Penn State Extension's Master Watershed Stewards are making a difference in Pa.

August 30, 2018

In a state with more than 12 million people and robust agricultural and resource-extraction industries, the water quality in Pennsylvania's more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers is always a dicey proposition. But a statewide volunteer group marshaled by Penn State Extension is starting to make a difference.

Brandywine professors raise awareness about Pennsylvania's newest pest

August 29, 2018

There’s a new insect causing a “buzz” in the northeastern United States — and two Brandywine faculty members have joined a University-wide effort to educate the public.

Security Center announces seed grant opportunities for Penn State researchers

August 29, 2018

The Center for Security Research and Education at Penn State is announcing its 2018-2019 Seed Grant Program to support security-related scholarship and educational programs at Penn State.

Penn State asks visitors to help 'stop the spread' of spotted lanternfly

August 28, 2018

Penn State is asking visitors to campus, especially those coming from southeastern Pennsylvania, to take precautions before traveling to help reduce the spread of the spotted lanternfly.

Beef cattle short course slated for second year by Penn State Extension

August 28, 2018

Building on the successful Beef Cattle Short Course offered last autumn, Penn State Extension again will host a two-day educational course for beef producers at the University Park campus on Oct. 16 and 17.

Lake Erie Grape Research and Extension Center to host open house Sept. 15

August 28, 2018

The Penn State Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center will hold a public open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. Open house visitors are invited to tour the vineyards and learn more about the center’s research efforts.

Doctoral student in plant science recipient of inaugural FFAR Fellow Award

August 28, 2018

Zachary Dashner, a doctoral student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, was one of 17 recipients chosen by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, or FFAR, to receive the inaugural FFAR Fellow Award.

Farmer Field School addresses food insecurity, gender inequality in Honduras

August 27, 2018

Researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are among an interdisciplinary team dedicated to elevating Hondurans — especially women — by teaching them how to diversify their farm operations to improve family diet and income, while advancing gender equality.

College of Agricultural Sciences names Harbaugh Faculty Scholars

August 27, 2018

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has awarded funding to three individuals and two teams to support the development of innovative curricula under the college's Harbaugh Faculty Scholars program.

'Into the Woods' exhibit follows trail of nature education, conservation

August 24, 2018

A new exhibit that explores the eastern U.S. forest, its wildlife and botanical wealth, and gives special tribute to early women naturalists and conservationists, will feature nature-related materials from the University Libraries’ life sciences, maps and archival collections, Sept. 5 through Feb. 11.

Going green: Student sustainability coordinator wants to end game-day waste

August 24, 2018

Jillian Barskey, an environmental resource management major in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, aspires to reduce game-day waste by serving as this year's student sustainability coordinator for Intercollegiate Athletics and Penn State's Sustainability Institute.

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners lauded for excellence

August 23, 2018

Several Penn State Extension Master Gardener programs received accolades during the organization's annual meeting in Champion, Pennsylvania.

Penn State professor lends expertise to revise national poultry publication

August 22, 2018

Robert Elkin, professor of avian nutritional biochemistry in the Department of Animal Science, recently was appointed as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee that will prepare the 10th revised edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Poultry publication.

Plant virus alters competition between aphid species

August 22, 2018

In the world of plant-feeding insects, who shows up first to the party determines the overall success of the gathering; yet viruses can disrupt these intricate relationships, according to researchers at Penn State.

Pa. Turfgrass Council names graduate fellowships for three turfgrass icons

August 21, 2018

The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council recently established three graduate fellowships in the College of Agricultural Sciences in honor of three alumni of the turfgrass program.

Extension dairy specialist honored by international guild for cheese activism

August 21, 2018

Kerry Kaylegian, assistant research professor of dairy foods and extension specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, was inducted into the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers New World Chapter on July 28 in a ceremony held in association with the American Cheese Society's annual meeting in Pittsburgh.

College of Ag Sciences student invites peers to grow their leadership skills

August 20, 2018

Dylan Schoemaker's desire to grow as a student and a leader served as the springboard for him to dive into the many opportunities provided through Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. One of those pursuits is his appointment as campus ambassador for Agricultural Future of America.

Saving the Bay

August 20, 2018

Nutrient pollution is a major issue affecting water quality around the world: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names it “one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems.” The Chesapeake Bay, with some 64,000 square miles of land draining into a shallow, narrow body of water just 200 miles long, is in some respects a worst-case scenario. Over the last 10 years, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has taken a lead role in solving this problem.

Sensational servings: Researcher to explain ice cream and our senses

August 17, 2018

Alyssa Bakke, a staff sensory scientist in the Department of Food Science who has expertise in food choice and consumer behavior, will be speaking at August's Science on Tap event at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the Liberty Craft House in State College.

Using mushrooms as a prebiotic may help improve glucose regulation

August 16, 2018

Researchers showed that feeding white button mushrooms to mice changed the composition of gut microbes to produce more short chain fatty acids, specifically propionate from succinate. Previous research has shown that succinate and propionate can change the expression of genes needed to manage glucose production. A better understanding this connection between mushrooms and gut microbes in mice could one day pave the way for new diabetes treatments and prevention strategies for people.

Using social media to solve social problems

August 16, 2018

A National Science Foundation-funded Penn State project will evaluate the accuracy of using Twitter data to represent populations across different demographic groups.

Webinar looks at research on landowner coalitions in shale gas development

August 15, 2018

Marcellus Shale landowner coalitions — their form, function and impact — will be the topic of a one-hour, web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23.

Penn State well represented at upcoming sustainability conference

August 13, 2018

Penn State will be well-represented at the 2018 Conference and Expo of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) on Oct. 2–5 in Pittsburgh.

Land-use webinar to focus on the changing landscape of stormwater management

August 10, 2018

Managing stormwater will be the topic of a web-based seminar presented by Penn State Extension at noon on Aug. 15.

Research commercialization leader joins College of Agricultural Sciences

August 10, 2018

Maria Spencer has joined the Entrepreneurship & Innovation team in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as the first John and Patty Warehime Entrepreneur in Residence. Her role in the newly created and endowed position is to support the college’s researchers and inventors through the technology-commercialization process and to foster productive relationships between the college and industry.

Institutes of Energy and the Environment to hold food-energy-water workshop

August 9, 2018

The Institutes of Energy and the Environment will hold a food-energy-water workshop at 10 a.m. on Aug. 27, in 321 HUB-Robeson Center.

New technology improves CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitoes, other species

August 9, 2018

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A technology designed to improve CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitoes and other arthropods succeeds with a high degree of efficiency, while eliminating the need for difficult microinjection of genetic material, according to researchers.

Plant sciences student seeks to improve agriculture at home and abroad

August 9, 2018

Hannah Hunsberger, a senior majoring in plant sciences, traveled to Ireland this past spring as a student in an embedded course that examined how the country and its agriculture were affected by the Irish Potato Famine of 1845.

Surviving large carnivores have far-reaching impact

August 8, 2018

Anywhere large-bodied mammalian carnivore species are present, other, smaller carnivores are less likely to occur, according to an international team of researchers that conducted the first global assessment of carnivore interactions using camera trap data.

Well-being of 'left behind' children in Kyrgyzstan focus of study

August 6, 2018

Understanding the economic, health, behavioral and educational effects of labor migration on children is one aspect of a three-year, interdisciplinary research project that is being carried out by researchers in Penn State's Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Health and Human Development, and Education.

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)

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)