All of the students of St. Matthew School in Tyrone will tell you that they took a great field trip to Penn State recently: they handled huge cockroaches, conducted a mock "CSI" forensic science lab and ended the day with Penn State ice cream sundaes. They also left with a better understanding of the role of agriculture and the natural sciences in their daily lives. (more)
An ongoing series of monthly, Web-based seminars addressing issues surrounding Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale natural-gas boom will continue through the winter.
Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension, upcoming webinars will cover topics such as legal issues, post-leasing considerations for landowners, wastewater disposal options and economic impacts. (more)
Proposed changes to Pennsylvania's effluent standards regulating total dissolved solids (TDS) and related substances could affect the state's oil and gas industries and other water users. To help citizens understand the proposed changes, Penn State Cooperative Extension has prepared a free publication, "Shaping Proposed Changes to Pennsylvania's Total Dissolved Solids Standard: A Guide to the Proposal and the Commenting Process." (more)
It's Mike Hulet's job to talk turkeys, whether to students at Penn State's Poultry Education and Research Center or to poultry growers across Pennsylvania, one of the nation's top poultry-producing states. The associate professor of poultry science shared insights into emerging research and answers to frequently asked questions about what was almost America's national bird, and still is a central part of our nation's Thanksgiving traditions. (more)
As legislators, environmentalists and others strive to balance the many interests involved in developing the natural gas deposits contained in the Marcellus shale formation, a fierce bidding war has doubled the prices being offered for leases in Pennsylvania. The resulting competition could be a boon for landowners, according to experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. (more)
November is National Diabetes Month -- a good time, according to Penn State Cooperative Extension educators, to raise awareness of a program that has seen early success in helping those with Type 2 diabetes to manage the disease. (more)
Hogs Galore of Julian, Pa. set up shop for dinner on Friday, Nov. 6 in Findlay Dining Commons. The tasty event was a part of Food Services' PA Pride Series, a bi-semester showcasing of local cuisine and products from regional farms and businesses. (more)
Although Holly Harmar Shimizu can't remember what she thought she'd be doing 30 years after graduating from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, she realized after a recent visit to the University that she is doing what she hoped to all along: working with public horticulture. (more)
It seems like a strange concept -- bandages made from cellulose produced by microbes that contribute to wound healing -- but to hear Jeffrey Catchmark explain it, the idea makes perfect sense. Catchmark, who is co-director of the University's Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation, has developed a bandage material made from microbial cellulose that actually is absorbed by the body. (more)
Imagine you're a business owner, and one day a third of your employees can't show up for work because they are sick or caring for ill family members. How are you going to stay in operation and ensure the continuity of your business? To help small- and medium-sized businesses survive a pandemic, Penn State Cooperative Extension has developed a course that offers resources and decision-making tools. (more)