Administrator
Six new Penn State faculty members have joined the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE). The researchers represent four Penn State colleges: the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; the College of Engineering; the College of Health and Human Development; and the College of Medicine.
The researchers in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences are Ida Djenontin, Nutifafa Yao Doumon and Stephanie Law.
For Haley Sankey, assistant teaching professor of energy and sustainability policy, it was a teacher’s humor, patience and ability to empower that inspired her to become an educator. For Jim Adair, professor of materials science and engineering, it was the ability to put pressing civil rights events into context. For Ken Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science, it was the teacher’s knack to challenge and demand excellence. Jesse Reimink, assistant professor of geosciences, learned the importance of geosciences and the value of communicating that passion.
MatSE is proud to acknowledge and celebrate this holiday celebrated in China, South Korea, Vietnam and more!
The Lunar New Year took place this year on Sun., January 22, 2023. It represents the start of the Spring season, as well as, a new year to begin on the lunisolar calendar, as described by The Smithsonian.
Click here to learn more about this holiday.
Sophia Craparo is cheering on the EMS Benefiting THON dancersDuring THON weekend, February 17-19, anyone looking for Sophia Craparo will find her at the Bryce Jordan Center cheering for the EMS Benefitting THON dancers Alana Sweeney, Luke Winand, Kaitlin Kitch and Jordan Thibodeaux.
Craparo, a third-year student studying materials science and engineering, is an executive director for EMS Benefitting THON. For more than a decade, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) has been supporting THON through the student-run organization EMS Benefiting THON. Last year, the organization raised $41,704.52.
This year, Craparo is one of more than 40 people involved with fundraisers, events, and awareness to help raise money. The group also provides emotional support and devotes time to bonding with their four families: the Woods, the Brewers, the Schmidts and the Swegers.
"I cannot wait to see the amazing time the dancers will have on the floor,” said Craparo. “For our families, we will continue to advocate and support you."
This will be Craparo’s third year being involved with EMS Benefiting THON. She originally joined the organization to meet other students in EMS, and now has a leadership role in planning, getting to know faculty and staff and fundraising.
Craparo is most looking forward to the Final Four (last four hours) of THON weekend which includes Family Hour — an incredibly special time to honor and to share stories from the Four Diamonds families.
THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer that began in 1973. Individuals and groups raise money year-round for the 46-hour dance marathon. THON includes more than 700 dancers from across Penn State. For the dancers, there will be no-sitting, no-sleeping for the full 46 hours of the dance marathon to symbolize the triumphs and struggles that children with pediatric cancer face every day.
In 2022, THON raised $13,756,374.50 for Four Diamonds, which supports children and their families grappling with pediatric cancer.
To support EMS Benefiting THON, visit the giving page.
As an international perfumer and senior majoring in materials science and engineering at Penn State, Tianyou Lou sees parallels between the two disciplines. After all, the creation of both fragrances and materials are traced back to producing a specific thing with unique and tailored properties using a nearly infinite number of source materials.
When used as wearable medical devices, stretchy, flexible gas sensors can identify health conditions or issues by detecting oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in the breath or sweat. They also are useful for monitoring air quality in indoor or outdoor environments by detecting gas, biomolecules and chemicals. But manufacturing the devices, which are created using nanomaterials, can be a challenge.
Allison Beese, associate professor of Materials Science and Engineering, will serve as co-director of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition, effective Jan 1.
Sometimes friction is good, such as the friction between a road and a car’s tires to prevent the vehicle from skidding. But sometimes friction is bad — if you did not put oil in that very same car, there would be so much friction in the bearings of the engine that the car could not operate.
