Sustainability is a strategic initiative in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Below are the most current stories showcasing our college's sustainability efforts.
More research is needed to spread the benefits of electric vehicles equitably
05/12/2023
05/12/2023
Electric vehicles, or EVs, promise to reduce carbon emissions and serve as a tool to help mitigate climate change, but a team of Penn State researchers report there has been little research to determine how equitable the benefits of EVs are and, in fact, whether the technology may unfairly harm some areas and populations.
EMS graduate student on a mission through research, sustainability
05/02/2023
05/02/2023
Set on pursuing a career in the music industry from a young age, Carl Fredrick Aquino never could have predicted that his career would lead him to follow the path to become a climate scientist at Penn State.
Energy, environmental seed grants awarded to interdisciplinary research teams
05/02/2023
05/02/2023
Nineteen interdisciplinary research teams received funding through the Institutes of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) Seed Grant Program for 2023. This includes more than 75 researchers who are affiliated with 10 colleges and research units across seven Penn State campuses.
Projects to advance zero-waste water research, solutions
05/02/2023
05/02/2023
A new master agreement with ENOWA, a company tasked with pioneering sustainable energy and water innovations, will support Penn State research efforts in sustainable water solutions. The agreement could see up to $6 million invested into developing much-needed zero-waste water solutions.
Breakthrough in waste heat to green energy: Materials boost record efficiency
04/28/2023
04/28/2023
Thermoelectric generators can convert waste heat to clean electricity, and a new design breakthrough may make these devices more efficient than previously possible, according to scientists at Penn State and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
New Zealand offers students chance to see path to sustainable energy future
04/27/2023
04/27/2023
Andrew Gilbert is a senior majoring in energy engineering, a field he was driven to for two reasons: the complex yet crucial harmony of different facets of the energy system working in unison to provide affordable, sustainable and reliable energy to society; and the necessity that his generation transform this system to one that’s carbon neutral.
The Vikings abandoned Greenland due in part to sea-level rise, study finds
04/17/2023
04/17/2023
Why did the Vikings disappear from Greenland 400 years after settling there? New research led by Harvard University and Penn State using geologic and climate records found that sea-level rise likely contributed to the Viking’s disappearance from the island in the 15th century.
Spring break trip to Iceland empowers sustainability leaders of tomorrow
04/10/2023
04/10/2023
In contrast to the classic spring break trip soaking up sun on a beach, 12 students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences capitalized on their time off to gain an exclusive educational experience abroad.
Wetlands, water quality in Chesapeake Bay focus of Van Meter NSF CAREER Award
04/05/2023
04/05/2023
From improving water quality to providing a haven for endangered species, wetlands are the unsung heroes of our planet.
EarthTalks: NASA researcher to discuss search for life in the solar system
04/04/2023
04/04/2023
Lu Chou, a postdoctoral research associate at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, will present an overview of NASA’s search for extraterrestrial life using techniques for finding “life as we don’t know it” at 4 p.m. Monday, April 10, in 112 Walker Building on Penn State's University Park campus.