Our graduate students are integral to the research we conduct, and they also are dedicated to making a difference in communities. Learn more about their research, outreach efforts, and other projects below.
News
Geography student secures $150K NASA grant for ice sheet meltwater research
Mahsa Bahrami, a doctoral student in Penn State’s Department of Geography, has been awarded a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant to fund her research on meltwater lakes at the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.
EarthTalks: José Aponte to discuss meteorites and the origins of life
José Aponte an astrochemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, will discuss the abundance and molecular distribution of amino acids, and other biologically relevant molecules extracted from meteorites, in a talk titled "Organic Astrochemistry 101: Meteorites, Origins of Life, and Sample-Return Missions" at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.
Amanda Hendrix to discuss the use of UV spectroscopy in investigating icy worlds
Amanda Hendrix, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, will deliver the talk "Investigating Icy Worlds Using UV Spectroscopy" at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in 112 Walker Building on Penn State's University Park campus.
Event lifts curtain on a bright future for materials research
The 2022 Materials Day event, presented by the Materials Research Institute with the theme “Materials Impacting Society,” featured a look at what might be on the horizon as far as materials research with positive societal impact.
EarthTalks speaker series returns starting Jan. 9
Given the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute's (EESI) history of understanding the Earth as a system, the spring 2023 EarthTalks speaker series is intended to provide a venue for the expansion of participants' horizons into the solar system.
Researchers encouraged to submit proposals for Earthshot Prize
Penn State faculty and staff are invited to submit nominations for the Earthshot Prize 2023, an international competition aimed at identifying the most promising solutions to environmental challenges.
Materials Research Institute accepting proposals for two seed grant projects
The Materials Research Institute (MRI) offers a series of seed grants to Penn State researchers that encourage high-risk, high-impact collaborative projects across multiple disciplines with great potential for societal benefit. Currently, calls for proposals are open for two seed grant programs.
Campus Weather Service celebrates 50 years
For fledgling forecasters and budding broadcasters, the Campus Weather Service at Penn State has a reputation for real-world readiness.
Penn State alumni make mark on NASA Mars missions
This fall, NASA’s Curiosity rover reached new heights.
Coffee Hour to discuss water governance conflicts linked to climate change
Srinivas Chokkakula, Ministry of Jal Shakti Research Chair with the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, will give the talk “Conflicts and Complicit Climate Change: Transboundary Water Governance in South Asia” as part of the Department of Geography’s Coffee Hour lecture series.