Penn State’s Institutional Review Board program announces updates to structure
Penn State investigators conducting research with people — whether surveys or clinical trials, secondary data analysis or educational interventions — work with the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) Program. The IRBs work to protect the rights and welfare of research participants and…
To Support Military Families, Pentagon Must Fix Fractured, Outdated Programs: Report
The Pentagon puts significant resources and effort into caring for military families, but the department lacks a coordinated approach and has failed to keep up with the population's changing demographics, researchers said in a new study published Friday.
With the past two decades of war putting…
What school segregation looks like in the US today, in 4 charts
By Erica Frankenburg, for The Conversation
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a senator from California, has spoken about how she benefited from attending Berkeley’s desegregated schools.
“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public…
Trustees approve architect for Liberal Arts research and teaching building
The appointment of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) of Wilkes‐Barre, Pennsylvania, as architect for the Liberal Arts Research and Teaching Building to be constructed on the University Park campus was approved today (July 18) by the Penn State Board of Trustees.
BCJ was selected based on its work with…
Penn State to host first international conference on Project Drawdown research
Penn State, in partnership with Project Drawdown, will hold the first international conference on climate solutions, based on the 2017 New York Times best-seller “Drawdown, The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.” The conference, titled “Research to Action: The Science…
Counting 11 million undocumented immigrants is easier than Trump thinks
By Jennifer Van Hook for The Conversation
It is now clear that there will be no question about citizenship on the 2020 U.S. Census.
After the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration, President Trump vowed to find a way to include the question. But with no legal path forward and time…
Administrative Data Accelerator partnering with consumer data company
Penn State's Administrative Data Accelerator has selected consumer identity management expert Infutor to support research that informs policy and improves lives.
Located in the College of Health and Human Development’s Prevention Research Center, and supported by the Social Science Research…
New report on strengthening the military family readiness system
On Friday, July 19, join co-author and SSRI cofunded faculty member Daniel Perkins for a webinar on the new report examining challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families. Members of…
Using artificial intelligence to detect discrimination
A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool for detecting unfair discrimination—such as on the basis of race or gender—has been created by researchers at Penn State and Columbia University.
Preventing unfair treatment of individuals on the basis of race, gender or ethnicity, for example, been a long-…
Film on Puerto Rico, energy policy to premiere at Penn State
“DisemPOWERed: Puerto Rico's Perfect Storm,” a film that examines the reasons why Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, will premiere at Penn State. The screening will occur at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in Foster Auditorium in Pattee Library.
Following the screening there will be a…
Unusual eating behaviors may be a new diagnostic indicator for autism
Atypical eating behaviors may be a sign a child should be screened for autism, according to a new study from Penn State College of Medicine.
Research by Susan Mayes, professor of psychiatry, found that atypical eating behaviors were present in 70% of children with autism, which is 15 times more…
Marijuana policies are changing, but they are not always based on scientific knowledge
By Diana H. Fishbein, Elizabeth Long and Sharon Kingston, opinion contributor for The Hill
Misconceptions regarding marijuana distort perceptions about its hazards and benefits. While marijuana remains on schedule 1 of the federal Controlled Substances Act, a number of state-level laws are changing…
Penn State hosts second annual Summer Institute on Migration Research Methods
Successful research methods regarding immigration and migrant populations was the focus of the 2019 Summer Institute on Migration Research Methods, held recently at Penn State’s University Park campus.
Jennifer Van Hook, Roy C. Buck Professor of Sociology and Demography and a Social Science…
Though politically divided, Americans remain patriotic
Beyond fireworks and outdoor parties, the Fourth of July provides an opportunity for citizens across the United States to reflect on what it means to be an American. Despite increasing polarization, people across the political spectrum appear to be largely united on what it means to be patriotic,…
Researchers look to unlock post-traumatic stress disorder puzzle
A team of Penn State and University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine researchers is attempting to answer a question that has long puzzled experts: Why do some individuals suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing trauma, and others do not?
The research, led by Nanyin Zhang,…
Penn State College of Medicine will collaborate for medical marijuana research
Penn State College of Medicine and PA Options for Wellness will work together to investigate the potential benefits and risks of using marijuana extracts to treat a variety of health issues.
“I think this unique opportunity places the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the forefront of promoting high-…
Penn State team supports implementation of novel Pennsylvania Rural Health Model
Pennsylvania is the first state in the nation to design and implement an alternative payment model focused solely on rural hospitals, with an emphasis on both containing health care spending and transforming care to better meet community needs.
A multi-disciplinary team of Penn State faculty and…
Community-Engaged Research Day fosters collaborative partnerships
Community leaders and scientists shared breakfast and sought solutions to problems like opioids, obesity and depression June 6 at the Community-Engaged Research Day.
The Community-Engaged Research Core of Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute hosted the event at Dixon University…
Penn State-led national coalition bringing prevention science to life
Over the past four decades, prevention science has grown steadily, producing evidence-based practices and policies that prevent negative medical, social and emotional impacts before they occur. Increasingly, the Penn State-led National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives(NPSC) is being…
Nursing researchers to enhance age-friendly care for older adults in rural PA
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded Penn State's College of Nursing and its collaborators $3,750,000 to support medically underserved regions throughout rural Pennsylvania. This funding will support the…
Criminal justice professor presents research on police views of addiction
Police officers who are repeatedly called to the scene of opioid overdose incidents may be at risk for “empathy fatigue,” according to a Penn State researcher who said additional training may be helpful in preventing emotional burnout.
Jennifer Murphy, associate professor and program coordinator…
Penn State and University of Auckland collaboration seed grant opportunity
Penn State’s Global Engagement Network (GEN) recently agreed to build a strategic partnership with the University of Auckland, New Zealand. To make this collaboration successful, a community of Penn State faculty members interested in working with the University of Auckland is being sought.
The…
Why Social Science? - Because It Can Improve the Lives of Those Who Serve Our Country
By Leanne K. Knobloch, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication, University of Illinois & Steven R. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication, University of South Florida
Throughout our nation’s history, members of the U.S. military have served our country with honor, courage,…
Penn State’s social sciences top NSF Rankings
The social sciences at Penn State was ranked tenth out of over 900 institutions by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in their NSF Total Research Expenditure Rankings for Fiscal Year 2017.
The rankings are based on the total dollars in federal research and development expenditures of each…
Penn State podcast series covering issues impacting democracy
Penn State podcast series covering issues impacting democracy
Penn State’s The McCourtney Institute for Democracy has crafted an intellectual podcast series, Democracy Works, to highlight issues in American democracy. Instead of bipartisan debate, the series addresses problems from a broader…