, alter rainfall patterns and contaminate water supplies, which could drastically affect our food systems. An interdisciplinary team of Penn State professors has received $3 million from Open Philanthropy to study food resilience in the face of such catastrophic global events.

Many factors may contribute to steep, decades-long muskrat population drop

June 8, 2020

Muskrat populations have declined sharply across North America over the last 50 years or so, and wildlife scientists have struggled to understand why. A new study by a Pennsylvania research team is investigating whether pathogens, parasites, environmental contaminants and disease may be contributing to this decline.

Christina Grozinger named scholar-in-residence at Sustainability Institute

June 4, 2020

Christina Grozinger, distinguished professor of entomology and director of the Center for Pollinator Research, has been named scholar-in-residence at the Sustainability Institute.

Larger streams are critical for wild brook trout conservation

June 3, 2020

The Latin name for brook trout — Salvelinus fontinalis — means "speckled fish of the fountains," but a new study by Penn State researchers suggests, for the first time, that the larger streams and rivers those fountains, or headwaters, flow into may be just as important to the brook trout.

College of Ag Sciences honors Student Diversity Achievement Award winners

June 2, 2020

Ryley Lehew and Tyler Jones received the Dr. William Henson Student Diversity Achievement Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, an honor that recognizes distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, extension or creative work that advances diversity in the college.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days expo cancelled in wake of coronavirus pandemic

June 1, 2020

Penn State's 2020 Ag Progress Days exposition, which was scheduled for Aug. 11-13, has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, organizers in the College of Agricultural Sciences announced.

Students develop resources for immigrant communities during COVID-19

June 1, 2020

The Penn State Center Philadelphia, Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, and faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education at Penn State worked with students in Penn State Law on a project designed to address the needs of immigrant communities in the context of COVID-19.

Graduate students advised by College of Ag Sciences faculty receive NSF awards

May 29, 2020

Two graduate students advised by faculty in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have received prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, and three other students received honorable mentions.

General Assembly maintains Penn State's funding levels for 2020-21 fiscal year

May 28, 2020

The Pennsylvania General Assembly today (May 28) passed a partial state budget that maintains Penn State’s current funding levels for the entire 2020-21 fiscal year. This includes level funding of $242.1 million for Penn State’s general support appropriation, $54.96 million for Penn State Agricultural Research and Extension, and $26.74 million for Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Grant to support study on generalist microorganisms in agricultural systems

May 28, 2020

Terrence Bell, assistant professor of phytobiomes in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently received a $480,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study generalist microorganisms in agricultural systems.

Plant pathologists at Penn State to aid investigation into lettuce disease

May 28, 2020

Plant pathologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are lending their expertise to a multi-institutional research project designed to stop a destructive bacterial disease in lettuce.

'The Investment' student startup TV show taping to take place virtually

May 27, 2020

For the past three years, WPSU, Penn State University Park’s local NPR affiliate station, and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) have collaborated to host the statewide Inc.U undergraduate student startup competition. The competition culminates in the six finalists competing head-to-head on the live “Shark Tank-style” TV show, "The Investment."

Changes in cropping methods, climate decoy pintail ducks into an ecological trap

May 26, 2020

After a severe drought gripped the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. and Canada in the 1980s, populations of almost all dabbling duck species that breed there have recovered. But not northern pintails. Now a new study by a team of researchers suggests why — they have been caught in an ecological trap.

Looking to buy local? Penn State Extension Farm Market Finder can help

May 26, 2020

The Farm Market Finder, an interactive tool developed by Penn State Extension, is aimed at helping Pennsylvania consumers find farmers markets in their area.

Researchers examine climate change perception among specialty-crop producers

May 26, 2020

Farmers whose operations have been impacted negatively by changing precipitation patterns — either too much or not enough water — are more likely to acknowledge the link between extreme weather conditions and climate change. That is one of the findings of a study examining farmers’ perceptions of resource availability and climate change, published recently in Organization and the Environment.

Penn State Extension webinar series helps business owners adjust retail model

May 26, 2020

A webinar series from Penn State Extension, “Refining the Retail New Normal,” explores ways for business owners to adjust their retail model for comfortable and safe shopping experiences for their customers.

Battling disease with ultraviolet light

May 26, 2020

Bill Bahnfleth, co-principal investigator (PI) and professor of architectural engineering, is joining co-PI Suresh Kuchipudi, clinical professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, to study the ability of optical radiation to disinfect surfaces and reduce transmission of viruses.

Breath of fresh air: Environmental student’s internship fixes on climate action

May 20, 2020

Leaving her footprint on the natural world — in a reduced-carbon kind of way — has been a long-held aspiration for Sarah Schanwald. The recent Penn State graduate, who holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental resource management from the College of Agricultural Sciences, is well on her way to doing that based on the strength of her experiences at the University.

Penn State Extension helping Pa. meat processors withstand COVID-19 outbreak

May 20, 2020

When Monica Hepler and her husband decided to take the “Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point for Meat and Poultry Processors” course offered by Penn State Extension a year ago, they had no idea, of course, that a global pandemic was coming.

New institute to help address complex food-energy-water-land challenges

May 20, 2020

The seed for Penn State’s Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science was planted well before the COVID-19 outbreak. The concept had been growing in the College of Agricultural Sciences for about two years when the pandemic emerged.

International agriculture minor to celebrate anniversary with virtual reunion

May 19, 2020

Since 1985, students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have gained a larger world view through participation in the international agriculture minor.

Penn State Extension offers interactive map to aid broadband providers

May 19, 2020

An interactive map unveiled recently by Penn State Extension — and created in consultation with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission — will help internet service providers as they prepare to bid on projects to expand broadband services to unserved regions in Pennsylvania.

StoryMap project shines light on Pennsylvania's vulnerable communities

May 18, 2020

Researchers in the Center for Economic and Community Development in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have developed an online StoryMap, titled "Vulnerable Pennsylvanians in the Context of a Pandemic," that they hope will facilitate engagement and help communities become stronger in the wake of COVID-19.

Three honored for commitment to diversity in College of Agricultural Sciences

May 15, 2020

Three individuals have received the Dr. William Henson Diversity Achievement Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, an honor that recognizes distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, extension or creative work that advances diversity in the college.

Food scientists receive College of Ag Sciences award for research innovation

May 15, 2020

Food scientists Gregory Ziegler and Joshua Lambert are the 2020 recipients of the Research Innovators Award, given by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to recognize faculty and staff who have commercialized intellectual property generated by their Penn State research.

Penn State participates in virtual social science advocacy day

May 14, 2020

Penn State researchers met virtually with members of Congress and their staff during COSSA’s sixth annual Social Science Advocacy Day.

Ag Sciences' CED major adds 'social and environmental responsibility' option

May 14, 2020

Students majoring in community, environment, and development in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences can add a new option to reflect a growing interest in corporate responsibility. The social and environmental responsibility option takes effect in the fall 2020 semester.

Physics graduate student coordinates hundreds of local mask makers

May 14, 2020

The State College Mask Makers group, which is led by physics graduate student Rachael Huxford and contains more than 50 members of the Penn State community, has donated more than 2,500 cloth masks to families and small businesses in Centre County during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Equine program celebrates successful online quarter horse sale

May 14, 2020

Despite having only a few weeks to shift an in-person auction to an online event, the 18th annual Penn State Equine Science Showcase and Quarter Horse Sale was a smashing success, organizers said. Twelve horses sold for approximately $94,700, giving this sale the highest average sale price per horse in the program’s history.

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)