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Jennifer Baka, assistant professor in the department of geography, has been at Penn State for a little more than a year, but she has a lifetime of experience assessing the implications of energy. She grew up in a coal mining region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and watching the relationship a rural community has with a global enterprise factored into her choice to become an energy geographer. It’s a field that combines political and industrial ecology to look at how energy projects impact all segments of society.

The Sustainability Institute has announced Penn State’s participation in the 2017 EcoChallenge. Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the challenge by changing one or more personal habits over the course of two weeks, from Oct. 11–25.

The 2017 GEMS Industry Forum, “Balancing our Energy Future,” will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 in 114 Steidle Building on the University Park campus. There will be a reception held before the forum at 6 p.m. in the Steidle Building lobby.

Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center was awarded a $35,000 grant from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to install sustainable energy technologies in the center’s new construction. The grant is one of several efforts made to include eco-friendly elements.

Addressing environmental concerns, enriching a wide range of majors and making an impact in the community — those are some of the benefits the environmental inquiry (ENVI) minor offers, according to Larry Gorenflo, faculty-in-charge of ENVI and professor of landscape architecture and geography.

Some great ideas are born out of years of painstaking research. Others are gleaned from the plotline of the movie "Twister."

Getting to the core of the problem of teaching young students about the dynamic Earth is the impetus of a four-year, $2.8 million grant awarded to Penn State Associate Professor Scott McDonald.

People interested in learning about some of the world’s foods, performing arts, cultures and more can attend the third annual International Culture Night to celebrate cultures from around the world and enhance their cultural experiences. The event will take place from 5:45 to 8 p.m on Tuesday, Sept. 19, on the ground floor of the Deike Building on the University Park campus.

Gary Messing, distinguished professor of ceramic science and engineering, has been sharing research advancements with his European colleagues for decades so being named one of the eight inaugural honorary fellows of the European Ceramics Society (ECerS) was a special accomplishment for the decorated scientist.

Long-Qing Chen, Donald W. Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, professor of engineering science and mechanics and professor of mathematics, Penn State, has been awarded a Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany.