All News

Geothermal heat offers a promising source of renewable energy with almost zero emissions, but it remains a relatively expensive option to generate electricity. A new technique proposed by Penn State scientists may help prevent “short-circuits” that can cause geothermal power plants to halt production, potentially improving the efficiency of geothermal power, the researchers said. They published the work in the journal Energy.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences has announced the appointment of Shelley Corman-Frisby, a 1985 graduate in mineral economics, to the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) board of directors. Corman-Frisby will commence her three-year term on July 1.

Ezgi Toraman, assistant professor of energy and mineral engineering and chemical engineering at Penn State, is one of 12 early-career scientists named to Chemical & Engineering News’ (C&EN) 2023 “Talented 12” list that highlights early-career researchers in the chemical sciences who are fearlessly tackling difficult global problems. Toraman was selected for her research in technologies that turn waste into fuels, chemicals, and other products.
 

Amir Eskanlou, a graduate student in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME), has been invited to participate in the Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM) summer school at Cornell University. Eskanlou plans to further his investigations on coal dust with the goal of reducing the negative health impacts during the National Science Foundation-sponsored program.

Feifei Shi, assistant professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, received a $594,788 Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to rethink foundational electrochemical models, and potentially transform how lithium-ion batteries are designed. The impact could be seen in all electrochemical applications that use liquid electrolytes, such as flow batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors whose usage spans from consumer products to grid-scale energy storage.

One of the major occupational health hazards for coal workers in the U.S. is coal mine dust-related respiratory diseases. New findings by Penn State researchers shed light on the causes of respiratory diseases related to coal mine dust.

The quest to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels may lead to an unexpected place — coal. A team of Penn State scientists found that coal may represent a potential way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain.

Hannah Chop, a senior majoring in environmental systems engineering, was recently awarded the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Foundation (MMSA/SMEF) Presidential Scholarship.

Akshay Pradip Gharpure, doctoral student in energy and mineral engineering, was among the 40 recipients of Penn State’s annual graduate student awards, administered by the Graduate School in collaboration with several Penn State units. The awards recognize and celebrate graduate students who are excelling in teaching, research and service, as well as other academic pursuits.

This spring break 14 students and three faculty members on a seven-day sustainability tour of New Zealand. The trip is part of a three-credit Sustainable Energy in New Zealand course offered by Derek Elsworth, G. Albert Shoemaker Chair in Mineral Engineering.