Three graduate students honored at inaugural Three Minute Thesis competition

March 27, 2024

Graduate students Aditya Sapra, Auja Bywater and Paul DiStefano received awards in Penn State’s first "Three Minute Thesis" competition, hosted by the Graduate School. The event featured 11 competitors from nine graduate programs, and all presentations are available to watch online.  

‘Seed to Supper’ program aimed at teaching people how to grow food

March 26, 2024

Interested in learning to grow the food your family eats? Penn State Extension Master Gardeners offer a comprehensive gardening program called “Seed to Supper,” aimed at helping novice, adult gardeners learn how to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.

Hughes named recipient of Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award

March 26, 2024

David Hughes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security and professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and biology in the Eberly College of Science, is the recipient of the 2024 W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award. The award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University.

Creating a buzz about agriculture

March 26, 2024

For third-year Penn State student Cheyenne Bastian-Brown, advocacy for the agriculture industry has become more than a passion. It’s now her professional path. Leveraging her background combined with opportunities and experiences made possible through Penn State — including her role as the 2024 Pennsylvania State Honey Queen — Bastian-Brown is committed to helping the public understand the importance of agriculture in their daily lives and to helping advance agricultural education.

Loy named 2024 Penn State Animal Science Distinguished Alumnus

March 26, 2024

The Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has named Daniel Loy, of Ames, Iowa, its 2024 Animal Science Distinguished Alumnus.

Extension program volunteer partners to protect watersheds in Montgomery County

March 21, 2024

For Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Robert Pace, building community partnerships and working with other program volunteers as a team have been essential for contributing to successful projects in Montgomery County.

Course in College of Ag Sciences expands to add focus on human and animal health

March 21, 2024

Community Environment and Development 497: Community-Engaged Learning with Pennsylvania Farmworkers is an out-of-the-classroom, community-engaged course offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. This year, the course will include a new farmworker and animal health component.

Berkey Creamery ice cream is a contender in ‘Coolest Thing Made in PA’ contest

March 19, 2024

Penn State Berkey Creamery is a contender in the “2024 Coolest Thing Made in PA” contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Donor creates award to recognize innovative research teams in Ag Sciences

March 19, 2024

The Dennis and Janet Scanlon Integrated Team Research Award will recognize an integrated research and outreach faculty team within the College of Agricultural Sciences that demonstrates innovation in translating research to be shared and used through activities leading to partnerships and collaboration within the college and beyond.

Novel method to measure root depth may lead to more resilient crops

March 19, 2024

As climate change worsens global drought conditions, hindering crop production, the search for ways to capture and store atmospheric carbon causing the phenomenon has intensified. Penn State researchers have developed a new high-tech tool that could spur changes in how crops withstand drought, acquire nitrogen and store carbon deeper in soil.

2023 Pennsylvania farm fatality report calls attention to agricultural hazards

March 19, 2024

In 2023, 33 people died of injuries suffered in farm-related incidents in Pennsylvania, according to farm-safety specialists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, who emphasized the need for education and policies to reduce risk for workers and farm-family members. To help identify hazards and risks associated with production, Penn State Extension’s Agricultural Safety and Health team produces annual summaries of Pennsylvania’s farm fatalities. The team recently released the “2023 Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary.”

‘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.

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)

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)