With the trend in locally raised food, the "heritage turkey" is experiencing a surge in popularity. R. Michael Hulet, associate professor of poultry science at Penn State, said many of these colorful birds (with equally colorful names such as Black Spanish, Bourbon Red, and Slate) are the commercially-bred turkeys of yesteryear. Heritage turkeys are a niche market, and "they are expensive to grow, because they don't produce as much meat per feed," said Hulet. "They allow local producers to diversify what they farm, and people say that, because they take longer to grow, there's a little more texture and 'turkey-ish' taste to the meat." (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)
Nov. 19 is this year's Great American Smokeout. Since the Surgeon General identified the dangers of smoking, Americans have gradually quit, yet about 1 in 5 Americans still smoke. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that about 4,000 young adolescents start smoking every day and 6 percent of middle school students are smokers. If ever there were a time to think about quitting smoking, it's now. (more)
Couples who bring thoughtful words to a fight release lower amounts of stress-related proteins, suggesting that rational communication between partners can ease the impact of marital conflict on the immune system. "Previous research has shown that couples who are hostile to each other show health impairments and are at greater risk of disease," said Jennifer Graham, Penn State assistant professor of biobehavioral health. "We wanted to know if couples who use thoughtfulness and reasoning in the midst of a fight incur potential health benefits." (more)
Heidi Friedrich was recently hired as the campus career services coordinator. In her new position, she is responsible for organizing workshops on career exploration and professional development and preparing students for the job search process. She is also responsible for providing students with insight into what types of careers can be attained with various majors and how to locate and gain employment with sought after employers. (more)
Marian Hargrave joined the Penn State Shenango admissions staff this past summer as an enrollment services representative. Hargrave is responsible for assisting with financial aid matters, organizing special events, and working with prospective adult students to guide them through the Shenango admissions process. She is presently serving on the campus Diversity Committee and, most recently, served on its search committee for a career services coordinator.
Philip Nash, associate professor of history at Penn State Shenango, has been selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to Singapore by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. During his six months in Singapore (spring semester 2010), Nash will teach US History at the National University of Singapore. In addition to teaching, Nash will conduct research on the pedagogy of Singapore in World War II. "Singapore has fascinated me for almost two decades, ever since I began dating and then married a Singaporean," stated Nash. "I can think of no better way in which to become more thoroughly acquainted with Singapore than to spend an extended period sharing my great love of history with some of its college students, while also conducting historical research there." (more)
The shows' bizarre murder methods, weapons, and plots are far-fetched,
says Robert Shaler, director of Penn State's forensic science program.
For students interested in a career in crime scene investigation,
Shaler recommends studying science and mathematics. (more)
About 23.6 million Americans have diabetes and another 54 million are at risk to develop the disease. As these numbers continue to increase, Diabetes Awareness Month, observed throughout November, is more important than ever. Diabetes, a disease in which the body can't regulate the amount of sugar in the blood, currently affects about 8 percent of the population, a number that is increasing rapidly, according to this week's edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. (more)
On Nov. 9, USA Today -- the nation's top-selling newspaper -- in cooperation with Penn State launched a new e-Edition for Penn State students as part of the University's continuing mission to promote newspaper reading as a way of integrating real world with classroom study. Since 1997, Penn State has had a readership program in place -- the first of its kind in the nation and a model for more than 500 collegiate readership programs nationwide. (more)
