Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

06/07/2026

Ahead of taking the reins next month, our interim dean John Mauro is touring our departments.

Here, the materials science and engineering expert and co-inventor of LionGlass is visiting the meteorology studio where "Weather World" is filmed.

He also checked out William Brune's lab, where researchers there recently filmed — for the first time in nature — a phenomenon where tiny pulses of electricity are emitted from the tips of leaves during thunderstorms.

He also met with Matthew Kumjian and Kelly Lombardo and their famed NARHWAL, an armored and instrumented Chevy Tahoe that was part of the largest hail research campaign in four decades.

It's going to take time to get up to speed on all the new and exciting things going on in EMS. Great idea to get a head start!

What are some other things the new interim dean should check out?

06/05/2026

Meng Wang, our associate professor in environmental systems engineering, and her student Leiyu He were recently honored with the AAEES Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science E3S Honor Award in University Research.

The research project, "Mainstream Deammonification by Ion Exchange and Bioregeneration via Partial Nitritation/Anammox" is part of an NSF-BSF-funded collaborative project.

Congrats on the honor and the impactful research, team!

06/04/2026

A $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation will expand cyberinfrastructure across Pennsylvania, advancing research capacity and collaboration statewide.

The funding strengthens the mission of Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences by enhancing high‑performance computing, data resources and connectivity. These improvements will empower researchers to address complex scientific and societal challenges using advanced computational tools.

By expanding access to robust cyberinfrastructure, the initiative reinforces ICDS’s commitment to accelerating interdisciplinary discovery through data and technology.

The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, in collaboration with five other institutions in Pennsylvania, received a two-year, $1.3 million U.S. National Science Foundation Campus Cyberinfrastructure (NSF CC*) award to build upon prior efforts to expand the foundation for a statew...

06/03/2026

Geo Week News recently spotlighted Samrin, a Ph.D. student in geography at Penn State, for her work using geospatial research to help predict disasters before they strike.

Samrin’s research focuses on leveraging spatial data, modeling and risk analysis to better understand hazards and improve preparedness. By identifying patterns and vulnerabilities, her work aims to support faster, more informed responses that can help protect communities.

Her story underscores the critical role geospatial science plays in disaster prediction and resilience planning.

Samrin Sauda grew up in the densely populated country of Bangladesh, a place that sits at the crossroads of rivers, floods, and climate vulnerability. That upbringing didn't just shape who she is; it

06/02/2026

Better climate data can mean better decisions for communities.

In a recent Q&A, Penn State researcher and climate scientist Ken Davis discusses how advances in climate monitoring and analysis help inform environmental policy, infrastructure planning and resilience efforts.

By improving the precision and reliability of climate data, Davis’ research supports smarter decision‑making at local and regional levels — helping communities prepare for and respond to environmental change.

Through advanced monitoring and modeling, Ken Davis and his research group are generating data that can help guide decisions affecting climate resilience, air quality and public health.

06/01/2026

Team Weather World just earned a first-place finish at the Coaches vs Cancer Golf Tournament.

Big congrats to Jon Nese, Paul Markowski, Joel Kramer, Brent Martin, and Nicholas Ziccardi for their First-Place finish at the 29th Annual Coaches vs Cancer Golf Tournament at the Penn State Golf Courses.

In spite of the cool morning, the team got off to a hot start and finished with a blistering 51 (-21).

06/01/2026

The 2026 Ag Springboard Competition celebrated student innovation in agriculture and entrepreneurship.

Kumbu Connect, a digital platform aimed at strengthening connections within agricultural communities, earned top honors. Among the top winners is David Flores, a Penn State student majoring in materials science and engineering, demonstrating how diverse academic backgrounds contribute to agricultural innovation.

The competition highlights the creativity and drive of students developing solutions that support the future of food and agriculture. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners.

Penn State students had the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial aspirations at the 2026 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest, which took place last month in State College.

05/31/2026

Penn State researchers are part of a team uncovering how diamond can be engineered to become superconducting — a discovery with major implications for quantum technology.

Featured in Nanowerk, the study explains the physical principles behind superconductivity in boron‑doped diamond. Using facilities at Penn State’s Applied Research Lab, researchers synthesized high‑quality diamond thin films and identified hidden “granular” superconducting regions that help explain how electricity can flow with zero resistance.

Understanding this mechanism provides a roadmap for designing multifunctional quantum chips that integrate superconducting and semiconductor properties in a single material. The breakthrough strengthens Penn State’s leadership in quantum materials research and next‑generation device innovation.

05/30/2026

Big congratulations to Tara Staresinic on her summer internship with Unidata at UCAR.

Tara is spending the summer gaining hands‑on experience working with real‑world atmospheric and data tools — an exciting opportunity to apply what she’s learned in the classroom to national‑scale science infrastructure.

Internships like this give students the chance to collaborate with experts, build technical skills and see how research and data systems support the broader weather and climate community.

We can’t wait to see what Tara accomplishes this summer.

Breadcrumb Home News Welcome Summer Intern Tara Staresinic 2026 Summer Intern Tara Staresinic Tara Staresinic joined the NSF Unidata Program Center as a student summer intern on May 18, 2026. This fall, Tara will be a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science a...

05/29/2026

What happens when you combine meteorology, journalism and storytelling?

For recent Penn State graduate Luke Snyder, it led to a hands-on audio documentary project with WPSU that helped him build professional experience while exploring the power of sound in storytelling.

Snyder graduated with degrees in meteorology and atmospheric science and journalism—an interdisciplinary combination that reflects how students can connect science communication with real-world media experience.

His project is a great example of Penn State students turning their interests into creative, career-building opportunities.

Students prepare for careers in broadcasting by creating a collection of “audio postcards” to air on WPSU-FM.