Sustainability is a strategic initiative in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Below are the most current stories showcasing our college's sustainability efforts.
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EarthTalks: Author David Victor to discuss making climate policy work
03/30/2021
03/30/2021
David Victor, professor of industrial organization and innovation and co-director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative at the University of California San Diego, will discuss the choices and technology available to make climate policy work at a talk at 4 p.m. Monday, April 5.
EarthTalks: Chief sustainability officer to discuss initiatives at Penn State
03/23/2021
03/23/2021
Paul Shrivastava, chief sustainability officer, director of the Sustainability Institute and professor of management at Penn State, will discuss how Penn State is attempting to institutionalize sustainability at the University, in Pennsylvania and around the world, at a talk at 4 p.m. Monday, March 29.
Alumna recognized for her impact in combustion engines and fuels
03/23/2021
03/23/2021
Penn State alumna Elana Chapman, senior fuels and biofuels engineer at General Motors (GM), has been recognized for her impacts within the fuel industry.
Sustainability Institute and GreenGov Council partner on sustainability series
03/05/2021
03/05/2021
In 2021, Penn State's Sustainability Institute (SI) and the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council are co-hosting a monthly webinar series to educate employees in state agencies and municipal governments about how they can incorporate sustainability into their work.
Addressing the energy, environmental complexities of urban areas
03/05/2021
03/05/2021
The Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) created a new research theme: Urban Systems. The theme will address the essential and urgent needs for sustainable, healthy and affordable solutions for urban areas.
Apparent Atlantic warming cycle likely an artifact of climate forcing
03/04/2021
03/04/2021
Volcanic eruptions, not natural variability, were the cause of an apparent "Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation" according to a team of climate scientists who looked at a large array of climate modeling experiments.
Internet fiber optics could provide valuable insight into geological phenomena
02/25/2021
02/25/2021
Scientists are using fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology to turn existing telecommunication infrastructure that is already installed underground into a valuable resource for monitoring ground vibrations.
Shale gas development in PA increases exposure of some to air pollutants
02/17/2021
02/17/2021
Air pollution levels may have exceeded air quality standards during the development of some Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in Pennsylvania, potentially impacting more than 36,000 people in one year alone during the drilling boom, according to Penn State scientists.
New piezoelectric material remains effective to high temperatures
02/03/2021
02/03/2021
Piezoelectric materials hold great promise as sensors and as energy harvesters but are normally much less effective at high temperatures, limiting their use in environments such as engines or space exploration.
Summer weather conditions influence winter survival of honey bees
02/01/2021
02/01/2021
Winter survival of honey bee colonies is strongly influenced by summer temperatures and precipitation in the prior year, according to Penn State researchers, who said their findings suggest that honey bees have a "goldilocks" preferred range of summer conditions outside of which their probability of surviving the winter falls.