‘Beekeeping Around the World’ webinar series offered by Penn State Extension

January 22, 2026

Those interested in learning about beekeeping practices and challenges in different parts of the world can attend “Beekeeping Around the World,” a free, six-week webinar series offered by Penn State Extension.

Ag Sciences Global celebrates 2026 as ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer’

January 22, 2026

Acknowledging women’s vital contributions to food production and stewardship, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is joining the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in marking 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees

January 22, 2026

Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees, according to a new study from researchers at Penn State.

Sustainable Food Systems Network to host action-focused Food Justice Summit

January 22, 2026

Penn State’s Sustainable Food Systems Network will host a Food Justice Summit on Feb. 12 in the HUB-Robeson Center. The event will bring together students, faculty and community partners to explore food access, equity and action.

College of Ag Sciences awards bridge funding for global research collaborations

January 22, 2026

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has awarded bridge funding to four faculty members to support research collaborations addressing soil fertility, public health, climate resilience and agricultural trade.

Penn State students take top honors in video challenge on the value of research

January 21, 2026

Several Penn State students used their experience in research and storytelling to advocate for federally funded research and take top prizes in the Science Coalition’s 2025 Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge.

Discounts offered on urban forestry publications from Penn State Extension

January 20, 2026

Penn State Extension is offering a 30 percent discount on its urban forestry guides and publications through April 2026, giving communities, professionals and residents an affordable way to access research-based guidance.

Land-use webinar series from Penn State Extension begins Jan. 21

January 20, 2026

An upcoming Penn State Extension webinar series is aimed at helping community leaders navigate land-use and municipal challenges, with topics ranging from equitable land-use planning, improving community food access, growing local leaders’ capacity for community development, and creating affordable housing.

Disease ecologist awarded grant to study ’infectome’ effects on fungal disease

January 16, 2026

Penn State disease ecologist Molly Bletz was awarded a 2025 New Investigator Grant by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation to study the infectome, a proposed new framework for understanding disease.

Investigating the microbiome’s role in intestinal disorder in pregnancy

January 16, 2026

Jessica Grembi, an assistant professor of pharmacology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has received a $500,000 grant from the Gates Foundation to investigate the role of the microbiome in environmental enteropathy — a condition characterized by inflammation of the small intestine that affects nutrient absorption.

Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Jan. 15

January 15, 2026

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 20 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.   

College of Ag Sciences course supports outdoor learning for South Fayette pupils

January 15, 2026

In early December, students enrolled in a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences course partnered with high school students in the South Fayette Township School District in McDonald to design innovative outdoor learning spaces that promote wellness and hands-on learning.

New funding supports research on soil microbiomes and their resilience to change

January 15, 2026

Estelle Couradeau, a microbiologist at Penn State, is undertaking a collaborative study of whether microbial communities in arid ecosystems can maintain resilience in the midst of changing monsoon regimes. The project is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and Allen Family Philanthropies, which was formerly known as the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Penn State Extension AI tool, Tilva, expands access to research-based guidance

January 14, 2026

Penn State Extension has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered tool, called Tilva, at the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show, aimed at giving farmers around-the-clock access to research-based guidance.

Learn healthy habits in the evenings at webinars offered by Penn State Extension

January 14, 2026

Anyone interested in managing weight while eating satisfying, nutritious foods can learn about a science-based way to accomplish those goals by attending a six-part Penn State Extension series, “The Volumetrics Weigh of Life: Weight Management Plan.” 

Penn State Ag Sciences recognized at national convention

January 9, 2026

Penn State's agricultural and extension education program was well represented at this year’s National Association of Agricultural Educators National Convention, where multiple faculty, students and alumni participated in workshops and were recognized with awards.

Upcoming course will explore the chemistry and culture of food in Taiwan

December 22, 2025

Penn State students hoping to learn more about the chemistry of food will have the opportunity to get a hands-on learning experience in Taipei, Taiwan, during an embedded course next spring.

Putting ideas into action: BUILD Night focuses on combating food insecurity

December 22, 2025

In early November,  Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Engineering partnered to host a BUILD Night at the Penn State Learning Center. Attendees worked in teams to map challenges, brainstorm solutions and build prototypes to combat food insecurity by reducing post-harvest waste. 

Professor emerita receives national recognition for 4-H research database

December 19, 2025

Jan Scholl-Kennedy, associate professor emerita of agricultural and extension education and former 4-H extension specialist in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been recognized nationally for a project she spearheaded to document the existence of research that undergirds the 4-H youth development program.

Master Watershed Steward’s passion for environment leads to public park cleanup

December 19, 2025

Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program volunteer Eve Puhalla, of Montgomery County, is working to restore the pond at Camelot Park, a 102-acre recreational park with sports fields and walking trails in East Greenville.

Center for Plant Excellence announces grant award recipients

December 18, 2025

The Center for Plant Excellence, a new initiative supporting Pennsylvania’s plant industries, announced recipients of its 2025-26 grants, awarding $125,000 across seven projects.

Video: Food safety expert dishes out kitchen crockery for the holidays

December 18, 2025

Penn State food safety expert Martin Bucknavage comments on kitchen fails and serves up food safety tips for the holidays.

Genetic teamwork may be the secret to climate-resilient plants, researchers find

December 17, 2025

A plant’s success may depend on how well the three sets of genetic instructions it carries in its cells cooperate, according to a new study led by plant scientists at Penn State. They found that when those genes are better matched in hybrid plants, the plant is more resilient to changing environments.

‘Plant Yourself in Ag’ Day offers dynamic platform for career exploration

December 17, 2025

“Plant Yourself in Ag” Day returned to Penn State this fall with major changes aimed at connecting even more students to the world of agricultural science.

Penn State co-hosts international empathy and global citizenship summit

December 16, 2025

Earlier this month, empathy experts, youth representatives, youth-serving organizations and policy makers took part in a three-day summit on how empathy research can be translated into both government policy and into classrooms worldwide, as well as in non-formal, experiential learning environments.

Experts gather for international empathy and global citizenship summit

December 16, 2025

Earlier this month, empathy experts, youth representatives, youth-serving organizations and policy makers took part in a three-day summit on how empathy research can be translated into both government policy and into classrooms worldwide, as well as in non-formal, experiential learning environments.

Graduate students conduct food safety research abroad with NSF grants

December 16, 2025

Two graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences traveled abroad and gained experience in food safety research over the summer thanks to funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation.  

Forum focuses on helping military medics transition into civilian health care

December 16, 2025

Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, policy staff and representatives from leading health care organizations attended the Veterans’ Solutions Forum hosted by the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State on Dec. 10 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. 

Evaluating the evaluators: How do plant virus genome analysis tools stack up?

December 15, 2025

Learning more about the genome structure of defective virus copies has the potential to reveal clues about the virus’s biology, but researchers found that five tools available to identify these defective genomes from data obtained through next generation sequencing datasets may be inconsistent.

Penn State animal science major earns rare All-American Livestock Judging honor

December 15, 2025

Megan Zipprich, an animal science major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was among the 10 recipients of the All-American Livestock Judging Award during the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest, held in November in Louisville, Kentucky.

Media Contacts

Amy Duke
  • Associate Director of Communications
Jeff Mulhollem
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
Katie Bohn
  • Science and News Writer
Alexandra McLaughlin
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)
Sean Duke
  • Marketing/Communications Specialist

Media Contacts

Amy Duke
  • Associate Director of Communications
Jeff Mulhollem
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
Katie Bohn
  • Science and News Writer
Alexandra McLaughlin
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)
Sean Duke
  • Marketing/Communications Specialist