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Muammar Mansor explores Frasassi Cave.

Deep Italian cave provides clues for how to detect life on Mars

4/17/18

What can a massive cave in Italy tell us about life on Mars and other planets? According to new research by Penn State scientists, a whole lot. In work published in Astrobiology, researchers identified biosignatures — or signs of the presence of life — about 1,300 feet below ground in the Frasassi Caves in central Italy.

Visitors during opening reception of "Plastic Entanglements"

"Plastic Entanglements" breaks Palmer Museum attendance record

4/17/18

Since the opening of "Plastic Entanglements: Ecology, Aesthetics, Materials" eight weeks ago at the Palmer Museum of Art, attendance to the museum has ballooned by an unprecedented 32 percent. The record-breaking visitor numbers — more than 1,000 per week — have soared as people of all ages come to explore the innovative, interdisciplinary exhibition that examines humanity’s past, present and future relationship to plastic.

Three women put out fire in barrel using firehose

Fighting fire with societal norms

4/17/18

Only 7 percent of the U.S. firefighter workforce is female, and they make $10,000 less than men, on average, even though they are the same average age. Penn State researcher Lorraine Dowler has spent the past decade interviewing women firefighters about their challenges and thinking about ways to improve opportunities for women.

Districts being redrawn in Virginia using District Builder

Public Mapping Project wins 2018 Brown Democracy Medal

4/16/18

The Public Mapping Project has developed District Builder, an open-source software redistricting application designed to give the public transparent, accessible and easy-to-use online mapping tools. The goal is for all citizens to have access to the same information that legislators use when drawing congressional maps — and use that data to create maps of their own.

Spotted lanternflies on grapevine

Penn State Extension, ag officials look to slow spread of spotted lanternfly

4/16/18

Grape growers, orchardists, nursery operators, homeowners and others in southeastern Pennsylvania are bracing for the spring emergence of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia that appeared for the first time in the United States in Berks County nearly four years ago. Penn State Extension educators and College of Agricultural Sciences researchers are working with state and federal agriculture officials to stop the pest's spread.

Alternative spring break

Abington students reflect on service learning trips

4/13/18

Hurricane-torn Puerto Rico and an impoverished Native American reservation in South Dakota are unlikely spring break destinations, but Penn State Abington students competed to travel to these two areas for Alternative Spring Break.

Courtney Young

Courtney Young: Penn State Faculty Profiles in Diversity and Inclusion

4/9/18

Penn State’s Courtney Young, head librarian at the J. Clarence Kelly Library at Penn State Greater Allegheny and professor of women’s studies, draws on her diverse background and passion for teaching and learning to encourage those around her to foster an environment that is welcoming of diversity, change and collaboration.

Students doing activity in the woods

A 30-minute lesson can connect young people to nature, preserve for others

4/6/18

A 30-minute educational lesson about the importance of leaving what you find during outdoor experiences helps young people feel more connected to nature and results in children being less likely to take natural items home as souvenirs, according to a study conducted at Outdoor School, a residential program run by Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.

Berks students helped restore mangrove forests.

Planting the seeds of service in San Juan, Puerto Rico

4/5/18

Penn State Berks students are traveling around the world to help communities touched by natural and manmade disasters as part of the Alternative Spring Break program. This is the story of the most recent alternative spring break trip to Puerto Rico written by Penn State Berks student Chelsea Watts who recently returned from the trip.

Courtney Mensch Relay For Life

Penn State Relay For Life executive director plans on lifelong cancer advocacy

4/3/18

As a first-year student, Mensch was confident that she wanted to advocate for a cause. She decided to attend the night-time Luminaria Ceremony at Relay For Life. At the ceremony, luminaria bags line the walkways lit with candles, honoring those who have suffered or are suffering from cancer. She had her “this is it” moment and decided to get involved. Gradually, she assumed more leadership and held positions like the EMS Relay For Life chairperson, Greek recruitment overall, ultimately becoming the executive director in her senior year.

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