
The Millennium Café runs 10-11am in the 3rd floor Café Commons of the MSC Bldg. Join researchers from across campus for a stellar cup of coffee and two <10 min interdisciplinary talks. All Millennium Café events are free and open to the Penn State community, include coffee and breakfast pastries, and are held in the third floor Café Commons of the Millennium Science Complex at University Park.
Talking Plants: How Biosensors can Revolutionize Agriculture
Agricultural sensors are becoming essential tools for monitoring soil moisture, nutrient levels, and crop health. As the global market for these technologies expands, there is a growing interest in developing ways for plants to communicate their needs directly. Beyond measuring environmental conditions, future sensor systems could detect early signs of drought stress, nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, and disease outbreaks before symptoms become visible. However, significant challenges remain in developing sensors and interpreting plant signals. Primarily, due to their very nature, sensors are either temporarily or spatially removed from the environment in which the plants exist, due to the time required to read the results or the micro-environment the sensor creates in its static position, compared to the changing plants. Our team is seeking collaboration on sensor technology and the use of AI for signal processing and interpretation. Shiran Ben-Zeev Postdoctoral Fellow | Guojie Wang Laboratory
Sustainability at Penn State: Highlights and Engagement Opportunities
Penn State's definition of sustainability is "the simultaneous pursuit of human health and happiness, environmental quality, and economic well-being for current and future generations." I will provide a brief update on what is happening with sustainability at Penn State and how this definition has translated into real solutions for real challenges. I will also highlight opportunities for faculty, students, and staff to get involved, including through education, research, operations, and helping to meet the land-grant mission. For more on sustainability action at Penn State, see the 2022-24 State of Sustainability report. Lara Fowler Penn State Chief Sustainability Officer