Rear Adm. David W. Titley has been appointed as a faculty member in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State, beginning July 1. Titley will serve as senior scientist and director of a new center being formed on weather and climate risk solutions in the Department of Meteorology.

David Yoxtheimer, a hydrogeologist and College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Extension Associate with Penn State University, addressed that and other related issues this week, as he talked to a group of 20-some concerned and informed citizens about the water quality issues surrounding the Marcellus shale natural gas industry drilling activity in central Pennsylvania.  <<The Express (Lock Haven)>>

Beginning in the fall of 2013, the Penn State John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) will be offering a new energy and land management option as part of the bachelor of science degree in energy business and finance (EBF). Designed in consultation with the American Association of Professional Landmen, this new option will provide expertise in the acquisition of sub-surface exploration rights and enable Penn State students to seek challenging careers as exploration Landmen.

The flexibility of online education is ideal for many adults who want to learn when and where it's convenient to them, and especially beneficial to active-duty military service members deployed in a war zone or where Internet access is limited. Since Penn State's World Campus launched 15 years ago, enrollment by active-duty military service members and veterans has grown steadily -- and more than 120 percent in the last four years.

Beginning in the fall of 2013, the Penn State John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) will be offering a new energy and land management option as part of the bachelor of science degree in energy business and finance (EBF). Designed in consultation with the American Association of Professional Landmen, this new option will provide expertise in the acquisition of sub-surface exploration rights and enable Penn State students to seek challenging careers as exploration Landmen. << Read More >>

For the second consecutive year, a team of Penn State students captured first place in the Weather Challenge, a North American collegiate weather forecasting competition. Penn State's forecasters bested teams from more than 50 universities.

Two anonymous donors have made a $2.2 million gift to the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' Department of Geosciences to create a faculty chair. Both hold doctorates and have an intimate understanding of the need for faculty support. The couple is remembering Penn State through a bequest that will leave a lasting legacy and support work in geochemistry.

Thirteen engineering teams won awards at the 2013 Student Design Project Showcase on April 25 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The showcase is the culmination of a semester-long effort that challenges students with solving industry-sponsored projects that expose them to the technical demands, pitfalls and professional expectations they would experience as working professional engineers.

The National Wildlife Federation recently selected Michael Mann, professor of meteorology, to receive their prestigious National Conservation Achievement Award in the Science category for 2013.  Dr. Mann will receive this award in September at an event hosted by PennFuture.  This national recognition honors Dr. Mann for his achievements in natural resource conservation.  Congratulations Mike!  <<Michael Mann>>

Katherine Haines Freeman, professor of geosciences, Penn State, has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences for her excellence in original scientific research. Membership in the NAS is one of the highest honors given to a scientist or engineer in the United States.

Being recognized with the Wilson Award for Excellence in Research Sunday evening at the EMS Wilson Banquet was just the beginning of a week to remember for Kate Freeman.  Today it was announced that Kate has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Science.  Kate is singled out for her work using stable isotopes in fossil molecules to learn about the origins of life on earth and other planets.  Kate makes the sixth EMS living faculty member to be elected to the National Academies.  Congratulations Kate! <<Katherine Freeman>>

A new class from the Department of Geography builds on the "Parks and People" program that gives students hands-on learning about sustainable conservation in South Africa. Erica Smithwick, assistant professor of ecology, said that it had been a long-term goal to expand the global experience into a resident classroom program.

Centre Daily Times story.

Here's a list of undergraduate commencements for the 2013 Spring Commencement Season <<Post-Gazette.com>>

Six undergraduates from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) earned top awards in the annual Grundy Haven paper competition. The aim of the paper competition is to foster excellence in communicating science to the public.

"And on top of that, Penn State offers extensive academic resources and knowledge about the topic.  Our College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is one of the world's leading institutions of its kind."  <<STORY>>

A Penn State class that spent spring break getting an up-close lesson in marine biogeochemistry also got a chance to practice artistic outreach with younger students. Students in Lee Kump's marine biogeochemistry class volunteered at the Discovery Bay All Age School as part of their trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Lab.

Read the full story in the CDT.

“I have been in science journalism for 30 years, and controversy is always great in news because that’s what makes people listen. When a dog bites a man, nobody cares. I have never seen more scientific disinformation bandied about on any topic in my life than fracking.” -- Christopher Joyce, science correspondent with National Public Radio. Joyce spoke April 22 in the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium on Earth Day at University Park. His talk, “Scientists and Journalists: Codependents in the Age of Disappearing Media” was sponsored by the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment. A video recording of the talk will be available at www.eesi.psu.edu.

A research team including Penn State engineers will use one of the world's most powerful computers to enhance scientists' understanding of global precipitation.

On a hot day in August 2007, I was sitting on a log at the edge of a patch of Amazon forest waiting for the right weather conditions to burn a 100-hectare plot (larger than 180 football fields), when I was approached by a journalist. 

Christopher Joyce, a science correspondent from National Public Radio, was visiting our field site, lured by the chance to report on scientists setting fire to the Amazon. It happened to be one of the driest years on recent record, which promised him an exciting story and enabled us to document how drought and fire work together to transform healthy forest fragments into patches of scrubby, invasive grasses.

On Earth Day, we are honored to host Christopher Joyce, science correspondent from NPR. He will be speaking today from 4 to 5 p.m. in Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium on the University Park campus. His talk, “Scientists and Journalists: Codependents in the Age of Disappearing Media,” is free and open to the public. 

<<Read more>>

William Fustos, the former chief operating officer at East Resources, will be giving a lecture on "The Marcellus Shale: Economic Boom for Pennsylvania, Energy Security for the U.S.," as Penn State's 2013 G. Albert Shoemaker Lecturer in Mineral Engineering. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, with a reception in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum Gallery on the ground floor of Deike Building. The lecture begins promptly at 4 p.m., in Room 22 Deike Building.