Read the latest news about research conducted by investigators in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Our faculty and students are continually advancing technology, creating solutions and expanding knowledge with new and innovative research.
Flexible, highly efficient multimodal energy harvesting achieved with piezoelectric foam
A 10-fold increase in the ability to harvest mechanical and thermal energy over standard piezoelectric composites may be possible using a piezoelectric ceramic foam supported by a flexible polymer support, according to Penn State researchers.
Human Health and the Environment seed grant recipients announced
Human Health and the Environment seed grants for 2018 have been awarded to eight interdisciplinary teams of Penn State researchers. The seed grants were funded through a collaboration of Penn State Institutes and the College of Medicine, which collectively contributed more than $400,000.
Thwaites glacier focus of international program
The National Science Foundation and the United Kingdom's National Environmental Research Council are the forces behind eight new initiatives in Antarctica to determine how quickly a massive glacier could collapse. Penn State is part of two of these projects, GHOST and MELT.
Three graduate students honored with Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award
Three Penn State graduate students ─ John Banghoff, Min Liew, and Elena Vazquez ─ have been awarded the Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award.
Geography students use virtual reality to recreate Mayan ruins
Ancient Mayan civilization in Central America, which collapsed around 1,000 years ago, is being brought to life in a new Penn State project. Two doctoral students in geography, Jiawei Huang and Arif Masrur, have recreated the Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech, in Belize, using virtual reality.
Invent Penn State names James Adair 'Inventor of the Year'
James Adair, professor of materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering and pharmacology, was awarded the Invent Penn State "Inventor of the Year" award, Friday, April 20, at the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference awards ceremony.
Video: Transparent metal films for smartphone, tablet and TV displays
A new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive could make large screen displays, smart windows and even touch screens and solar cells more affordable and efficient, according to a Penn State team of researchers led by Roman Engel-Herbert, associate professor of materials science and engineering.
Undergraduate Exhibition wraps up record year
Hundreds of students and judges bustled about in the HUB-Robeson Center Wednesday evening for the 2018 Undergraduate Research Exhibition on the University Park campus of Penn State. From musical presentations in the Flex Theater to posters in Alumni and Heritage halls, the University's best were promoting the fruits of their academic and artistic pursuits.
Students see green: Mock spill illustrates potential impact of wastewater leak
A group of State High students participated in a mock spill event last week simulating what might happen if a contaminate spill reached the stream. The students are part of TeenShale Network, a group of high school students working with Penn State scientists to monitor water quality in local streams around Marcellus Shale development.
72 undergraduate students awarded Erickson Discovery Grants
The list of 2018 Erickson Discovery Grants has been released, and 72 students from Penn State campuses will have their work bolstered by a $3,500 grant from the Office of Undergraduate Education.