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IEE faculty, fellows, staff, and projects in the news

A silhouette of a person holding an infant, set against a vivid sunset over the ocean. The image includes text that reads: “Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment. Growing Impact. CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME HEAT, & INFANT HEALTH.”

Growing Impact: Climate change, extreme heat, and infant health

Heat significantly affects pregnant women and infants, increasing risks like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and developmental issues in children. Expectant mothers are more vulnerable due to physiological changes, while infants face heightened danger because of immature temperature regulation. These challenges are further intensified for families with limited resources. Researchers are investigating these impacts to provide lawmakers with the knowledge needed to create protective measures for these at-risk groups.

Guests

Seed Grant Projects

EMS faculty members earn National Academies US-African Frontiers Fellowships | Penn State University

EMS faculty members earn National Academies US-African Frontiers Fellowships

| psu.edu

Two faculty members in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences have been awarded the prestigious U.S.-Africa Frontiers Fellowships by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to build high-impact research collaboration and strengthen capacity building with African scientists. In addition, three African scientists will be visiting Penn State.

Mentions

Charlie Anderson to lead Plant Biology intercollege graduate program | Penn State University

Charlie Anderson to lead Plant Biology intercollege graduate program

| psu.edu

Professor of Biology Charles T. Anderson has been named the new chair of the intercollege graduate degree program in plant biology in the Huck Institutes, succeeding longtime program head Teh-hui Kao.

Mentions

O'Connor named acting director of Penn State Climate Consortium | Penn State University

O'Connor named acting director of Penn State Climate Consortium

| psu.edu

As acting director of the Penn State Climate Consortium, Jacqueline O’Connor will continue to advance interdisciplinary research efforts that address environmental challenges and serve communities in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Mentions

Promotional graphic for Penn State’s Growing Impact podcast episode titled 'Climate Change, Extreme Heat, & Infant Health,' featuring Ruohao Zhang, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics. The image shows a silhouette of a woman holding a baby at sunset on the left and a portrait of Ruohao Zhang on the right.

Growing Impact: Climate change, extreme heat, and infant health (Preview)

| youtu.be

Full episode release date: July 1, 2025. Heat significantly affects pregnant women and infants, increasing risks like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and developmental issues in children. Expectant mothers are more vulnerable due to physiological changes, while infants face heightened danger because of immature temperature regulation. These challenges are further intensified for families with limited resources. Researchers are investigating these impacts to provide lawmakers with the knowledge needed to create protective measures for these at-risk groups.

Mentions

Seed Grant Projects

Ten interdisciplinary research teams awarded IEE seed grants | Penn State University

Ten interdisciplinary research teams awarded IEE seed grants

| psu.edu

More than 30 researchers from seven Penn State colleges received seed funding from the Institute of Energy and the Environment to advance innovative, early-stage work addressing critical energy and environmental challenges.

Mentions

Seed Grant Projects

Kao steps down as plant biology graduate program chair | Penn State University

Kao steps down as plant biology graduate program chair

| psu.edu

Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, has stepped down as chair of the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology after 26 years in the role. Longtime program faculty member Charlie Anderson, professor of biology and co-director of the Center for Biorenewables, will take over as chair.

Mentions

Rewriting a scientific law to unlock the potential of energy, sensing and more | Penn State University

Rewriting a scientific law to unlock the potential of energy, sensing and more

| psu.edu

With help from an IEE seed grant, a research team from Penn State has broken a 165-year-old law of thermal radiation with unprecedented strength, setting the stage for more efficient energy harvesting, heat transfer, and infrared sensing.

Mentions

Seed Grant Projects

A man in a blue shirt pours a glass of drinking water

Millions in Pennsylvania may be drinking contaminated water

| newsweek.com

3.5 million people in Pennsylvania are served from private wells—65 percent of wells tested were found to contain 'forever chemicals.'

Mentions

‘Forever chemicals’ detected in 65% of sampled private wells in Pennsylvania | Penn State University

‘Forever chemicals’ detected in 65% of sampled private wells in Pennsylvania

| psu.edu

To better understand potential contamination of the groundwater feeding the 3.5 million people served by private well systems in Pennsylvania, a team of researchers from Penn State conducted a novel three-year citizen science study of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often referred to as forever chemicals — in 167 private wells across the commonwealth.

Mentions

The College of EMS annual tree planting event in Sandy Ridge, PA.

How youth culture is reimagining climate action

Young people are using culture, creativity, and digital media to reimagine climate action. See how their everyday choices are shaping a sustainable future.

Authors

Lawn story: Turfgrass data may improve urban greenhouse gas emission estimates | Penn State University

Lawn story: Turfgrass data may improve urban greenhouse gas emission estimates

| psu.edu

Data that has been lost in the weeds — or more accurately the turfgrass — could help improve estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from urban areas, according to a team led by scientists at Penn State.

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