Preparing for potential pandemics is focus of new federal grant to Penn State

October 21, 2021

Researchers at Penn State have received a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study H7N9 with a goal of developing new and fundamental knowledge of virus mutations that could indicate the potential for transmissibility in humans.

Food pantries essential for reducing hunger among middle-class in 2020

October 20, 2021

Food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community food services played a critical role in helping Americans meet their food needs, especially during the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by a team of economists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Penn State Poultry Science Club hosts annual turkey sale

October 20, 2021

The Penn State Poultry Science Club is again selling turkeys to members of the Penn State and surrounding communities just in time for delivery the week of Thanksgiving.

Fulbright award recipient in College of Ag Sciences conducting research in Ghana

October 20, 2021

Kaitlin Fischer, a doctoral degree candidate in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is supporting research designed to help women farmers in Ghana. She is the recipient of a Fulbright Research Award and Africana Research Center grant.

Penn State-led team awarded $17M to study climate risk and adaptation strategies

October 19, 2021

A multi-institutional research team led by Penn State has been awarded a $17 million, five-year cooperative research agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science to understand how interconnected systems are exposed to natural hazards that create vulnerabilities and risks for society and how societies respond and adapt to these risks.

Grant to fund research on biological approach to manage soil pathogens and pests

October 19, 2021

In an effort to boost the profitability and sustainability of organic specialty crop production systems, a team of scientists is improving and optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation as a management approach to control soilborne pests and pathogens and promote soil health.

Jim Finley: Forest protector, private forest center founder, professor emeritus

October 19, 2021

Jim Finley long will be remembered for his simple but powerful message: take care of the woods. And in conveying that idea to thousands of people across Pennsylvania and the nation over a five-decade Penn State career, the professor emeritus of forest resources persuaded many.

Penn State student feels at home as a Beef-Sheep Center live-in worker

October 18, 2021

Blair Steele, a fourth-year student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, is using the knowledge and skills she has acquired from her work at Penn State's Beef-Sheep Center to advance her career goals.

Penn State receives grant to study factors promoting early childhood development

October 18, 2021

Penn State was recently awarded a five-year, $5.8 million grant and selected as part of a longitudinal NIH-funded consortium called the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study to study the effects of genetics, home environment, and prenatal substance use on child health and brain development.

Penn State potato research program chips in with valuable insights for industry

October 15, 2021

Pennysylvania's potato growers depend on the potato research program in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to help improve the quality and quantity of their crops while staying abreast of consumer trends.

Saliva-based COVID-19 test may provide at-home results in 30 minutes

October 14, 2021

Penn State researchers plan to develop an affordable and accurate at-home, saliva-based COVID-19 test, rivaling the simplicity and convenience of pregnancy tests and glucose monitors, but with higher sensitivity.

DuBois alumnus Rawland Cogan named Penn State Alumni Fellow

October 14, 2021

Rawland Cogan, a graduate of Penn State DuBois and president and CEO of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance, has been named a 2021 Penn State Alumni Fellow. He was nominated for the award by Penn State DuBois and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

Pioneering Penn State virologist Marilyn Roosnick retires

October 14, 2021

After a fascinating and productive scientific career, Penn State professor Marilyn Roossinck, a trailblazing researcher in virology, has announced her decision to retire.

New director’s fund at Arboretum latest in philanthropic support

October 14, 2021

Philanthropy has been the driving force in the creation, sustainment and growth of The Arboretum at Penn State, not only in relation to its size but also its program offerings. A new fund established in honor of Dr. Kim Steiner, recently retired founding director of the Arboretum, is the latest example of how philanthropy continues to positively impact the gardens.

Penn State chapter of ag honor society Gamma Sigma Delta marks anniversary

October 14, 2021

The celebration this month of the 100th anniversary of the Honor Society of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta, has special significance at Penn State, home of one of the international organization’s oldest chapters.

Novel lighting system designed for machine vision module of agricultural robots

October 12, 2021

A novel camera system using active lighting devised by Penn State researchers may be a crucial step in developing machine vision systems that allow robotic devices to more clearly "see" the agricultural targets with which they will react.

Annual Penn State Horticulture Show slated for Oct. 23-24 at University Park

October 11, 2021

The Penn State Horticulture Show, a must-do fall activity for many families, will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at Penn State’s University Park campus.

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners support bee-monitoring project in Pa.

October 6, 2021

The decline of bee populations across the United States has become headline news and is a cause of great concern. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are doing their part to increase the baseline knowledge of bee biodiversity in Pennsylvania and to help identify changes in bee communities in the commonwealth.

Penn State alumnus furthers agricultural education abroad despite pandemic

October 6, 2021

After his plans to serve with the Peace Corps were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Manny Catala pivoted quickly to continue his service to students abroad. Catala, a 2019 graduate of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, will teach in Ghana this year as part of the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program.

Schreyer Scholar works to develop sustainable solution to food insecurity

October 6, 2021

Schreyer Scholar and biological engineering student Vancie Peacock helped create the Schreyer Pocket Garden, a pilot program in which students will grow food that will support the Lion's Pantry at Penn State.

Warm, wet autumn could mute and delay foliage display in Pennsylvania

October 5, 2021

Because of the warm, wet summer, trees in Pennsylvania are mostly in great shape. But for the state’s forests to exhibit their most vibrant colors, conditions need to be cooler and drier in the next few weeks, according to a Penn State expert.

Penn State Extension land-use webinar to focus on agriculture in communities

October 5, 2021

The next web-based seminar in Penn State Extension’s land-use series will examine the benefits of agriculture in communities and how to prioritize agriculture in community land use.

Penn State researchers developing genomic resources to identify novel pathogens

October 4, 2021

To enhance the early detection of novel infectious bacteria that could cause outbreaks of infectious diseases, a team of researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will sequence the genomes of 700 Bacilli bacteria — near relatives of the biothreat pathogen that causes anthrax — in a study intended to enhance the early detection of novel infectious bacteria that could cause outbreaks of infectious disease and public health emergencies.

Plant pathologists at Penn State head investigation into tar spot disease in Pa.

October 1, 2021

Plant pathologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are keeping a watchful eye on a corn disease new to Pennsylvania that has the potential to cause significant yield loss and reduce grain quality.

Berks professor to aid global research focused on uplifting smallholder farmers

September 30, 2021

A professor in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will lend her expertise in gender studies to an interdisciplinary, multi-university team of researchers as they explore methods to advance fruit and vegetable production in Africa, South/Southeast Asia and Central America.

New tool predicts changes that may make COVID variants more infectious

September 29, 2021

Researchers at Penn State have created a novel framework that can predict with reasonable accuracy the amino-acid changes in the virus’ spike protein that may improve its binding to human cells and confer increased infectivity to the virus. The tool could enable the computational surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and provide advance warning of potentially dangerous variants with an even higher binding affinity potential. This can aid in the early implementation of public health measures to prevent the virus’ spread and perhaps even may inform vaccine booster formulations.

Two student teams awarded $25,000 for using artifical intelligence for good

September 29, 2021

A panel of judges named InsectEye and AI-powered Recycling the winning teams in the 2021 Nittany AI Challenge. The teams will receive a combined total of $25,000 in funding to continue moving their solutions forward.

U.S. soybean, corn yields could be increased through use of machine learning

September 29, 2021

Research guided by a plant pathologist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences suggests that machine-learning algorithms that are programmed to recognize changing weather patterns could show producers and agricultural managers how to increase soybean and corn yields in the United States.

Student Farm at Penn State hosts 6th annual Harvest Festival celebration

September 28, 2021

The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State will once again be welcoming the campus and community to the farm for its 6th annual Harvest Festival. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7.

USDA grant supports Penn State research on mushroom industry automation

September 28, 2021

A nearly $4 million grant awarded to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will support an interdisciplinary, multi-university team of researchers as they investigate technologies designed to address labor shortages on mushroom farms.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
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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)