College of Ag Sciences celebrates faculty, staff achievements in research

December 10, 2024

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated another year of outstanding success and accomplishments in research during the 2024 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 19 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Dr. Cibin Raj receives a CoAS Research Award

December 9, 2024

Dr. Cibin Raj and his co-authors recently received the High-Impact Research Publication Award Ceremony that was held at the Hintz Alumni Center.

Faculty in College of Ag Sciences lauded for teaching, extension excellence

December 6, 2024

Three faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently were recognized for their exemplary work in teaching as recipients of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2024 National Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Researchers to study how to make carbon-storing product safer, more sustainable

November 26, 2024

Able to store carbon to offset emissions and prevent soil degradation and pollution, charcoal-like biochar could offer a sustainable solution to a lot of environmental challenges — if its production can be made greener. Supported by a three-year, $799,883 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an international team led by researchers at Penn State will address the so-called “dark side” of biochar, assessing the threat of organic contaminant residues in biorefinery char products.

Alternate stream water-testing method detects emerging contaminants

November 22, 2024

Pollutants known as “contaminants of emerging concern” or chemicals that could potentially harm human health and have been found in the environment, including pesticides, ingredients from personal care products, pharmaceuticals and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are increasingly found in streams and lakes. A team led by researchers at Penn State recently demonstrated the accuracy and utility of a new method to find even very low levels of these substances in surface waters. They reported their findings in the Science of the Total Environment.

Gas From Dairy Farm Manure Pit Causes Child to Lose Consciousness, Kills Ponies

November 21, 2024

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences is hiring a Lab Coordinator.

October 29, 2024

This is a full-time non-academic staff (Lab Coordinator-Engineering-Intermediate Professional) position.

Research team gets grant to study precision chemical thinning of apple blossoms

October 25, 2024

One of the most traditionally time-consuming, labor-intensive processes of apple production is blossom thinning, which involves manually pruning flowers so that remaining blooms can reclaim the plant’s resources to grow better fruit. More recently, the process has shifted to broad chemical spraying, which can have harmful environmental impacts. To assist producers and mitigate environmental harm, the USDA has awarded a three-year, $601,125 grant to a team of Penn State researchers for the development of a robotic precision spraying system.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty honored by national society

October 9, 2024

Two faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Ali Demirci and Juliana Vasco-Correa, recently received awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Nine researchers named Institute of Energy and the Environment Fellows

September 12, 2024

Nine Penn State researchers have been named fellows of the Institute of Energy and the Environment for 2024. The program recognizes and assists the exceptional achievements and unparalleled research impacts of highly successful researchers in the areas of energy and the environment. Nominees for the fellowship were submitted by the University community. 

USDA grant to fund project developing AI-powered database on water quality

August 26, 2024

Nitrate, a common chemical compound that occurs naturally and is found in plants, water and soil, can break down into molecules harmful to human, animal and ecological health and accumulate as a pollutant. Nitrate contamination in streams, lakes and estuaries is a critical problem in many agricultural watersheds, but water-quality data is limited, making monitoring stream health and making management decisions difficult, according to researchers at Penn State. To enhance available data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a four-year, $650,000 grant to a research team at Penn State. 

USDA grant to fund robotic precision pesticide sprayer development

August 21, 2024

Pesticides reduce crop loss, helping to stabilize production, but excessive use of pesticides has brought huge negative impacts to the environment and human health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To address the problem, a team of Penn State researchers is developing a robotic precision pesticide sprayer capable of targeted application while minimizing unintended exposure.

Summer 2024 ABE Graduates

August 20, 2024

Faculty and Staff congratulate our Summer 2024 Graduates

Ag Sciences researchers win award for ‘superior’ paper from engineering society

August 7, 2024

Long He, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, and colleagues in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently received a 2024 Superior Paper Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for their research presentation titled, “An Advanced Robotic System for Precision Chemical Thinning of Apple Blossoms.”

Farm families’ childcare challenges impacting farm businesses, research suggests

July 30, 2024

Childcare challenges might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about farm business viability, yet according to a new study led by a Penn State researcher, childcare challenges can negatively impact farm businesses and the farm family. The findings were reported in Agriculture and Human Values. 

Q&A: Achieving energy literacy through decarbonization research

July 30, 2024

A team of researchers in the Penn State College of Engineering was awarded a five-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to study how undergraduate engineering students learn and develop into energy-literate engineers as they engage with long-term research experiences centered on decarbonization.  

Lots going on at the Crops, Soils and Conservation Area at Ag Progress Days

July 24, 2024

There will be a lot going on in and around the J.D. Harrington Crops, Soils and Conservation Building at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 13-15. Exhibits and activities will feature crop management, renewable energy, conservation education and planting demonstrations, as well as the signature hay show.

Solar farms with stormwater controls mitigate runoff, erosion, study finds

July 18, 2024

As the number of major utility-scale ground solar panel installations grows, concerns about their impacts on natural hydrologic processes also have grown. However, a new study by Penn State researchers suggests that excess runoff or increased erosion can be easily mitigated — if these “solar farms” are properly built.

ATV hazards to be the focus of Ag Progress Days farm safety demonstrations

July 17, 2024

Interested in exploring safety topics central to the everyday lives of farmers, farm workers and their families? Visitors to the Farm Safety Demonstration Area at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 13-15, can learn about the hazards of all-terrain vehicles and ways to minimize the risk of rollovers.

Passion for agricultural safety leads to bequest by professor emeritus

June 12, 2024

To ensure the continued support and growth of the agricultural safety and health program in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Dennis Murphy and his wife, Christy, have committed the payout of a life insurance policy to bolster the Endowment for Agricultural Safety and Health in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

Research Video on Inventing Robot to Protect Crops from Frost

May 14, 2024

Weiyun Hua, a PhD student in Penn State's Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering program, designed a smart agriculture robot to heat fruit orchards efficiently. It has the potential to save farmers time, energy costs, and lost revenue from frost damaged crops. Weiyun is one of many researchers across the globe imagining the future farming technologies needed to address the challenges of climate change, which include unpredictable temperatures.

Spring 2024 ABE Graduates

May 8, 2024

Faculty and Staff congratulate our Spring 2024 Graduates

Becot named Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor of Agricultural Safety

May 8, 2024

Florence Becot recently was appointed Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. She will oversee research, extension and academic programs in safety and health related to the agricultural and the biorenewable industries.

Exciting news for bioWatch

April 25, 2024

bioWatch took first place in the Nittany AI Challenge 2024!

Tyrone wood floor manufacturer utilizes OriginLabs prototyping facility

April 23, 2024

Britta Teller and Evan Stover are the co-founders of Steller Floors, a sustainable hardwood floor startup based out of Tyrone. They are regular users of OriginLabs, Invent Penn State's prototyping and fabrication space in State College.

College of Ag Sciences faculty, extension leader engage in leadership program

April 22, 2024

Two Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty members and an assistant director with Penn State Extension recently furthered their knowledge of leadership principles by completing the LEAD21 leadership development program, a national yearlong program to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics and extension and can navigate an increasingly complex environment to lead more effectively in their current or future leadership positions. 

Penn State celebrates the 2024 Sustainability Award winners

April 17, 2024

Students from across the University are being honored for their extraordinary contributions to sustainability initiatives

Rock Ethics Institute recognizes three outstanding students as Stand Up awardees

April 17, 2024

NSF CAREER Award enables Penn State scientist to study new 3D printing materials

April 16, 2024

An agricultural engineer in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is embarking on research to explore using plant-based materials for 3D printing, thanks to support from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Two ABE graduate students earn prizes at 2024 Graduate Exhibition

April 4, 2024

Congratulations to Yanqiu Yang for 1st Place in the Research Poster Option in Engineering, and Kittiphum Pawikhum along with Yanqiu Yang for Honerable Mention in the Data Visualization Awards.