Impact, the magazine of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, showcases college news, the latest research discoveries, stories about outstanding alumni and students, and more... Content includes features about each of our five departments, science snapshots, engaged students, around the college, faculty notes, and alumni accolades.
Features
Discovering new materials
Stabilizing solution leads to new frameworks and new ceramic materials
Sustainable lithium extraction
New method could reduce carbon emissions by 75%, costs by 35%
Charting a New Frontier
AI-integrated geographic information systems are refining mapping
Into the storm
Hail researchers part of first major U.S. research campaign in four decades
Dean's Message
Science Snapshots
- Verallia taps LionGlass for low-carbon glass packaging for consumer products
- Lawn story: Turfgrass data may improve urban greenhouse gas emission estimates
- $13.9M grant to investigate how fire, climate, people shaped Africa’s landscapes
- More efficient approach to shale wells could boost oil output, store emissions
- Children’s diet quality linked to distance from protected conservation areas
- Good vibrations: Ceramic material harvests electricity from waste energy
- Children’s diet quality linked to distance from protected conservation areas
- Good vibrations: Ceramic material harvests electricity from waste energy
- Amid renewable-energy boom, study explores options for electricity market
- Researchers team up with Indigenous communities in Ecuador to study oil pollution
- Rapid lithium extraction eliminates use of acid and high heat
- Defunct oil and gas wells may leak methane, metals into groundwater
- Underused radar data may improve severe weather forecasts
- Measuring how–and where–Antarctic ice is cracking with new data tool
- Saltwater contamination threatens water supplies
- Shedding light on materials in the physical, biological sciences
- New tool helps forecast volcano slope collapses and tsunamis
Around the College
- Center for Glass Research launched to revitalize innovation in glass science
- EMS experts promote research ties at National Academies U.S.-African symposium
- Two new graduate certificates in energy and sustainability
- Energy Transition cluster launched in entrepreneurship minor
- New environmental health and safety minor now available
Engaged Students
- Geosciences student solves mastodon mysteries
- Penn State students win first place at DOE’s Solar District Cup challenge
- Mentorship program in geography department helps undergrads build research skills
- EnvironMentors Research Symposium celebrates student research in sustainability
- Hayashi 2025 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award recipient
Alumni Accolades
- Celebrating 25 Years of Online Geospatial Education
- Cazorla awarded 2025 Charles L. Hosler Alumni Scholar Medal
- Shodiya recognized with GEMS Colleen Swetland Alumni Achievement Award
- Foster named World Campus Outstanding Alumna
- Welcoming New Alumni Volunteers
- Joseph Sbaffoni receives 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award
- GOLDen GEMS Events Strenghen Alumni Ties
Issue Number
2025
Issue Label
2025