Penn State Extension expands suite of online landscape skills courses

November 15, 2022

Penn State Extension recently expanded its library of online landscape workforce training courses and is offering newly available bulk pricing to landscape and nursery professionals.

New grant to save lives by funding devices to prevent tractor rollover deaths

November 14, 2022

Farmers in Pennsylvania can get state reimbursement to pay for retrofitting their older tractors with life-saving rollover-protection structures — often referred to as ROPS — aided by a new Penn State program.

Penn State’s 'Stories from the Field' series announces 3rd session

November 10, 2022

Penn State’s “Stories from the Field” conversation series is wrapping up its fall season with a session Nov. 17 featuring Darren Marshall, Southern Queensland Landscapes’ vertebrate pest and wildlife management lead. The session will be via Zoom and is free and open to anyone interested in attending, but registration is required.

College of Ag Sciences student elected secretary of National FFA officer team

November 10, 2022

Jessica Herr, a first-year student at Penn State, has been elected to the National FFA Organization’s officer team as secretary for 2022-23. Herr, who is majoring in agricultural science with a minor in leadership development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and the other officers were elected in late October during the 95th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

'Elements of Global Change' presentation to take place Nov. 30

November 10, 2022

A one-hour “Elements of Global Change” presentation and discussion by students in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management will occur at 7 p.m. at Sower’s Harvest Café on Nov. 30.

Faculty in College of Ag Sciences recognized for research achievements

November 8, 2022

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the college’s inaugural Research Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 25 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Ramped up: Higher demand for wild leeks has foragers overeager, threatens plant

November 8, 2022

Early spring enthusiasm for ramps — also known as wild leeks — may be causing lower plant yields and threatening communities of the forest herb, according to Penn State researchers.

Penn State to hold second annual Solar Symposium

November 7, 2022

The second annual Penn State Solar Law Symposium, co-sponsored by Penn State Extension and Penn State's Center for Energy Law and Policy, will be held via webinar from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 16.

Latinx Agricultural Network earns national award for uplifting Latino community

November 7, 2022

The Latinx Agricultural Network in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has been lauded nationally for enhancing engagement with and support for Pennsylvania’s Latino agricultural community.

Backlash to racial justice movements may boost risk of high BMI, obesity

November 1, 2022

Penn State research found that Black people who lived in areas where anti-Black Lives Matter sentiments were more common were more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI) or obesity.

Penn State student competes to expand sustainable agriculture efforts abroad

November 1, 2022

Penn State student Divya Pant participated in the Miss Nepal North America pageant to help raise awareness of her project Carbon Away, which she founded with the goal of converting waste generated during the agricultural process into energy and fertilizer.

Longtime Ag Sciences donors deepen connection through graduate scholarship

November 1, 2022

Philanthropy often provides an avenue of connection between a donor and an organization, creating and strengthening a relationship that can last for years. For alumnus Mark Saunders and his partner, Lynn Walker, longtime donors to the College of Agricultural Sciences, funding undergraduate scholarships has done just that. To further deepen that connection, Saunders and Walker have committed $250,000 to endow a graduate scholarship.

Fighting fire with fire: Study gauges public perception of prescribed burns

November 1, 2022

Prescribed fires can reduce wildfire risks and support habitat restoration, but to be successful these policies also require public support. A new study may fill in gaps in understanding public perception toward prescribed burns in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, where these fires are increasingly used. 

'Growing Impact' podcast probes world of cellular agriculture, meat production

November 1, 2022

This month's episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast features Josephine Wee, a food scientist at Penn State with expertise in mycology and fungal biology, whose work with cellular agriculture may provide solutions to some of the challenges of large-scale commercial meat production.

2022 assessment grants awarded to three faculty members

October 31, 2022

The Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research and the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence have announced the recipients of the 2022 assessment grants. Assessment grants provide funding for activities that support academic learning outcomes assessment at Penn State, including assessment activities and action plans developed as a result of prior assessment findings.

Penn Staters with Impact: Shah Chowdhury

October 31, 2022

Shah Chowdhury graduated from Penn State in 2018 with a degree in environmental economics and policy. He co-founded an organization called Footsteps, was part of the Youth Assembly at the United Nations, was a Diana Award recipient, and was nominated for Forbes "30 Under 30" list for Asia.

International consortium to better assess Africa drought risks, boost resilience

October 27, 2022

An international, Penn State-led consortium aims to improve drought risk analysis and management and increase societal resilience in Africa, funded by a three-year, $1.1 million grant from the Belmont Forum.

Microbiologist in food science, E. coli Reference Center gets grant for research

October 27, 2022

A Penn State microbiologist and the huge collection of bacteria he oversees recently received a four-year, $371,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to be part of a multi-institutional $2.5 million research project aimed at predicting “bacteriophage” resistance from only a genome sequence.

‘Forever Chemicals’ persist through wastewater treatment, may enter crops

October 26, 2022

PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) persist through wastewater treatment at levels that may impact the long-term feasibility of ‘beneficial reuse of treated wastewater,’ according to a study conducted by researchers at Penn State and recently published in the Agronomy Journal.

Witzig named director of Penn State's Center for Security Research and Education

October 25, 2022

Lisa Witzig has been appointed director of Penn State’s Center for Security Research and Education. CSRE was created in 2017 to provide an interdisciplinary approach to security-related topics across Penn State and consists of 11 contributing academic and research units from across the University.

Penn State one of only two U.S. universities with two UNESCO chairs

October 24, 2022

A UNESCO chair provides opportunities for connection, funding, and program support from UNESCO to create and implement programs on an international level. It is a way to provide opportunities for research to create impact on a broad scale in a short amount of time. Penn State holds the honor of being one of two universities in the United States, along with Universidad de Puerto Rico, that is home to two UNESCO chairs.

Lower than normal rainfall linked with a higher chance of food insecurity

October 24, 2022

Food insecurity is a growing problem in certain parts of the world, especially as climate change affects weather conditions around the globe. New research led by Penn State found that a lack of rainfall was associated with the highest risk of food insecurity in Tanzania.

Prescribed fire could reduce tick populations and pathogen transmission

October 21, 2022

Prescribed fire — a tool increasingly used by forest managers and landowners to combat invasive species, improve wildlife habitat and restore ecosystem health — also could play a role in reducing the abundance of ticks and the transmission of disease pathogens they carry, according to a team of scientists.  

Penn State Soil Judging Team places 3rd at regional tourney; headed to nationals

October 20, 2022

Penn State’s student Soil Judging Team recently captured third place overall in a regional competition, edging out the University of Maryland, to qualify for the national championships next spring.

Grapevines may only need help to survive heavy spotted lanternfly infestations

October 20, 2022

While heavy infestations of spotted lanternfly on grapevines — especially in successive years — can result in their demise, most vines may be able to survive lighter infestations with few ill effects, according to a study by Penn State researchers.

Penn State alum presents her NASA space garden research to current students

October 20, 2022

Senior Life Sciences Project Scientist Gioia Massa, who conducts space plant biology research at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a focus on growing edible vegetables aboard the International Space Station, recently presented a talk about the extraordinary places her career has taken her.

Entomologist asks Pennsylvania hunters for help in deer ‘keds’ research effort

October 19, 2022

A Penn State entomologist is asking Pennsylvania deer hunters for help with research on biting flies that are active in the fall, which may be vectors of dangerous disease.

Penn State grad makes footsteps around the globe to benefit Bangladesh

October 18, 2022

Penn State grad Shah Rafayat Chowdhury is making a difference across the globe with his organization dedicated to empowering communities by helping them build the right skills and technologies to overcome social challenges.

Buzzy new exhibit opens at the Frost Entomological Museum

October 16, 2022

A new exhibit at the Frost Entomological Museum is aimed at cultivating awareness about gall wasps and showcasing their beauty and diversity. The exhibit also highlights current research on these insects by faculty in the Department of Entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Philanthropy helps Penn State and Penn Staters to impact the world

October 13, 2022

"A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence" concluded on June 30, raising more than $2.2 billion for the three key imperatives of a modern land-grant institution: opening the doors of higher education to students from every background; creating transformative experiences for both students and citizens; and impacting the larger world through research, outreach and service. While the nearly $844.5 million raised for the last imperative advanced a wide range of priorities across the University, the campaign focused attention on three opportunities for impact: economic development, resource security, and human health.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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  • 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)