2024-25 Teaching and Learning Technologies Faculty Advisory Committee members named

September 15, 2024

Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT), part of Penn State University Libraries, has announced the Teaching and Learning Technologies Faculty Advisory Committee for the 2024-25 academic year. The committee is pivotal in guiding TLT on integrating technology within teaching and learning at Penn State.

Volunteer finds next ‘career’ as a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward

September 12, 2024

After three “unretirements,” Gary Grahl was looking for his next challenge when he trained — at 70 years old — to become a volunteer in the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program.

Nine researchers named Institute of Energy and the Environment Fellows

September 12, 2024

Nine Penn State researchers have been named fellows of the Institute of Energy and the Environment for 2024. The program recognizes and assists the exceptional achievements and unparalleled research impacts of highly successful researchers in the areas of energy and the environment. Nominees for the fellowship were submitted by the University community.

Bone health the focus of new Penn State Extension program

September 11, 2024

Penn State Extension is launching a free webinar series, “Build Your Bones,” focused on preventing osteoporosis and maintaining bone health. The seven live webinar classes will occur from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, from Sept. 26 to Nov. 7. The course is designed for individuals interested in osteoporosis prevention, those diagnosed with the condition, and their families and caregivers.

New online course focuses on food safety for apple packinghouses

September 11, 2024

A recent listeria outbreak traced to a meat processing plant in Virginia has killed nine people and prompted product recalls, highlighting the importance of food safety standards for processors. To help businesses stay compliant and prevent such outbreaks, Penn State Extension provides resources on commercial food processing best practices, regulations and related topics.

Free suicide-prevention training webinars aimed at saving lives

September 11, 2024

Penn State Extension educators will lead webinar trainings, “Question, Persuade and Refer,” developed by the QPR Institute, this fall semester. Participants can learn to recognize warning signs of suicide in friends, coworkers, family members or neighbors in need with evidence-based training aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.

Forest ecosystem management student helps fight fires in Montana

September 11, 2024

Camryn Hornbaker, a Penn State senior majoring in forest ecosystem management, was part of a wildland firefighting crew that spent two weeks supporting firefighting efforts in eastern Montana.

Peter Landschoot retires after serving as extension turf specialist for 35 years

September 11, 2024

Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass science, retired this fall with emeritus status after serving as the resident turfgrass management specialist for Penn State Extension for 35 years. By all accounts, his work has had an impact both inside and outside the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Three projects receive Huck Innovative and Transformational Seed Fund grants

September 11, 2024

The Huck Innovative and Transformational Seed (HITS) Fund initiative has awarded three high-risk, potentially high-impact project seed funding. 

Extension webinar to focus on heart-healthy eating to lower high blood pressure

September 9, 2024

Anyone interested in learning about heart health to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease can benefit from a Penn State Extension webinar titled “Exploring the DASH Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure.” The event will occur from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 9.

Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters -- Week of Sept. 9

September 9, 2024

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 15 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.   

Fall ‘Night at the Museums’ event set for Thursday, Sept. 12

September 9, 2024

The Penn State Museum Consortium will hold its fall 2024 "Night at the Museums" on Thursday, Sept. 12. Participating museums and galleries on the University Park campus will be open extended hours from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Webinar to address blight remediation through intergovernmental partnership

September 9, 2024

Municipal resource shortages and turnover of staff and elected officials can make it difficult to apply best practices for blight mitigation consistently. A Sept. 18 Penn State Extension land-use webinar will focus on how Westmoreland County, in collaboration with the Local Government Academy, is addressing blight and disinvestment through an intergovernmental partnership.

Berkey Creamery wins top spot in awards celebrating the best of Centre County

September 9, 2024

Penn State’s Berkey Creamery has nabbed top honors in the 2024 Centre County Favorites, a competition celebrating the places, restaurants and local businesses that central Pennsylvania residents love.

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners shine as leaders at national conference

September 6, 2024

The entire Penn State Extension Master Gardener leadership team was selected to present at the 2024 National Extension Master Gardener Coordinators’ Conference, held Aug. 26-29 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Pa. students the focus of Penn State’s $40M request for increased state support

September 5, 2024

As an incremental step toward raising Penn State’s per-student state funding to match Pennsylvania’s other public universities, Penn State leaders are requesting a $30 million increase in the University’s 2025-26 general support appropriation — part of a total $40.1 million requested increase in state funding. 

Extension volunteers help Stroud Township save money with stormwater inspections

September 4, 2024

A team of Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteers in Monroe County is helping Stroud Township save money while enhancing water quality in the region.

College of Ag Sciences doctoral student wins national foundation award

September 4, 2024

Ram Neupane, a doctoral student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, received a $10,000 research award given by the Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Foundation.

Twelve Penn Staters honored with 2024 Alumni Fellow Award

September 4, 2024

Twelve Penn State alumni will be honored for their outstanding professional accomplishments and named Alumni Fellows, the most prestigious designation given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Quick guide aimed at educating public about Pennsylvania election process

August 29, 2024

With election day quickly approaching, Cristy Schmidt, Penn State Extension applied research educator, recently collaborated with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania to develop a series of educational and messaging materials as part of her work as the association’s Extension fellow.

Teresa Sylvina named attending veterinarian for laboratories at Penn State

August 29, 2024

Teresa Sylvina has been named the new attending veterinarian for laboratory animals under the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and research professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.

Extension offers webinar about comprehensive planning in Pennsylvania

August 29, 2024

Penn State Extension is hosting a free webinar designed to help the public, landowners, business owners, local municipal officials and planning commissioners understand the importance of comprehensive planning. The webinar will occur from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will be repeated from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Research teams receive $1.1 million to study microbiomes in agriculture

August 28, 2024

Two Penn State-led research teams have received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for projects investigating the ways microbiomes — the microorganisms in a particular environment, such as in soil or a living organism — can affect disease dynamics in agriculture.

Nine new faculty join Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute

August 28, 2024

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is welcoming nine new co-funded faculty members to Penn State. By helping to support co-funded faculty members, SSRI also supports interdisciplinary research within the social and behavioral sciences.

Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Aug. 27

August 27, 2024

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 14 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.   

STEM Libraries announce fall 2024 events for graduate, undergraduate students

August 27, 2024

The STEM Libraries at Penn State University Park have announced the calendar of events for the fall 2024 semester.

College of Ag Sciences faculty, students lauded at annual national conference

August 26, 2024

Several faculty members and graduate students associated with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently received awards at the 70th annual North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference in Wooster, Ohio.

USDA grant to fund project developing AI-powered database on water quality

August 26, 2024

Nitrate, a common chemical compound that occurs naturally and is found in plants, water and soil, can break down into molecules harmful to human, animal and ecological health and accumulate as a pollutant. Nitrate contamination in streams, lakes and estuaries is a critical problem in many agricultural watersheds, but water-quality data is limited, making monitoring stream health and making management decisions difficult, according to researchers at Penn State. To enhance available data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a four-year, $650,000 grant to a research team at Penn State. 

Salamanders are surprisingly abundant in Northeastern forests, study finds

August 26, 2024

Two recent studies involving Penn State researchers shed light on the ecological importance of red-backed salamanders and confirmed that proactive measures could prevent costly impacts from a wildlife disease spreading across Europe that has not yet reached North America.

Lisa Holden named interim head of the Department of Animal Science

August 23, 2024

Lisa Holden, associate professor of dairy science, has been appointed interim head of the Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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  • 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)