February 4, 2026
During his 2026-27 budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly on Feb. 3, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $30 million allocation for the commonwealth’s newly created performance-based funding model — money that would be shared between Penn State and the other state-related universities — in addition to flat funding for the University's general support appropriation.
February 4, 2026
To better equip organic farmers to control weeds, a team of Penn State agricultural scientists received a four-year, $935,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study how promoting soil microbes to infect and kill weed seeds might reduce problematic weed species.
February 4, 2026
Jennifer Koehl, assistant teaching professor and undergraduate program coordinator in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has been chosen to receive the college’s Community of Advising Excellence Award.
February 3, 2026
February is American Heart Month, a time when the nation raises awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. To recognize this observance, Penn State Extension is offering several in-person workshops and webinars focused on small lifestyle changes to improve heart health.
February 3, 2026
Sustain Penn State will host a virtual screening of “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 as part of its Intersections Film Series. The screening will be followed by a moderated panel discussion exploring the connections between coal, economic development, public health and environmental remediation.
February 3, 2026
Penn State students in architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design and nursing recently came together for the inaugural Intergenerational Design Innovation Challenge, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex design challenges.
February 2, 2026
Governments and organizations that provide mental health support to farmers dealing with depression, anxiety and isolation have traditionally focused on overcoming the stigma associated with getting help — but that isn’t the barrier farmers face, according to a new study by a research team led by rural sociologists at Penn State. The bigger issues, they found, are rural health care shortages, long wait times for appointments and travel time, as well as high health care costs.
January 30, 2026
Bayer has expanded it's partnership with Penn State by launching the Bayer Pharmaceuticals 2026 Bayer University Mentoring Program (B4U) for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursing careers in related fields. This expanded B4U initiative offers mentorship, professional skills training and nationwide networking to prepare emerging scientists for careers across academia, industry and innovation.
January 30, 2026
Researchers at Penn State recently found, in mice, that a protein critical to intestinal barrier function — helping the gut absorb nutrients while blocking harmful pathogens — is rhythmically controlled by nighttime liver metabolism of the molecule tryptophan.
January 29, 2026
Katie McLaughlin, a graduate of the College of Agricultural Sciences, brings with her a lifelong connection to agriculture to her current role in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity.
January 29, 2026
Craig Conforti, interim associate director for client relations with Penn State Extension, was appointed as the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s Extension Fellow, effective Jan. 1.
January 28, 2026
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.
January 28, 2026
Penn State researchers answer questions submitted by elementary school students about volcanic eruptions.
January 27, 2026
The Institute of Energy and the Environment's new faculty bring together expertise that connects energy systems, environmental processes and human dimensions, opening new pathways for collaboration and shared research efforts.
January 26, 2026
After 35 years with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Chuck Gill recently retired from his role as senior public relations specialist and news editor, bringing to a close a distinguished career marked by editorial leadership, trusted counsel, and a lasting impact on how the college shares its mission with audiences across Pennsylvania and beyond.
January 26, 2026
A team of Penn State food scientists was awarded a two-year, $428,200 grant by the National Institutes of Health to explore whether cow’s milk protein — casein — can help disperse drugs that don’t dissolve well in liquids for oral medications.
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.
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.
January 22, 2026
Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees, according to a new study from researchers at Penn State.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
