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
The main criticism of the old food pyramid was that it was too complicated, and some perceived it as outdated, said Terry Hartman, associate professor of nutrition at Penn State. Enter "MyPlate". A panel headed by Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin introduced the new MyPlate nutrition symbol in early June 2011 in Washington. Said Hartman, "MyPlate is meant to be a simple reminder to guide people to healthier choices. The USDA has set up a new website ChooseMyPlate.gov, with tools and resources to help consumers decide what to eat." (more)
Diets go in and out of style as fast the latest clothing trends, but how can we know which are the best? A panel of health experts, including Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, helped U.S. News and World Report create a diet ranking. The 22 experts reviewed information about 20 well-known diets, from Atkins to Zone, and rated each diet on specific measures such as effectiveness, safety and cost. Using the experts' ratings, U.S. News created the "Best Diet" rankings and released them today. "Obesity and overweight are serious problems in the United States," said Kris-Etherton. "Because of that many people want to lose weight, but there are a lot of diets out there. Our goal was to analyze the most common diets based on a variety of criteria so as to enable consumers to make informed decisions." (more)
Gordon L. Jensen, professor and head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State, is the vice president-elect of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). He will assume the post immediately and will transition through the roles of vice president and president before finishing his four-year tenure with the title of past president. (more)
Two Penn State faculty members, Dr. Barbara Rolls and Dr. Leann Birch, are the recipients of awards from the Obesity Society. The faculty members received their awards at the Obesity 2010, the Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting, held October 8-12, 2010, in San Diego, California. (more)
For centuries, the brain has been the subject of countless philosophical and scientific debates. Recently, many discoveries and theories have cropped up around how the brain works, and those theories are helping us better understand the brain's role in health and behavior. Faculty members in the College of Health and Human Development are advancing several subfields of neuroscience research, looking at topics that include aggression, movement and iron deficiency. (more)
Researchers in Penn State's Diet Assessment Center have an unusual approach to conducting research: they like to surprise their participants. They've taken this approach since the Diet Assessment Center was created, and it's one of the center's main assets. (more)
Most scientists see members of their research team on a daily basis, but not Kasia Kordas. Kordas, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, always has been interested in working internationally and helping other institutions improve their own research programs. For four years she has been building up a research program in Montevideo, Uruguay, and the majority of her research takes place there today. Stationed at the Catholic University of Uruguay, researchers in Kordas' lab study the effect of iron deficiency and lead toxicity on behavioral and cognitive development in children. (more)
Gary Fosmire, associate professor of nutritional sciences and professor-in-charge of the nutrition undergraduate program, will present the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Lecture. His lecture, titled "Lessons Learned During 31 Years of Teaching," will be given at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center, 110 Henderson Building on the University Park campus of Penn State. The event, sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development, is free and open to the public. (more)
A group of Penn State students are sponsoring an "Iron Chef" contest that will benefit the State College Area Food Bank. Hosted by the Nutrition Graduate Student Association (NGSA), the second annual "Iron Chef" fundraising event pits 12 teams of students, faculty and staff in the College of Health and Human Development against each other in a culinary battle. The twist, true to the popular Food Network show "Iron Chef," is that each team will have to incorporate a secret ingredient into their meals. Two prizes will be awarded, one for most money raised, and one for best overall dish. The event, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, is free and open to the public. (more)
The Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences is organizing two informational discussions as part of National Nutrition Month, which is observed every March. Each discussion will focus on ways that people can implement vegetables into their daily lives. The events are free and open to the public. (more)
