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Using solar energy to inexpensively harvest hydrogen from water could help replace carbon-based fuel sources and shrink the world’s carbon footprint. However, finding materials that could boost hydrogen production so that it could compete economically with carbon-based fuels has been, as yet, an insurmountable challenge.

Each year, the University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) selects three outstanding staff for their accomplishments and contributions to the University and honors them at a celebratory event. 

Six Penn State graduate students involved in materials or engineering research presented a concise rundown of their research, in two minutes or less, for judges from companies including PPG, Corning, Dow and Murata at the finals of the Millennium Café PPG Elevator Pitch Competition on May 18. 

Developing new ultrathin metal electrodes has allowed researchers to create semitransparent perovskite solar cells that are highly efficient and can be coupled with traditional silicon cells to greatly boost the performance of both devices, said an international team of scientists. The research represents a step toward developing completely transparent solar cells.

A Penn State scientist studying crystal structures has developed a new mathematical formula that may solve a decades-old problem in understanding spacetime, the fabric of the universe proposed in Einstein’s theories of relativity.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a renewal of funding for the Materials Innovation Platform (MIP) national user facility at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute (MRI), the Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC). The 2DCC is one of four MIPs in the United States and was awarded $20.1 million over five years, an increase of 13% above the initial award in 2016.

Eleven students were named College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) Academy for Global Experience, or EMSAGE laureates this spring semester. The honor shows these students excelled in broad categories of scholarship, experiential learning and global literacy, and service.

Titilayo Shodiya, a graduate of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, was one 16 recipients selected to receive the Alumni Achievement Award from the Penn State Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni 35 years of age and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments. She was honored during a virtual ceremony on April 13.

Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) recognized exceptional students and faculty for their academic excellence, service and leadership during its annual Wilson Awards Celebration, held virtually on Sunday, April 11. The Wilson Awards are named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, major benefactors of the college.

Two students have been selected to represent the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences as marshals for the college’s spring 2021 commencement: Mingsong Chen will represent the college as the student marshal, the top graduate overall, and Madeline Vailhe will represent the college as the engineering honor marshal, the top graduate from an engineering discipline. They will be recognized during the college’s undergraduate commencement ceremony slated for 6 p.m. Sunday, May 9, in Beaver Stadium.