Still Life
Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012
Spring commencement 2012 under way
Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together
Finals Week Spring Semester 2012
Children explore career options at University Park
Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium
Did They Get It Right? - RedTails
Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Students on the Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team are putting the finishing touches on presentations and materials in preparation for the EcoCAR 2 Year One Final Competition in Los Angeles beginning Thursday, May 17. Penn State is one of 15 North American teams competing in EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of a General Motors-donated 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by improving its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions while retaining its performance and consumer appeal. Throughout year one, students were hard at work designing their advanced propulsion technologies to incorporate in their vehicle in years two and three. (more)
Moses Chan, an Evan Pugh Professor of Physics at Penn State University, testified before the U.S. Senate on whether the sell-off of the nation's helium reserve has an adverse effect on the nation's scientific, technical, biomedical and national-security users of helium. Chan, a member of the National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council (NAS/NRC) Committee on Understanding the Impact of Selling the Helium Reserve, gave his testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 10. (more)
The Board of Trustees website has a new design that puts key information at the fingertips of those who visit. The site, found at http://www.psu.edu/trustees/ online, includes information about the trustees' responsibilities, upcoming meetings, minutes and agendas, and recent news. The site also includes links to information about University governance; the charter, bylaws and standing orders; membership; staff; and history. Outlined on the site is the new structure of the board consisting of five standing committees, which were created to align more closely with University operations. (more)
Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. Researchers say that 57.6 percent of patients prescribed antipsychotic medications in data from 2003 did not have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the conditions for which the drugs were approved for use. Use of medication for treatments that is not FDA-approved is called off-label use. (more)
"It's never been a better time to be a learner. Active engagement with the resources that are available -- free and very low-cost open content -- that's what is required to see this as a great opportunity. Adult learners have a lot more choices today. That means higher education institutions have to make choices, as well. You need to figure out your [institution's] strengths and focus on personalized learning plans. Help people figure out their goals and interests and map out a plan to get there. Institutions that get this right will have an advantage."
-- Anya Kamenetz, educational gamechanger and senior writer for Fast Company Magazine, keynote speaker on May 14 at the Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference. An educational futurist, Kamenetz is author of the book "DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education," which focuses on how technology is disrupting the higher education industry. The Hendrick Conference brings together Penn State administrators, faculty and staff to share their best practices for working with and improving the educational experiences of adult learners University-wide. (more)
A Penn State researcher has been chosen to receive a grant through the Grand Challenges Explorations program, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. David Hughes, assistant professor of entomology and biology, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Taking Out the Bodyguards: A Novel Solution to Ag Disease." Hughes' project aims to reduce the incidence of plant diseases -- and consequently crop losses -- by reducing the population of ants that act as protectors for various crop pests. Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. (more)
The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State's 2012-2013 season of music, theater and dance presentations from around the world features the Centre County debut of the musical comedy The Addams Family, the touring Broadway shows Hair and Tap Dogs, Toronto's Opera Atelier in The Magic Flute, the return of Bela Fleck and Tony Trischka with an elite line-up of banjo buddies and the second season of a three-year journey through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven. (more)
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will visit Penn State on Wednesday, May 16, to deliver an address commemorating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and highlighting the groundbreaking research and innovation that takes place at land-grant universities, such as Penn State. Vilsack's address will take place at 11 a.m. in Berg Auditorium (Room 100) in the Life Sciences Building on the University Park campus. The event is free and open to the public. (more)
Emergency personnel from Penn State and municipalities throughout the Centre Region will participate in a full-scale emergency response exercise at the University Park Airport from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23. The airport will be open and operating under a normal schedule during this drill. Traffic may be heavier than normal, however, so travelers should allow extra time to get to the airport. (more)
Injuries are both predictable and preventable and the leading cause of death and disability for all children 1 to 14 years of age. All children and their families need information on keeping their children safe as they grow and wherever they are. (more)
