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faculty spotlight

Erica Smithwick: A Burning Desire to Understand the Effects of Forest Fire on the Landscape
Smithwick is interested in the effect of pattern on process. She uses fieldwork and computer modeling to determine how disturbances affect landscapes and their functions.
Read more » | View spotlight archives

Student Spotlight

Simanti Banerjee: Using Environmental Economics for Biodiversity Conservation
Banerjee is working with James Shortle, distinguished professor of agricultural and environmental economics, to develop a market-based policy instrument – essentially a government-funded auction – for biodiversity conservation.
Read more » | View spotlight archives

highlights and announcements

Penn State Sustainability Seed Grant Program Request for Proposals - Spring 2010 Penn State Institutes of Energy and Environment (PSIEE) has formed a partnership with Outreach, Office of Physical Plant (OPP), and several colleges to establish a significant source of funds to support a one-time Sustainability Seed Grant Program (SSGP). Read more »

Penn State implements new sustainability tracking system Penn State is taking a leadership role as a charter participant in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) program, a new sustainability tracking system. Read more »

2009 Annual Report of Research Activity Released Penn State’s research expenditures in fiscal 2009 reached a record $765 million, a 6.7 percent increase over the previous year and a 74 percent increase since fiscal year 2000. View report »

Wind for Schools Program Adds Funding in Five States Penn State was one of five additional states selected to receive approximately $60,000 in funding per year for three years for activities supporting Wind Powering America's Wind for Schools project. Read more »

Mixed water portfolio helps thirsty cities Computer simulations for drought-prone areas reveal that when urban water planners combine three approaches of buying water -- permanent rights, options and leases -- the city avoids surplus water and high costs, and reduces shortages. Read more »

Faculty named Fellows of AAAS Six Penn State Faculty members were named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Read more »

upcoming events

• 2010 Darcy Lecturer
  Tim Scheibe, "Beyond the Black Box: Integrating Advanced Characterization of Microbial Processes with Subsurface Reactive Transport Models"
  February 9: 1-2:00 p.m; 114 EES (Earth-Engineering Science Building) | View Brochure
• WUN Horizons in Earth Systems Virtual Seminar Series
  Blair Hedges, "Molecular clocks and timetree of life"
  February10: Noon; 541 Deike Building
• Meteorology Colloquia
  Alan Robock, Rutgers University, "Smoke and Mirrors: Is Geoengineering a Solution to Global Warming?"
  February10: 3:30 p.m.; 112 Walker Building | View flyer (CANCELLED)
• Crop and Soil Sciences Seminar
  John Schmict, ARS, "Nitrogen recommendations for corn using a canopy reflectance sensor: Recent research and considerations for farmer adoption"
  February12: 12:20 p.m.; 101 Ag Sciences and Industries Building
• Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Seminar
  Jim Crawford, Tuscarora Organice Growers Corporation, "Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative: Twenty Years of Helping Small Growers Compete in a Big Market"
  February12: 3:00 p.m.; 215 Armsby Building
• Geography Coffee Hour
  Michael Mann, "Climate Change: What Can we Learn from Past Centuries?"
  February12: 4:00 p.m.; 112 Walker Building
• 2010 Lectures on the Frontiers of Science - Water: The Next Frontier
  Gregory Knight, "The Global Water Crisis"
  February13: 11:00 a.m. - 100 Thomas Building
• View all events

Annual Report

• PSIEE's FY2008-2009 Annual Report is available
  Select research activity and events from the 2008-2009 funding year are highlighted.