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.  

Internships earn awards for College of Agricultural Sciences students

December 2, 2022

Twelve Penn State students have been selected as College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society 2022 Internship Award winners. The award, which includes a $1,000 stipend, was established to encourage students to participate in a credit or noncredit educational internship program related to their field of study.

Dr. Carrie Castille delivers the 2022 McDowell Lecture

December 1, 2022

Hosted in Food Sciences (Erickson) Building, Penn State students, faculty, and staff joined Dr. Carrie Castille, Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), to discuss challenges faced by the extension system and to shed light on the future of land grants in the 21st century. The running theme throughout Dr. Castille’s McDowell Lecture was the importance of partnerships. If universities and extension programs are going to address the challenges faced by agriculture today and in the future, intent on sustaining natural resources and supporting growing populations, partnerships are going to be a vital part of any successful initiative.

Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health honors rural health champions

November 28, 2022

Glenn Sterner is a graduate of the RSOC program and was recently awarded the Rural Health Hero award.

CEDEV program marks 15 years online with World Campus

November 22, 2022

For the past 15 years, the community and economic development program has helped students confront the challenges faced by community economic development practitioners.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Researchers to holistically assess buildings' thermal resilience, sustainability

October 11, 2022

With a four-year, $500,000 NSF grant, a Penn State team led by Penn State Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering Julian Wang is developing a new holistic framework to understand the relationship between thermal resilience and sustainable design strategies for buildings and communities.

College of Ag Sciences faculty member receives NACTA Murray Brown Award

September 22, 2022

Daniel Foster, associate professor of agricultural and extension education in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is the 2022 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Murray Brown Award recipient.

Penn State’s Stories from the Field conversation series returns for fall

September 15, 2022

Penn State’s “Stories from the Field” conversation series is returning this fall with three new sessions. Each was designed to bring together academics and practitioners to discuss the challenges and opportunities of applied research and community engagement.

No-till management may reduce nitrous oxide gas releases, fight climate change

September 14, 2022

Scientists have long known that no-till farming reduces erosion and lessens water and nutrient runoff from crop fields, but now a new study by a team of Penn State researchers suggests that limiting soil disturbance may also diminish releases of nitrous oxide.

Local food boon spurred by pandemic may be short-lived, new research reports

September 6, 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected American households in countless ways, but according to researchers, some of the most tangible shifts are taking place in the food system.

'Growing Impact' podcast discusses solar irrigation pump effects on FEW nexus

September 2, 2022

A team of researchers is investigating a government policy that increases solar-powered irrigation pumps in India and how the use of solar irrigation pumps may impact India’s highly exploited groundwater reserves and the country’s food and energy production.

Ag Sciences, PR student selected as Agricultural Future of America ambassador

August 24, 2022

Leah Welk, a third-year student double-majoring in agricultural science and public relations, has been selected as an ambassador for Agricultural Future of America at Penn State.

Mandatory labeling on genetically engineered foods may reduce customer purchases

August 22, 2022

Labels alerting customers that products contain ingredients from genetically engineered plants may reduce sales, at least in the short term, according to a new study from a research team including an agricultural economist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

After a two-year hiatus, College of Ag Sciences resumes study abroad programs

July 28, 2022

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences once again are taking advantage of study abroad opportunities. In the spring semester, students visited countries around the world, including Spain, Ireland, Germany and Kenya.

Harbaugh Faculty Scholars named in College of Agricultural Sciences

July 7, 2022

Two faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have received funding to support the development of innovative curricula under the college’s Harbaugh Faculty Scholars program. Justine Lindemann, assistant professor of community development and resilience, and Ricky Bates, professor of horticulture, received awards under the program, which was created by a gift from Penn State alumnus Earl Harbaugh and his wife, Kay.  

Penn State scientists examine the effects of child maltreatment on survivors

July 1, 2022

Benjamin Bayly, assistant professor in family studies, child and youth development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, led a study examining how different types of childhood maltreatment were associated with depressive symptoms and heavy episodic drinking between the ages of 14 and 30.

Three honored for their commitment to diversity in College of Ag Sciences

June 2, 2022

Three individuals are the recipients of the 2022 Dr. William Henson Diversity Achievement Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, which recognizes distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, extension, or creative work advancing diversity in the college.

Advancing global food security education one classroom at a time

May 17, 2022

Penn State students were among those selected for an immersive teaching experience offered through a partnership among Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Idaho, and the World Food Prize Foundation, funded by a $280,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.