News

Tracy Langkilde appointed interim executive vice president and provost

Tracy Langkilde, the Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Eberly College of Science, has been named interim executive vice president and provost of Penn State, effective April 15. Langkilde succeeds Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz, who has been named as the sole finalist for chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder and will depart Penn State this summer.

Temperature, humidity may drive future transmission of parasitic worm infections

As climate changes, temperature isn’t the only factor to influence the spread of infectious diseases. Humidity plays a role, too, according to new research published in Ecology Letters.

Drought may drive deadly amphibian disease, researchers find

Pumpkin toadlets are in trouble. Progressively severe droughts are disrupting the microbiomes of the thumbnail-sized orange frogs, potentially leaving them vulnerable to a deadly fungal disease, according to a new study by an international research team.

Edge habitats along roads and power lines may be key to conserving rare plants

Edge habitats created by natural or human-caused disturbances provide prime opportunities for encouraging the establishment and reproduction of rare native plants, the researchers reported in a new study published in Plant Ecology

College of Ag Sciences student aspires to drive innovation in climate solutions

Katherine Chu has embraced the opportunities that the environmental resource management program provides to contribute to innovative solutions.

Novel tool informs land use and nutrient control in troubled waters

Penn State researchers develop 3D agro-hydrologic model to simulate water, nutrient transport through entire watersheds.

Climate Consortium announces call for workshop proposals

The Penn State Climate Consortium has launched the Climate Solutions Accelerator, an innovative effort aimed at catalyzing research projects geared towards offering impactful climate solutions for communities in Pennsylvania and globally.

College of Ag Sciences recognizes faculty, staff for research achievements

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the 2023 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 1 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Researchers predict climate change-driven reduction in beneficial plant microbes

Bacteria that benefit plants are thought to be a critical contributor to crops and other ecosystems, but climate change may reduce their numbers, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. They published their findings in Nature Food.

Q&A: Modeling measles amidst a global disruption in vaccine supplies

According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Nov. 17 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a drop in vaccination coverage led to a 72% increase in reported measles cases and a 43% increase in measles deaths during 2021-22.