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.

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.

Tracy Hoover retires as associate dean in College of Agricultural Sciences

December 13, 2025

A love of teaching and working with youth is what initially attracted Tracy Hoover to a career in agricultural education. After about 40 years of impacting the lives of aspiring agriculturists, her passion for ag education has not dimmed as she retires from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, effective Jan. 16, 2026.

Investigating the microbiome’s role in intestinal disorder in pregnancy

December 12, 2025

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.

Institute for Computational and Data Sciences funds eight mid-scale seed grants

December 12, 2025

The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences' Mid-Scale Seed Grant Program has awarded eight teams of Penn State researchers for projects that will contribute to one or more of the institute's research hubs or affiliated centers.

Penn State College of Ag Sciences to offer food science short courses

December 11, 2025

In 2026, food inspectors and sanitarians, quality assurance managers, food plant managers and food engineers can learn the latest developments in food science with short courses offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Penn State students bridge food security, education inspired by World Food Prize

December 11, 2025

Five students in Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, for a week-long immersion in global food security at the World Food Prize event.

Teaching excellence lauded in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences

December 9, 2025

Exceptional educators in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have been honored with the college’s 2025 teaching awards, recognizing their impact in and out of the classroom.

Penn State to bring hands-on learning to 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show

December 9, 2025

At the Pennsylvania Farm Show, to be held Jan. 10-17, 2026, in Harrisburg, faculty and extension educators from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will offer interactive activities and expert guidance on topics ranging from mental wellness and food preservation to invasive species and water quality.

Two College of Ag Sciences faculty earn spots on highly cited researchers list

December 8, 2025

Francisco Dini-Andreote and Andrew Patterson in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are among the most highly cited researchers in 2025, according to the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Group.

Forest and wildlife technology programs to open at Penn State Altoona

December 8, 2025

Associate degree programs in forest technology and wildlife technology – currently located only at Penn State Mont Alto and DuBois, respectively, and offered through Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences – have been approved to open at Penn State Altoona, maintaining these unique and historic offerings at Penn State for a new generation of learners.

AI-enabled monitoring system could help keep dairy calves healthy

December 8, 2025

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) — a type of pneumonia — is the leading cause of death for dairy calves after they become accustomed to food other than their mothers’ milk, resulting in economic losses at over $1 billion annually for the U.S. cattle industry. To detect BRD in dairy calves before they show obvious symptoms and reduce those costly losses, a team of researchers, funded by a new three-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, intend to create a system that uses modern sensing technologies and advanced artificial intelligence.

Penn State Extension survey reveals strengths, growth areas for farmers markets

December 4, 2025

Extension educators earlier this year conducted an in-depth survey across various farmers markets to gain insight into shopper behaviors, preferences and areas of interest. This knowledge can help market vendors enhance their operations and refine their offerings, according to Brian Moyer, education program associate with Penn State Extension’s business, entrepreneur and economic development team.

Eyes for an agricultural robot: AI system identifies weeds in apple orchards

December 4, 2025

To help apple growers achieve such precise management, researchers at Penn State are developing an automated, robotic weed-management system.

Penn State Pullers club provides unmatched practical experience for students

December 3, 2025

Drew Trostle, of Mercersburg, is looking forward to a career in the agricultural equipment industry. The fourth-year student is pursuing a major in biological engineering and a minor in off-road equipment, both in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Trostle said he credits the Penn State Pullers club with providing real-world knowledge beyond the classroom.

Penn State Poultry Judging Team excels at national competition

December 3, 2025

The Collegiate Poultry Judging Team in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences placed second at the 59th National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest held recently at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Penn State collaborative effort aims to accelerate the future of agriculture

December 1, 2025

An innovative interdisciplinary collaboration between Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and the College of Agricultural Sciences will focus on fostering innovation in food and agriculture.

Sustainable Communities Collaborative to showcase measurable community impact

December 1, 2025

Students from across Penn State will present their fall semester Sustainable Communities Collaborative projects during the Campus and Community Sustainability Expo, co-hosted by State College Borough and Penn State Sustainability on Dec. 11. The poster-style event brings together students, faculty, community partners and local residents to highlight project outcomes and foster new connections.

Pennsylvania 4-H seeks support for animal science endowment on GivingTuesday

November 26, 2025

Penn State will celebrate its 11th GivingTuesday on Tuesday, Dec. 2 — and Pennsylvania 4-H invites alumni and friends to participate by showing support for the organization’s 4-H Animal Science Knowledge Teams Endowment.

Media Contacts

Chuck Gill
  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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

Chuck Gill
  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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