Past Events: Penn State Energy and Environment Calendar Archive

2024 Women Advancing River Research Seminar Series All seminars will be presented online live at 11:00 a.m. ET on the third Thursday of each month. Seminar recordings will be posted later. Please register in advance for all talks. Catalyzing Change in the Geosciences Rebecca Barnes, Belmont Forum (U.S.) Rocío Paola Caballero-Gill, George Mason University (U.S)

As communities grapple with issues such as stormwater management, flooding, urban heat loads, and air quality issues, learn about the numerous services provided by green infrastructure that improve the quality of life, resilience, and environmental and human health in communities. 

The two-day Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium highlights innovations from numerous disciplines through dynamic breakout sessions, keynote talks from leaders in the climate solutions space, a poster session, and more. The event also features opportunities for attendees to network with like-minded individuals who are seeking climate solutions as collaborators, funders, or implementers in the themes of the Climate Consortium.

The two-day Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium highlights innovations from numerous disciplines through dynamic breakout sessions, keynote talks from leaders in the climate solutions space, a poster session, and more. The event also features opportunities for attendees to network with like-minded individuals who are seeking climate solutions as collaborators, funders, or implementers in the themes of the Climate Consortium.

Join us on May 9 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the EMS Energy Institute (C213 Coal Utilization Lab) for our 2024 Energy Xchange Seminar Series. This presentation will feature Joshua Robinson, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research (Acting), with his presentation titled, "Silicon Carbide: The Critical Semiconductor for the Energy Transition." This event is free and parking is available at the Institute at 4 p.m. Abstract:

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is hosting the Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium at the University Park campus on May 7-8, 2024, to initiate and foster the productive partnerships necessary for the integration of emerging and advanced technologies to address the complex challenges we face with climate change, resource protection (soil, water, air), biodiversity losses, rural and urban health, and social and economic shifts within our communities.

In the spirit of the Café, 45 students are competing for the top prize by pitching their research in two minutes or less. Topics range from polymer recycling, color science, medicine, energy, materials, and much more. This is a great opportunity to scout for new collaborations while enjoying a cup of coffee. The competition starts at 10:00 in the 3rd floor Café Commons of the MSC Bldg. and will be setup like a poster session to enable attendees to individually engage the pitch competitors.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is hosting the Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium at the University Park campus on May 7-8, 2024, to initiate and foster the productive partnerships necessary for the integration of emerging and advanced technologies to address the complex challenges we face with climate change, resource protection (soil, water, air), biodiversity losses, rural and urban health, and social and economic shifts within our communities.

Pennsylvania has identified over 150 invasive plants, insects, pathogens, and animals that significantly impact both the environment and agricultural production, resulting in annual economic losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. The Pennsylvania Invasive Species webinar is committed to addressing this critical issue. Throughout the session, we will highlight some of the most problematic invasive species found in Pennsylvania, examine their methods of establishment, and discuss effective strategies to mitigate their spread.

To conclude this series, we will have several brief presentations exploring potential future scenarios for the people, forests, wetlands, and wildlife of Ukraine post-war. These presentations will be succeeded by an extensive panel discussion, featuring experts from our previous webinars, who will address questions from attendees. Participants can expect insights from professionals in forestry, urban forestry, arboriculture, research, and various other fields.

Please join us via Zoom on Friday May 3rd from 10am-11:30am for a seminar on metadata tools and development.  This seminar will focus on live demos and discussion of metadata development tools and approaches and will provide time for Q&A from attendees.  Please RSVP to: pasda@psu.edu Speakers:

Discover forest carbon ownership in the US, including its distribution among public, private, and tribal owners, the extent of carbon within protected areas, and practical applications of resulting datasets and maps.

Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is an aquatic invasive species in Eastern Pennsylvania that poses a major threat to a number of different rivers and aquatic ecosystems. It is also a popular sportfish and commonly eaten, but due to the habits of this species it tends accumulate toxins at a higher level than smaller species of fish. These toxins include per-/poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are "forever" chemicals that do not breakdown in nature, can bioaccumulate, and can be dangerous to humans.

Biomanufacturing uses biological systems, including plants and microbes, to create new materials or alternatives to existing everyday materials like plastics, chemicals, fabrics, and nutraceuticals. By some estimates, up to 60% of materials in the global consumer product supply chain could be produced biologically, resulting in domestic economic growth while lowering embodied carbon emissions and reducing environmental pollution.

The final edition of the Millennium Café for the spring semester will be a unique panel discussion. Pandora’s Box:  Legislation, Regulation, and Neurotech Panelists:

During Ukraine Series: Forests and the Frontlines, participants will hear from two experts about how the war is damaging forests, forest loss, and how foresters and families are impacted by the war. These unique presentations will be from two award winning Ukrainian foresters, both of whom are shaping forest policy and the future of Ukrainian forests. Dr. Andrii Bilous will be presenting while fighting on the frontlines of the war.

Melissa Marshall, founder of the science communications consulting company Present Your Science, will give the 2024 A. Dixon and Betty F. Johnson Lectureship in Scientific Communication on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. in 100 Thomas Building on the Penn State University Park campus. The free public lecture is open to the Penn State community.

Join Penn State Sustainability, in partnership with State College Borough, for the regular end-of-semester celebration of the extraordinary student work among classes participating in the Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC). Hear how students have conducted applied research on behalf of communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help them advance their sustainability goals, whether environmental, social, or economic.

What is the role of the structural engineer in her and his collaborations with architects and artists? Notable structural engineers from Ove Arup to Fazlur Khan have acted at times as consulting facilitator and brilliant technician and other times as lead designers. What critical concepts that can account for the creative contributions of the actors in key works of architecture? And what civic roles do engineers play in addressing the pressing needs of cities both in the climate crisis but also in the case of transformative events such as 9/11?

In the 2019 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) rolled out a "local and specific" strategy to reduce its pollution burden on the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. Counties with land within the Chesapeake Bay watershed were encouraged to engage with local stakeholders to develop localized plans to achieve reduction goals for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads impairing their local waters and the Bay downstream.