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Fellowship to expand international learning
A new fellowship program in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will support undergraduate students seeking applied global learning experiences to deepen their understanding of food and agricultural systems worldwide, thanks to a $250,000 commitment from donor Pamela Arbuckle.
The new Arbuckle-Reese Fellows Program for the International Agriculture Minor will provide scholarships and program support for students participating in semester-long international experiences that align with the college's international agriculture minor, known as INTAG.
Selected students will be known as Arbuckle-Reese Fellows and will receive up to $9,000 to support tuition and expenses associated with their international experiences.
PSU to receive specialty crop funds
Researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are set to receive more than $500,000 through competitive awards administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
These funds will support six key research projects intended to benefit specialty crop research and production across the commonwealth, according to Beth Gugino, associate dean for research operations and graduate education in the college.
"Funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program enables our researchers to respond directly to the evolving needs of growers across the commonwealth, while supporting applied research that delivers practical solutions and measurable impact," Gugino said.
Researchers studying microgreens
A team of plant scientists at Penn State conducting research on multiple microgreens aspects recently published three studies reporting progress on multiple fronts, including iron enrichment, productive indoor growth and a faux lightning technique that could improve microgreens growth, yield and nutritional quality.
First, the researchers found that in soilless growing systems, adding modified iron fertilizer can make radish and pea microgreens significantly richer in iron without substantially compromising their growth or nutritional quality.
In a second study, the team determined the effect of the red-to-blue LED light ratio on growth and quality of microgreens grown indoors at low light conditions. By adjusting the ratio of red and blue light under energy-efficient light intensity levels, the researchers concluded that indoor growers may be able to produce microgreens with more desirable nutritional properties.
Finally, in a third study, the team found that plasma-activated water -- made by exposing water and the air directly above it to high-voltage electrical discharges, mimicking natural lightning to dissolve oxygen and nitrogen into the liquid -- could improve the growth, yield and nutritional quality of pea microgreens.
Extension offering master watershed steward course
The Master Watershed Steward program, hosted by Penn State Extension, offers training sessions for individuals interested in natural resources conservation to join the program and empower communities through conservation, environmental education and community involvement.
The Master Watershed Steward Program provides training, resources and ongoing support to volunteers looking to engage in environmental restoration projects and educational programs.
Various training sessions will be offered weekly beginning February and running through early June. Training courses are offered in a mix of live and virtual events.