Seminar series focusing on the future of energy starts Sept. 30
The Energy of the Future seminar series, which aims to further the discussion on important energy topics and inspire collaboration across institutions, begins on Thursday, September 30.
Seminar series featuring women in energy research to launch on Sept. 16
The first two seminars in the new Celebrating Women in Energy and Water Research lecture series, one experimental and the other technical, are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 16, featuring Joan B. Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at Michigan State University.
Seed grant to explore using AI to model subsurface rock formations
Yashar Mehmani, assistant professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, has recently received a seed grant from the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) to investigate using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a new method to model the Earth’s subsurface.
Engineering professor receives rock mechanics dissertation award
Brandon Schwartz, assistant research professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, recently received the Dr. N.G.W. Cook Ph.D. Dissertation Award from the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA). The award recognizes an outstanding doctoral dissertation in rock mechanics or rock engineering.
Energy 'crisis' provides engineering students leadership experience
The subpoena arrived at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, ordering the fictitious Wolfhelm Mining Ltd. executive team to appear in court. Their presence was requested to testify on an unfolding crisis that began a few hours earlier when a dam containing mining waste was breached on a remote Asian-Pacific island, flooding several villages, claiming the lives of hundreds and contaminating the region's drinking water supply. It wasn't until 11 p.m. that the students got any good news — that a Penn State research team rumored to be in the area had been found unharmed.
Professor Emeritus Raja Ramani inducted into National Mining Hall of Fame
Raja V. Ramani, professor emeritus of mining and geo-environmental engineering, will be inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame (NMHF) on Oct. 23 at the annual National Mining Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. Ramani’s selection into the NMHF is in “recognition of a lifelong commitment to education and research that has influenced a generation of mining industry leaders.”
Mining engineering professor selected as honorary member of AIME
Barbara Arnold, professor of practice in mining engineering at Penn State, has been awarded honorary membership in American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). AIME honorary membership is one of the highest honors that the institute can bestow on an individual.
Honorary membership is awarded in appreciation of outstanding service to the institute or in recognition of distinguished scientific or engineering achievement in the fields embracing the activities of AIME and its member societies.
Arnold was recognized for “her dedication and perseverance in developing a strong and more vibrant Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) Foundation continuing through exemplary service as SME president.” She will be recognized virtually at the 2021 SME Annual Conference & Expo scheduled March 1–5.
In a moment of crisis, engineering students rise to new 'Challenge'
Through a series of emails delivered during several hours to four teams, a natural gas explosion scenario played out for students competing in Penn State’s first Energy Crisis Leadership Challenge, held remotely via Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The challenge bookended a course held spring semester in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) in which undergraduate seniors spent the semester learning about crisis management in the energy sector from leading energy firms such as BP, Exxon and Enron.
EME department holds virtual version of annual awards banquet
Come join us at the Virtual Awards Banquet to see who this year's winners might be. We are happy to present our annual awards, but we are proud of each and every one of you working through this challenging time! Join us in a “HIP, HIP, HOORAY” for the entire EME Family!
Researchers look at novel methods to enhance battery performance
Researchers at Penn State are looking at innovative ways to improve energy storage in an effort to better utilize renewable energy technologies.
“One of the primary obstacles stopping us from relying heavily on renewable energy systems is that we can't regulate when they provide us power,” said Derek Hall, assistant professor of energy engineering at Penn State. “Ideally, we want to find some sort of energy storage technology that can complement renewables to help us transition to a more sustainable energy infrastructure.”