COVID-19 Impacts Found Unexpected Places

November 28, 2022

Sewage treatment plants provide an important service to communities around the world. Through several processes, these facilities take dirty water and transform it into water that can be reused safely. Treating water that comes from our homes and offices – domestic wastewater - to be reintroduced into the environment protects both human and environmental health.

New grant to save lives by funding devices to prevent tractor rollover deaths

November 14, 2022

Farmers in Pennsylvania can get state reimbursement to pay for retrofitting their older tractors with life-saving rollover-protection structures — often referred to as ROPS — aided by a new Penn State program.

Faculty in College of Ag Sciences recognized for research achievements

November 8, 2022

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the college’s inaugural Research Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 25 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Penn State student competes to expand sustainable agriculture efforts abroad

November 1, 2022

Penn State student Divya Pant participated in the Miss Nepal North America pageant to help raise awareness of her project Carbon Away, which she founded with the goal of converting waste generated during the agricultural process into energy and fertilizer.

‘Forever Chemicals’ persist through wastewater treatment, may enter crops

October 26, 2022

PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) persist through wastewater treatment at levels that may impact the long-term feasibility of ‘beneficial reuse of treated wastewater,’ according to a study conducted by researchers at Penn State and recently published in the Agronomy Journal.

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking an Assistant Research Professor in Electronics, Instrumentation and Control Systems in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Biorenewable Systems and Agricultural Machinery

October 6, 2022

BE capstone design team works with local community for a stream restoration design

October 6, 2022

The team visits the stream in Mount Union Borough as a first step in developing their design.

Biological Engineering capstone project featured in Resource magazine

September 9, 2022

ASABE’s Resource magazine has been devoted this issue to capstone projects from programs around the country, including Penn State University.

COVID-19 drugs persist in wastewater, may pose risk to aquatic organisms

September 8, 2022

Certain drugs used to treat COVID-19 patients — including remdesivir, dexamethasone and antibiotics for associated bacterial infections — persist through wastewater treatment and may occur in waterways at levels high enough to negatively affect aquatic organisms, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The findings highlight the broad utility of wastewater surveillance as a tool for monitoring the effects of human health on water quality and ecosystem health.

Penn State’s sustainability efforts in Beaver Stadium suites lauded

September 8, 2022

Penn State’s successful efforts to reduce waste going into a landfill after football games at Beaver Stadium are spotlighted in a case study in the Green Sports Alliance’s just-published “Food Waste Diversion and Compostable Packaging Playbook.” 

Penn State Fayette weather station will benefit campus and community

September 7, 2022

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has installed a weather station on campus as part of the Pennsylvania Environmental Monitoring Network, which includes 20 similar systems across the commonwealth. The project, which began development in 2017, is funded by the Penn State Office of the Vice President for Research, the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Summer 2022 ABE Graduates

August 22, 2022

Penn State students aiding project to reduce plastics and support Chesapeake Bay

August 18, 2022

As doctoral students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Wei-Shu Lin and Parisa Nazemi Ashani are dedicating their academic studies and future careers to improving ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States.

Pulsed light technology effectively kills harmful pathogens in new study

August 16, 2022

A light-based food sanitization technique successfully eliminated multiple harmful pathogens in a new study carried out by Penn State researchers.

Grain storage hazards the focus of Ag Progress Days' farm safety demonstrations

August 1, 2022

Visitors to the Farm Safety Demonstration Area at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 9-11, can learn about the hazards of flowing grain in confined-space grain storages and best practices to avoid and respond to entrapment risks.

Agricultural engineers design early step for robotic, green-fruit thinning

July 18, 2022

Penn State agricultural engineers have developed, for the first time, a prototype “end-effector” capable of deftly removing unwanted apples from trees — the first step toward robotic, green-fruit thinning.

Researcher gets grant to study biofilters to reduce livestock facility methane

July 11, 2022

A scientist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has received a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lead a team conducting research on using biofilters to mitigate methane from enteric emissions produced in livestock facilities.

College of Ag Sciences planning new embedded course with travel to Antarctica

July 6, 2022

A new embedded course, “Antarctica: Human Impacts on a Fragile Environment,” will be offered at Penn State in the fall 2023 semester.

Spring 2022 ABE Graduates

May 26, 2022

The ABE Faculty and Staff wish to congratulate our Spring 2022 Graduates.

Interactive art installation highlights power of interdisciplinary collaboration

May 23, 2022

Hanging in the hallway of the newly renovated Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building is “Augmented Encounters,” a 10-foot-long and 6-foot-wide, quilt-like, interactive art installation. As users engage with the piece, they learn of a unconventional collaboration that employed ancient art techniques in celebration of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Internet-based precision irrigation system shows promise for fresh-market tomato

May 17, 2022

An “internet of things” — or IoT — system monitoring real-time data from soil-based sensors to activate an automated precision irrigation setup can conserve water and boost crop production, according to a team of Penn State researchers.

Penn State Extension offers farm safety trainings and demonstrations

May 5, 2022

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States, and agricultural emergencies require specialized knowledge and training for first responders. To prepare emergency responders, Penn State Extension offers numerous trainings and demonstrations designed for fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, law enforcement personnel, and farm community members.

College of Engineering names student marshals for spring 2022 commencement

April 21, 2022

Adira Nair has been named the spring 2022 student marshal for biological engineering

Sanchez to present 'Emergence of a carbon-negative bioeconomy' April 14

April 13, 2022

Dan Sanchez, an extension specialist who runs the Carbon Removal Lab at University of California Berkeley, will discuss the emergence of a carbon-negative bioeconomy at 3 p.m. on April 14 in 213 Ag Engineering. 

Dr. Irmak awarded the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UF/IFAS Agricultural and Biological Engineering department

April 11, 2022

Congratualtions Dr. Irmak!

Gamma Sigma Delta lauds outstanding College of Ag Sciences faculty, students

April 5, 2022

The Penn State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honor society, recognized Penn State faculty and students during its annual meeting, which was held March 31.

Penn State's 'Living Filter' to be the focus of wastewater reuse conference

March 28, 2022

More than a half-century of research on the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and groundwater recharge will be the focus of a three-day conference hosted by Penn State April 5-7 at the Wyndham Garden hotel in Boalsburg. The conference will highlight Penn State's "Living Filter," a year-round spray irrigation system that recycles the University's treated effluent.

Coffee Hour to examine green infrastructure solutions for water management

March 25, 2022

Lauren McPhillips, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Penn State, will provide insights into the effectiveness of green infrastructure solutions for managing stormwater during a talk at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 1.

Faculty in College of Agricultural Sciences lauded for excellence in teaching

March 16, 2022

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has recognized five faculty members for outstanding teaching in 2021.

Penn State pulling team looking forward to new competition year

March 8, 2022

The Penn State Pullers design team prepares for the engineering design competition hosted by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, which takes place over several days in June at the Expo Gardens Fairgrounds in Peoria, Illinois.