UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: A Penn State research team was recently awarded a $4.99 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and assess advanced separation technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and other critical materials from coal, coal wastes and coal by-products. The materials, which are abundant in Earth's crust but challenging to extract and primarily sourced from o  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Amara Solari, professor of art history and anthropology, has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for an ambitious, cross-disciplinary research project to explore how artistic production served as a mode of resistance for Puebloan communities during the Catholic evangelical campaigns of the 17th century. As part of the Guggenheim's 2024 class, Solari joins a distinguished and diverse group from 52   more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: The Arboretum at Penn State is looking for hundreds of volunteers to help plant more than 100,000 flowering perennial plants and grasses around the new Palmer Museum of Art at the Arboretum in preparation for its public opening on June 1. "We're trying to get as many folks out here as possible during the month of May to plant as many of these plants as we can before that grand opening," said Aubre  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: May 8 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Eisenhower Auditorium at University Park. Initially known as University Auditorium, it was renamed for former Penn State President Milton S. Eisenhower in 1977. The multi-purpose performing arts facility has welcomed nationally and internationally recognized performers in music, drama and dance; well-known speakers; touring Broadway musicals; and ed  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: For alumnus David Mazyck, returning to Penn State as the department head of the School of Engineering Design and Innovation (SEDI) within the College of Engineering was an appealing proposition. He'd been working for the University of Florida for 22 years, and while he enjoyed his time there, Penn State offered something he was interested in: familiar faces and a chance to give back to the community  more

BRISTOL, Connecticut, May 9 -- ESPN, a sports media company, issued the following news release on May 8, 2024: * * * * First round games from campus sites May 11-12 on ESPNU * Quarterfinals from Hempstead, N.Y. and Towson, Md., May 18-19 on ESPNU * Championship Weekend live from Philadelphia with semifinals on ESPN2 and title game on ESPN * All games streaming on ESPN+ * * * ESPN's exclusive, wire-to-wire coverage of the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship begins with the ope  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Gary Liguori has been named chancellor and dean of Penn State Abington, effective July 1. Liguori, former provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of West Florida, was selected following a national search. "I am honored and excited to serve as Penn State Abington's next chancellor, and I look forward to building on our college's commitment to student success and delivering t  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 6 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Penn State University Libraries' Walter and Doris Goldstein Music and Media Center, on the second floor of West Pattee Library at the University Park campus, offers access to a vast collection of music and video resources for teaching, research and personal enjoyment. The collection includes 40,000 audio recordings and more than 10,000 video recordings. The music collection includes recordings of j  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Christina Snyder, McCabe Greer Professor of the American Civil War Era in Penn State's Department of History, has been named a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Snyder was among 188 scholars and artists from 52 fields chosen for their "prior career achievement and exceptional promise," according to the foundation, which was established in 1925 by Sen. Simon Gu  more

HOLLAND, Michigan, May 7 -- Hope College issued the following news: By Greg Olgers Dr. Chad Carlson of the Hope College kinesiology faculty has received this year's Hope Outstanding Professor Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award from the graduating Class of 2024. The H.O.P.E. award, first given in 1965, is presented by the graduating class to the professor who they feel epitomizes the best qualities of the Hope College educator. Carlson received the recognition during the college's Commencement ceremony  more

BANGOR, Maine, May 7 -- Husson University issued the following news release: Husson University has named Ben Sidaway as the first-ever Geneva S. Allen '49 Professor in Health Sciences. "It's a tremendous honor to be the first Geneva Allen Endowed Professor in the College of Health and Pharmacy. We have so many good researchers in the college, so I am flattered to have been chosen," Sidaway said. The professorship is named for the late Geneva S. Allen, who graduated from Husson University in 1  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: The Canadian wildfires of June 2023 exposed a large portion of the Northeastern United States to unprecedented levels of smoke. A new model that combines wildfire smoke forecasts and data from ground-based sensors may help public health officials plan targeted interventions in areas most at risk for the negative health effects of unexpected smoke events and air pollution, according to a team led by   more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Temperatures are rising rapidly in the Arctic, raising questions about how communities are coping in the shifting climate. A team led by Penn State researchers reviewed studies from the past 30 years to examine whether these challenges are causing people to migrate out of the area -- or if, and why, they're deciding to stay. The researchers, who published the findings in Regional Environmental Chan  more

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, May 10 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release: Engineering. Security. Education. Leadership. Culture. Martial Arts. Martial Arts? Absolutely. For Mohamad Zineddin, these six interests have coalesced into vital areas of engaged expertise. When he joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in August 2023, Dr. Z - as he is known to his students, friends, and colleagues - brought more than 35 years in government, private  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 6 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: A research team in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has received a grant of nearly $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund a novel project investigating the molecular and physiological processes that support corn kernel development. Corn kernels are a global source of food, animal feed, biofuel, starches/sugars and ingredients in many food products. With the $974,8  more

WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania, May 10 -- The Pennsylvania College of Technology issued the following news: Four Pennsylvania College of Technology aviation maintenance technology students, along with two instructors and two college staffers, took part in the inaugural Aerospace Day at the state Capitol. Held Tuesday, the event highlighted opportunities in the aerospace and aviation industries in Pennsylvania. Penn College was part of a select group of aerospace and aviation industry and higher ed  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program in Philadelphia County, in partnership with the Friends of Wharton Square Park, recently received a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, presented annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The recognition is the highest statewide honor bestowed upon schools, businesses and community organizations for envi  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- Penn State Lehigh Valley will hold the 3rd Annual Open Affordable Showcase on May 9. This event is open to any faculty or staff member within the Penn State network interested in making students' Penn State experience more affordable; exploring best practices around open educational resources (OER); discovering new ways to use materials in classes, assignments or activities; or  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As a critical step in its efforts to attain a sustainable financial operating model for its Commonwealth Campuses and position the university for a successful future, Penn State is offering eligible full-time faculty, staff and administrators employed at its Commonwealth Campuses the option to leave Penn State with a significant pay and benefits package. The Voluntary Separat  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- The city of Pittsburgh issued the following news release on May 6, 2024: Today, Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously to confirm Dr. Jamil Bey as the new Director of City Planning. "I want to thank Council for their support and for their unanimous confirmation of Dr. Jamil Bey as the new Director of City Planning," said Mayor Ed Gainey. "I look forward to working with Dr. Bey as we embark on the Comprehensive Plan as we work to build Pittsburgh into a cit  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Penn State alumna Jane Rigby was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President Joe Biden on May 3. Rigby is an astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight center and the senior project scientist for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful telescope ever built. For her contributions to space science, Rigby was named t  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: The phrase "advanced chip packaging" might conjure images of a fancy Pringles can. For those who manufacture semiconductors -- also known as integrated circuits, chips or microchips -- it represents a new frontier, a race to design and mass produce the next generation of semiconductors that use less energy while delivering more computing power. Traditionally completed near the end of the manufactur  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Many have heard about "No Mow May" -- a movement that encourages people not to mow their lawns during the month of May to encourage the growth of flowering plants for bees and other pollinators. But is it really beneficial? Penn State News spoke with two pollinator experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences -- Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and di  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Ancient, expansive tracts of continental crust called cratons have helped keep Earth's continents stable for billions of years, even as landmasses shift, mountains rise and oceans form. A new mechanism proposed by Penn State scientists may explain how the cratons formed some 3 billion years ago, an enduring question in the study of Earth's history. The scientists reported today (May 8) in the journ  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 9 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: When Karli Short lost her life to gun violence in September 2021, her family said they wanted to create a legacy that celebrated her spirit and drew meaning from their tragedy. "When we searched for ways to honor Karli and support victims of gun violence, we could think of no better way than to help students achieve the American dream by supporting their education and creating a better tomorrow,"   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging released the following testimony by Nicholas Smith, a direct support professional at Special People in the Northeast, from a hearing dated April 16, 2024, entitled "The Long-Term Care Workforce: Addressing Shortages and Improving the Profession": * * * Chairman Casey and Ranking Member Braun, Senator Fetterman, and members of the Senate Aging Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify before the Committee. My name is Nicholas S  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 10 -- Tarrant County College issued the following news release: Tarrant County College is partnering with Penn State University and the University of Texas at Arlington to offer a free 12-week Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program to veterans and their dependents. This innovative approach pairs community colleges with nearby research universities to meet critical demand for semiconductor applications and increase career options for veterans. Funding   more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: HERSHEY, Pa. -- The reminders are everywhere. When a woman turns 40, doctors say she should begin receiving yearly mammograms to detect breast cancer. You see it on posters, ads and buttons. Doctors beat the drum forcefully and often because the stakes are high. While both women and men can develop breast cancer, the disease occurs far more often in women. Breast cancer remains the second leading c  more

NEW YORK, May 8 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following transcript of an interview on May 6, 2024, with Curtis "DJ LeRoy" Archer and Bob "NightWatchman" Ponce of WHCR 90.3 FM's Soul Lounge Primetime: * * * Curtis "DJ LeRoy" Archer: All right. Well, I'm thinking that I want to actually introduce you to who I call The Nightlife Mayor. That can only be live from the republic of the BK, my mayor, Eric Adams. Bring him up, man. Come on! Bob "NightWatchman" Ponce: Welcome. Mayor Eri  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 6 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news: Karen A. Thole Karen A. Thole has been named dean of the University of Michigan College of Engineering, effective Aug. 1. Thole currently is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the START Lab at The Pennsylvania State University, and director of the Engineering Ambassadors Network. Her five-year appointment was authorized by Laurie McCauley, provost   more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 6 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Each year, immediately following spring commencement ceremonies, Penn State's Office of Physical Plant (OPP) begins its annual summer construction and renovation projects at the University Park campus. This year, OPP along with Penn State Transportation Services and project contractors will work to minimize disruptions to the campus community wherever possible. OPP updates an interactive constructi  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 8 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Starting at 9 p.m. on Monday, May 13, the Penn State Office of Physical Plant (OPP) will conduct the first round of its annual, two-part, elm tree spraying program at University Park. Ground-based spraying will take place overnight, with an aerial application by helicopter set to take place at daybreak on the morning of Tuesday, May 14 (estimated time 5:30 a.m.). Both aerial and ground-based appli  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: As part of an ongoing commitment to investing in faculty and staff, Penn State will be contributing more than $4.8 million toward faculty promotions in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget and $5.4 million in fiscal year 2025-26. Along with support for tenure-line promotions, the University will now also fund non-tenure-line faculty promotions at all campuses centrally starting in fiscal year 2024-25 --   more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, May 7 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news: Cellulose, which helps give plant cell walls their rigid structure, holds promise as a renewable raw material for biofuels -- if researchers can accelerate the production process. Compared to the breakdown of other biofuel materials like corn, breaking down cellulose is slow and inefficient but could avoid concerns around using a food source while taking advantage of abundant plant materials that mi  more