Penn State alumnus Nedoroscik and DWTS cast swing by Penn State Berkey Creamery

January 24, 2025

Penn State’s own Stephen Nedoroscik, gymnast, Olympic medalist and standout on the last season of “Dancing With the Stars,” accompanied by several of his castmates, made a sweet return to campus Thursday with a visit to what he said is one of his favorites — the Berkey Creamery.

Three faculty receive Presidential Early Career Award for scientists, engineers

January 24, 2025

Three Penn State researchers have been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the White House announced on Jan. 14. The award is the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on early-career scientists and engineers. The awards are conferred annually following recommendations from federal funding agencies.

Researchers explore strategies to aid smallholder fish farmers in Zambia

January 24, 2025

Although aquaculture, fish farming, is believed to have been practiced for thousands of years in Asia, the approach is relatively new in Africa, which is facing a “fish deficit” that contributes to a lack of protein in the diets of the populace, according to the international nonprofit WorldFish. To help accelerate fish farming in northern Zambia, a team led by researchers at Penn State investigated local integrated agriculture-aquaculture practices — meaning their management of agricultural resources to supply essential inputs for feeding fish — adopted by farmers.

López-Uribe awarded presidential honor for early career scientists

January 24, 2025

Margarita López-Uribe, the Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor of Entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Harnessing mushroom microbiomes for better crop development

January 24, 2025

Microorganisms collected from the material in which button mushrooms are grown may benefit the development of future fungi crops, according to a study led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Master Watershed Steward Bethany Canner leads community events in Lebanon County

January 23, 2025

In 2020, Bethany Canner became an inaugural member of the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteer program in the Lower Susquehanna region. However, her curiosity and interest in watershed management date back to her childhood.

Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Jan. 22

January 22, 2025

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 19 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.   

Jimenez-Gasco leads Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology

January 22, 2025

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State has appointed Maria del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, professor of plant pathology, as head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, effective Jan. 1.

‘Buzz me in:’ Bees wearing itty bitty QR codes reveal hive secrets

January 22, 2025

Several hundred bees in rural Pennsylvania and rural New York are sporting tiny QR codes on their backs to track when they go in and out of their hives. The work, a collaboration among entomologists and electrical engineers at Penn State, is the first step in solving a long-standing mystery of how far bees travel from their hives to collect pollen and nectar.

Despite knowing where and when people hunt, Canada geese don’t flee far

January 21, 2025

Geese appear to understand when and where hunting takes place but are willing to risk the danger to stay close to resources and their primary habitats, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. 

Christina Grozinger to lead Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences as director

January 17, 2025

Christina Grozinger has been appointed as the new director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, succeeding interim director Patrick Drew. Globally recognized for her research in pollinator genetics and insect biodiversity, Grozinger's leadership is expected to significantly advance the institute's research capabilities and collaborative efforts across diverse scientific disciplines.

Panel discussion will explore outcomes, key takeaways from COP29

January 17, 2025

The delegation of Penn State faculty and students who went to Azerbaijan for the United Nations’ annual climate meeting known as the Conference of Parties, COP29, will take part in a panel discussion from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, at Penn State University Park. The event, called Climate Conversation Café, is supported by the Penn State Climate Consortium.

Discovery could eliminate need to refrigerate vaccines and protein-based drugs

January 16, 2025

A new storage technique can keep protein-based drugs and vaccines stable without keeping them cold. The discovery, led by researchers at Penn State, could eliminate the need for refrigeration for hundreds of life-saving medicines like insulin, monoclonal antibodies and viral vaccines.

WATCH: Entomology doctoral candidate discusses wasp discoveries

January 16, 2025

Identifying two dozen new species of gall wasps was a crowning achievement of Louis Nastasi’s Penn State graduate education experience. A doctoral candidate in entomology, Nastasi and his collaborators have discovered more than 20 new species of gall wasps through their research.

New grant to evaluate national nonprofit programs focused on veteran employment

January 15, 2025

The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments to support the evaluation of four prominent national nonprofit programs — Hiring Our Heroes, Hire Heroes USA, VetJobs and Onward to Opportunity— dedicated to improving veteran-employment outcomes.

Military community can access Penn State Extension resources for free

January 14, 2025

At the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Military Appreciation Day, Jan. 9, Penn State Extension announced the launch of its Military Program. Running through March 31, the program provides active military members and veterans with free access to eligible workshops, webinars, conferences, online courses, and guides and publications.

Penn State Extension to offer ‘Beekeeping Around the World’ webinar series

January 13, 2025

For those interested in learning about how beekeeping is practiced in different parts of the world, Penn State Extension is offering a free, six-week webinar series. “Beekeeping Around the World" will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays from Feb. 6 to March 13.

College of Ag Sciences graduate students receive research grant awards

January 10, 2025

Thirteen graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences received research grants recently awarded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Virtual speaker to discuss impact and potential of PlantVillage on Jan. 21

January 9, 2025

In the next Virtual Speaker Series from the Penn State Alumni Association, David Hughes, Huck Chair in Global Food Security at Penn State, will discuss PlantVillage, an AI-enabled "land grant in a phone" that uses data sharing to help smallholder farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas adapt to climate change. This free event will be held on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 21. Registration is open now.

Webinar introduces free tool to help providers support veterans’ well-being

January 9, 2025

Veteran-serving providers can now access a free, innovative, evidence-based tool designed to improve outcomes for veterans and their families across multiple life domains, including employment, education, financial, physical and mental health, and social relationships. On Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. the Veteran Evaluation and Research Applications Network within the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, with funding from the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, will host a free webinar introducing the Veteran Transition Screener.

Cycling and sustainability go hand-in-hand for College of Ag Sciences student

January 9, 2025

Emily Stapleton, a first-year agricultural and biorenewable systems management major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is working toward a career in sustainable food production. At Penn State, she’s found a place to pursue her academic interests and love of competitive cycling.

Ash tree variability may offer restoration path post-beetle decimation

January 8, 2025

The invasive emerald ash borer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was first found in the United States in southeast Michigan in 2002. In the decades since, the wood-boring beetle has spread east and west across the U.S. and Canada, killing tens of millions of ash trees, causing one of the costliest forest insect invasions to date. Researchers at Penn State are working with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners to identify and develop ash trees genetically able to withstand the beetles’ onslaught and strategize how to restore ash to forests.

Quantity over quality? Different bees are attracted to different floral traits

January 6, 2025

Different species of bees may be attracted to different flower traits when it comes to deciding where they’re going to get their next meal, according to a recent study led by researchers at Penn State.

New grant aims to strengthen veteran policies in Pennsylvania

January 6, 2025

The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State has received a $181,080 grant from The Heinz Endowments to develop and enhance policies in support of Pennsylvania’s military veterans. This funding will support efforts to strengthen state-level policy discussions, harness veterans' economic potential and evaluate the state’s workforce system to facilitate the successful integration of military veterans into Pennsylvania's workforce.

Penn State offers course to assist food processors in controlling listeria

January 2, 2025

Foodborne illness outbreaks and food recalls have occurred with troubling frequency in recent times, according to Penn State Extension food safety experts, who noted that one foodborne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, has been of particular concern. To help food processing operations reduce risk, Penn State specialists have created an online, self-paced course designed for managers, supervisors, sanitation workers and line operators who want to gain a better understanding about this important foodborne pathogen and how it can be controlled. 

'Growing Impact' examines sustainable cement replacements

January 2, 2025

The January episode of “Growing Impact” discusses cement replacements made from leftover agricultural materials that could be more environmentally friendly.

Pet dogs often overlooked as spreader of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella

December 23, 2024

A team of researchers from Penn State have found that household dogs are an overlooked transmission point for Salmonella, a pathogen that can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, with some infections potentially having life-threatening complications. However, they said, better awareness of the risk and proper hygiene could potentially help mitigate cross-species infections.  

Penn State Berks professor receives Crop Science Society of America 2024 Award

December 19, 2024

The Crop Science Society of America recently announced that Michael A. Fidanza, professor of horticulture at Penn State Berks, has been honored with the Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award. The annual awards are presented for outstanding contributions to crop science through education, national and international service, and research.

Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows

December 19, 2024

Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth’s most prolific pollinators — and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.

New treatment for dairy cows could help fight antibiotic resistance, study finds

December 18, 2024

A concentrated sugar solution could be just as effective as antibiotics at treating a common infection in dairy cows, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.

Media Contacts

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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)