Digital divide hinders rural innovation, study shows

June 9, 2023

Cloud-based computing directly contributes to business innovation, but rural businesses lacking sufficient broadband capacity to access cloud services are missing out on their innovation-boosting potential, according to a team of researchers from Penn State and the National Science Foundation. The findings can be used by policymakers and business-support organizations to foster greater opportunities for rural innovation.

Penn State Extension launches spotted lanternfly survey for the 2023 season

June 6, 2023

The Penn State Extension Grape and Wine Team is calling on farmers and vineyard owners in the mid-Atlantic region to participate in a survey aimed at tracking the spread and severity of spotted lanternfly populations during the 2023 season.

Student groups win top prizes at 2023 Ag Springboard pitch contest

June 6, 2023

Two Penn State student teams took home cash prizes from the 2023 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest held during the spring semester.  

Fact sheets provide new insights into agritourism and direct sales for US states

June 2, 2023

A new set of fact sheets provides comprehensive insights into the demographics of U.S. farms that offer agritourism activities or sell food directly to consumers or both. The fact sheets are available for all 50 states and are intended to help local decision makers, farmers and the organizations that support them in their efforts to strengthen and expand agritourism enterprises.  

Strategic city planning can help reduce urban heat island effect

May 23, 2023

New Penn State research suggests that certain urban factors can reduce the tendency of cities to trap heat — a phenomenon called the “urban heat island.”

Annual substance use conference examines stigma, opioid crisis

May 10, 2023

The Penn State Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction recently hosted its fourth annual conference in the HUB-Robeson Center at the University Park campus. 

Analysis of U.S. farms offers clearer, more nuanced picture for policymakers

May 8, 2023

A new Penn State-led study set out to analyze U.S. farming counties to better understand the diversity of farms across the country, which researchers say suggests that agricultural policies should not be designed with a “one size fits all” approach.

Students learn about science, and themselves, conducting undergraduate research

May 8, 2023

Three undergraduates who presented posters at the 2023 Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo talked about the stories behind their research, with an eye toward offering other Penn State students inspiration to pursue their own “passion projects” in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Agribusiness management student excels in PepsiCo internship

April 24, 2023

For Penn State student Michael Loucas, of Westport, Connecticut, one summer as a sales management intern with PepsiCo offered him his best opportunity for growth so far.

Penn State recognizes Outstanding Adult Student Award winners

April 24, 2023

Penn State’s Adult Learner Programs and Services announced the winners of the Outstanding Adult Student Award. The award — which includes a Penn State diploma case and a $500 grant — recognizes an exceptional adult learner or student veteran at University Park who has overcome obstacles while furthering his or her education. Nominees balance multiple responsibilities, serve as role models for other students, and achieve academically.

Low use of nutrition labels contributes to health disparities in China

April 20, 2023

Nutrition labels can help guide consumers toward making healthier food choices, but new research suggests that a lack of knowledge about how to use them may be contributing to nutrition gaps between people in urban and rural China.

Opening farms to visitors boosts nearby farms’ direct sales, and vice versa

April 18, 2023

Farmers use many marketing strategies to diversify their incomes and stay in business. New research suggests that two of these strategies — agritourism and direct farm sales — complement one another when they occur within the same community. The findings could help farmers and the local organizations that support them plan strategically for farm resilience and growth.

Penn State Global announces 2022-23 faculty, staff, student awards

April 12, 2023

The winners of the Penn State Global awards are, left to right: Alexandra Persiko (Penn State Global), Mark Brennan (College of Agricultural Sciences), Deanna Behring (College of Agricultural Sciences), Karen Saunders (College of Medicine), Noel Habashy (College of Agricultural Sciences), Ram Neupane (College of Agricultural Sciences), Jasna Kovacs (College of Agricultural Sciences), Camila Arango (College of Agricultural Sciences), Madhura Patil (College of Engineering), Smit Patel (Penn State Abington), and James Marden (Eberly College of Science, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences). Credit: Penn State.

Forty graduate students recognized with prestigious University awards

April 11, 2023

Recipients of the Alumni Association Dissertation Award are given the Distinguished Doctoral Scholar Medal engraved with the recipient's name and the words research, discovery, knowledge creation and innovation. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Thirteen graduate students honored with Alumni Association Dissertation Award

April 6, 2023

Thirteen graduate students received the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, one of the most prestigious awards given to Ph.D. candidates at the University. The award was made possible through a gift from the Penn State Alumni Association and provides funding and recognition to outstanding full-time research doctorate students who have passed their comprehensive examinations and have received approval of their dissertation topic.

First-gen students explore Costa Rica through College of Ag Sciences course

March 31, 2023

Studying abroad can be a transformative experience. However, first-generation college students may face additional challenges and feel that international experiences are out of their reach. A course in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences was created to help first-gen students achieve their travel goals.

Wildfire proximity associated with asthma cases in rural Alaska

March 30, 2023

It’s been widely reported that Alaska is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. Penn State researchers are examining the resulting impacts, such as wildfires, and how they affect health conditions like asthma.

Princeton economist will present M.E. John Memorial Lecture on March 24

March 13, 2023

Janet Currie, Henry Putnam Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, will speak at Penn State University Park on Friday, March 24, at 2 p.m. as this year’s M.E. John Memorial Lecture speaker.

Personal connections matter to families taking care of kin during opioid crisis

March 7, 2023

For family members unexpectedly taking care of a relative’s child during the opioid crisis, it can be difficult to navigate the legal waters of assuming custody. The process may be easier — and come with more support — if these caregivers have personal connections to local resource institutions, according to a study conducted by a Penn State faculty member.

Workshop series to focus on workforce development in animal agriculture

March 6, 2023

An interdisciplinary team of educators and faculty from Penn State Extension and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is investigating methods to improve skill sets and increase diversity in the livestock production workforce, with the goal of eliminating workforce barriers and enhancing secure food animal production. As part of this work, Penn State Extension is offering a free monthly workshop series, from March to May, focused on workforce development in animal agriculture.

College of Agricultural Sciences hosts Ukrainian scholars at Penn State

March 3, 2023

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is hosting two visiting scholars from Ukraine during the spring semester, through efforts of a University-wide task force.

Penn State launches statewide environmental monitoring network

February 23, 2023

Penn State has established a publicly available environmental monitoring network to provide enhanced surveillance of atmospheric and soil conditions across Pennsylvania.

New grant will help empower small farms with sustainable practices

February 14, 2023

The Global Teach Ag Network at Penn State is partnering with the University of Tennessee at Martin on a new project to help empower small-farm owners with sustainable agriculture practices.

Recalls of fresh meat products may lower customer demand

February 9, 2023

Fresh meats such as chicken and beef are staples of many Americans’ diets, but demand may take a hit after these products are recalled, according to new Penn State research.

Penn State’s ‘Stories from the Field’ series announces spring lineup

February 8, 2023

Penn State’s “Stories from the Field” conversation series is returning this spring with three new sessions, with speakers sharing lessons for practitioner-academics, insights into how governments and communities can work together to tackle biosecurity threats, and stories that illustrate the importance of trust in vaccination-education efforts.

Center for Socially Responsible AI awards seed funding to 6 projects

January 11, 2023

The Penn State Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence recently announced the results of its third seed funding competition. The center awarded $145,000 to advance six interdisciplinary research projects that feature researchers from eight colleges and institutes.

County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania extends Schmidt’s fellowship

December 19, 2022

As Cristy Schmidt, Penn State Extension applied research educator, nears the end of her two-year term as the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s Extension fellow, the organizations announced a yearlong extension of her fellowship, moving the end date to Dec. 31, 2023.

Penn State researchers battle food insecurity with native plants cookbook

December 14, 2022

Researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have created a cookbook with information about wild food plants, including their nutritional values and recipes for how to cook with them, as a way to address food insecurity.

Donor brings arts and ag sciences together with Global Teach Ag Network Fund

December 6, 2022

Through a $25,000 gift, Hiram Larew created the Global Teach Ag Network Enhancement Fund, which is designed to enrich the Ag Sciences Global program through support specifically for the Global Teach Ag Network. This annually supported fund will be used to provide professional development for educators, programmatic and staffing support and research for domestic and global initiatives.

College of Ag Sciences minority alumni return to campus, discuss their journeys

December 5, 2022

Four graduates of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently returned to campus to discuss success in class to success in life as guest speakers on a minority alumni panel, hosted by the college’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.