Cathy Bowen: Penn State Faculty Profiles in Diversity and Inclusion

October 2, 2017

Cathy Bowen, professor of agricultural and extension education and consumer issues, has spent nearly 30 years at Penn State helping Pennsylvanians and students to become financially literate, and manage their resources.

Partnership targets farm safety among region’s Amish population

September 29, 2017

Beyond the picturesque barns and horse-drawn buggies that define Pennsylvania Dutch Country lurk farm dangers that can land children in the hospital.

New mobile app diagnoses crop diseases in the field and alerts rural farmers

September 29, 2017

Researchers who developed a new mobile application that uses artificial intelligence to accurately diagnose crop diseases in the field have won a $100,000 award to help expand their project to help millions of small-scale farmers across Africa. David Hughes, associate professor of entomology and biology, Penn State, leads the project with James Legg, of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

Networking event promotes microbiome research collaborations

September 29, 2017

Those interested in learning about or participating in microbiome research at Penn State are invited to attend a networking event Oct. 3 sponsored by the University's Microbiome Research Center.

Ag Department, Penn State seek public input on state Pollinator Protection Plan

September 28, 2017

Farmers, gardeners and other Pennsylvanians concerned about the health of pollinators — given their critically important role in growing and producing food — now have the chance to comment on a draft of the state’s proposed Pollinator Protection Plan. The plan, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State, is designed to protect bees and other insects that pollinate nearly 75 percent of the Commonwealth’s food crops.

Alumnus' gifts to support 4-H, Penn State Extension and agricultural engineering

September 22, 2017

Wayne Martenas, a Penn State alumnus in agricultural engineering, and his wife, Marian McKeegan Martenas, have pledged $250,000 in gifts, which will be divided among a new endowment, an existing endowment, a new building and an existing scholarship fund.

New faculty member aims to support the growth of agricultural education

September 22, 2017

Kevin Curry Jr. recently joined Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education.

Ag Sciences Career Day will take place Oct. 10 at Bryce Jordan Center

September 22, 2017

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will host its annual Ag Sciences Career Day on Oct. 10. The event draws nearly 200 exhibitors, recruiters and academic program representatives from agricultural and related industries annually.

New biomaterial could replace plastic laminates, greatly reduce pollution

September 20, 2017

An inexpensive biomaterial that can be used to sustainably replace plastic barrier coatings in packaging and many other applications has been developed by Penn State researchers, who predict its adoption would greatly reduce pollution.

Pate named Nationwide Insurance Associate Professor of Agricultural Safety

September 20, 2017

Michael Pate has been appointed Nationwide Insurance Associate Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

CHAPS open house offers rare view of Penn State’s equine science programs

September 20, 2017

Sept. 30 will mark the fifth annual Penn State Horse Barn Open House, hosted by the Collegiate Horseman’s Association at Penn State (CHAPS) and the Penn State Equine Research Team at the equine science facilities' “Old Barn,” directly across from Beaver Stadium, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held in connection with the third annual Celebrate Agriculture Day at Beaver Stadium, an event designed for Penn Staters to honor the agricultural roots and history of the University.

Whole food diet may help prevent colon cancer, other chronic conditions

September 20, 2017

Colorful fruits and vegetables -- like the purple potato -- may contain compounds that help fight some types of cancer. An international team of researchers studied the anti-cancer effects of purple potatoes in pigs. This could be another step in finding prevention strategies and cancer treatments for patients.

$4.92M gift to Penn State for industrial biotechnology education, research

September 19, 2017

CSL Behring, a global specialty biotherapeutics leader, has committed $4.92 million to Penn State over the next six years to transform biotechnology education and research across Pennsylvania and beyond.

The Final Ag Frontier: Plant sciences student looks to the skies

September 15, 2017

Plant sciences student Laura Reese spent her spring semester working for NASA in Cape Canaveral, Florida. She performed research in conditions meant to emulate growing plants in space.

Grant supports research to enhance epithelial barrier function, immune response

September 15, 2017

A faculty member in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has received a $7.3 million grant for innovative research on a cellular protein that could be a target for enhancing immune function in response to a variety of diseases and environmental toxins. Gary Perdew, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in Agricultural Sciences, received the award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Fifth annual Rural Studies Conference to be held Oct. 27-28

September 14, 2017

Penn State's Rural Sociology Graduate Student Association (RSGA) will host the 5th Annual Rural Studies Graduate Student Conference on Oct. 27-28 at the HUB-Robeson-Center on the University Park campus. This conference welcomes undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines and all institutions who study rural areas and topics, both domestically and internationally.

College of Agricultural Sciences hosts Mandela Washington Fellow

September 14, 2017

Aïssata Abdou Gado, a recipient of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, spent six weeks of professional development at Penn State's University Park campus in August and September. She worked with faculty and staff from across the College of Agricultural Sciences on issues related to food security, livestock and women's empowerment.

Forest experts: All signs point to a banner year for Pa.'s foliage display

September 14, 2017

The rainy summer in Pennsylvania has set the stage for what could be an awesome autumn foliage display, according to forest ecologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Student uses summer internship at CDC to fight environmental contaminants

September 13, 2017

Senior environmental resource management student Aaron Blakney spent the summer of 2017 analyzing the impacts of hazardous materials during an internship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fruit and vegetable intake influences obesity risk in Mexican-American children

September 12, 2017

Potential disparities in fruit and vegetable intake in Mexican-American children may be placing them at greater risk for obesity and related health problems, according to researchers at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Penn State.

Steinberg named senior director of development in College of Ag Sciences

September 12, 2017

Following a comprehensive national search, Lauren Steinberg has been named senior director of development in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Formerly the director of major gifts for the college, Steinberg brings more than 17 years of fundraising experience to her new position.

Land-use webinar to focus on municipal authorities tapping into renewable energy

September 8, 2017

How municipalities and their local authorities can utilize renewable energy such as solar to run their systems will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension on Sept. 20.

Webinar to discuss natural gas role in plastics

September 8, 2017

How does natural gas transform the economics of the Appalachian Basin and the production of plastics? That will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension on Thursday, Sept. 21.

NEWBio project concludes, advances biomass energy efforts

September 8, 2017

The NorthEast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium (NEWBio) is a regional network of individuals from leading universities, businesses and government who worked together to advance sustainable bioenergy in the Northeast through a $10 million U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant.

Professors to share impacts of overusing antibiotics on WPSU’s 'Digging Deeper'

September 8, 2017

Penn State President Eric J. Barron will welcome a pair of University professors to his monthly WPSU show, “Digging Deeper,” to discuss their research on reducing harmful overuse of antibiotics. The show will air at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 17 on WPSU-TV.

Report addresses flooding and flood insurance impacts on rural Pennsylvania

September 7, 2017

A newly released report examines how flooding and recent changes to the federal flood insurance program are impacting rural Pennsylvania in unique ways.

Safe, comfortable housing for cage-free chickens is goal of Penn State research

September 7, 2017

A shift in consumer behavior is prompting some poultry producers to change the manner in which chickens are housed and cared for, and research underway in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will help them convert from traditional caged housing to noncaged systems that continue to safeguard the health and safety of flocks and employees.

New book on rural poverty in the U.S. co-edited by rural sociology professor

September 6, 2017

Ann Tickamyer, professor of rural sociology, examines why the geography, demography and history of rural communities keeps them poor, in a comprehensive analysis that extends from the Civil War to the present in the new publication, "Rural Poverty in the United States."

Client relationship, business operations managers named for Penn State Extension

September 5, 2017

Penn State Extension has named client relationship managers and business operations managers to serve its 10 administrative areas across Pennsylvania. The appointments are part of recently announced changes to the organization's structure, product development and program delivery.

Penn State researcher's work empowers youth to be change agents

August 31, 2017

Ongoing research conducted by Nicole Webster, associate professor of youth and international development in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, examines the role of youth in civic engagement and social change.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
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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)