The Penn State Board of Trustees Friday (May 4) held its regular bimonthly meeting at the University Park campus. The meeting opened with remarks from University President Rodney Erickson, who noted the University's upcoming commencement activities and shared Admissions and Development news, including a young alumnus who endowed a scholarship for student entrepreneurs. He congratulated several students, student organizations, trustees and faculty for their honors and achievements. These include the work of a recent alumnus and graduating Schreyer scholar, who created a simple, award-winning device called a Tippy Tap that is greatly benefiting public health in rural Africa. He also recognized faculty members who have been honored by the University as Evan Pugh professors and Penn State laureates, and by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation with fellowships. (more)
Penn State's Homecoming clash with Northwestern is set for a noon kick on Oct. 6 in Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions' third announced start time for the 2012 season. The Big Ten Network, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise Penn State's 93rd Homecoming contest, with an announcement on the televising network likely 12 days before the game. (more)
Did you know that Penn State astronomers discovered three new planets last year? Or that a Penn State materials scientist just patented a new superabsorbent that will reduce the environmental damage of future oil spills? Every day, across the University, Penn State faculty and students are working hard on a wide range of research and creative projects that benefit our community and our world. The Research & Discovery Newswire brings you the latest news and features about this vital world of activity every two weeks. (more)
A parasite that fights the zombie-ant fungus has yielded some of its secrets to an international research team led by Penn State's David Hughes. The research reveals, for the first time, how an entire ant colony is able to survive infestations by the zombie-ant fungus, which invades an ant's brain and causes it to march to its death at a mass grave near the ant colony, where the fungus spores erupt out of the ant's head. "In a case where biology is stranger than fiction, the parasite of the zombie-ant fungus is itself a fungus -- a hyperparasitic fungus that specializes in attacking the parasite that turns the ants into zombies," Hughes said. (more)
As we approach commencement and all the related celebrations, I'm sure everyone is ready to breathe a collective sigh of relief. It has been a difficult year, and I appreciate your dedication and goodwill through it all. Even more than that, I appreciate your patience as I've sent you several communications discussing difficult issues; describing the initiatives we've put in place; and outlining changes designed to address the serious issue of child sexual abuse (for the latest information, visit http://live.psu.edu/tag/Penn_State_Promise). So for my last email of the semester, I'd like to shift my focus to your efforts as the Penn State community, and your remarkable achievements. Consider just a few recent examples. (more)
Penn State President Rodney Erickson announced that 280 alumni, friends, administrators, faculty, and staff have made commitments totaling over $3 million to honor Susan Welch, dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, for her 20 years of leadership in the college. More than 80 percent of the commitments are targeted to graduate education, one of the dean's top fundraising priorities in the current University-wide fundraising effort, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.
In a single new scientific publication, 24 new species of lizards known as skinks, all from islands in the Caribbean, have been discovered and scientifically named. According to Blair Hedges, a professor of biology at Penn State University and the leader of the research team, half of the newly added skink species already may be extinct or close to extinction, and all of the others on the Caribbean islands are threatened with extinction. The researchers found that the loss of many skink species can be attributed primarily to predation by the mongoose -- an invasive predatory mammal that was introduced by farmers to control rats in sugarcane fields during the late 19th century. The research team reports on the newly discovered skinks in a 245-page article published April 30 in the journal Zootaxa. (more)
Terrence M. and Kim Pegula, who committed $88 million in 2010 to launch Penn State's entry into NCAA Division I hockey and construction on a state-of-the-art arena, have raised their total support for the initiative to $102 million. The additional $14 million gift was announced by Terry Pegula at the April 20 groundbreaking for the Pegula Ice Arena. The Pegulas' total commitment includes $13 million for endowed scholarships supporting Penn State men's hockey players in addition to $89 million for the facility. (more)
As the Penn State All-Sports Museum moves into its 10th anniversary year in 2012, several events are planned to highlight both the museum and Penn State student-athletes' athletic achievements over the last decade. Covering 10,000 square-feet over two levels, the museum is a testament to the success and dedication of Penn State student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom. (more)
The Nittany Lion Club and the Penn State Alumni Association will team up to provide fans the chance to meet and hear from some of the leaders of Penn State Athletics this spring when the Penn State Coaches Caravan hits the road for destinations across Nittany Nation, encompassing seven states and Washington, D.C. Nittany Lion football coach Bill O'Brien will headline the bus tour of many Penn State alumni strongholds across Pennsylvania, Ohio and the East Coast. He will be joined at various stops by Penn State Lady Lion basketball coach Coquese Washington and several other Penn State head coaches. (more)
