Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recognized exceptional achievements in research during its fourth annual Research Awards Ceremony held Oct. 28 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.
SSRI cofunded faculty member Ryan Thombs, assistant professor of rural sociology, received the Roy C. Buck Award for research in the social sciences. His paper, “Do industrial decarbonization policies deliver? A global assessment of policy effectiveness across 150 nations, 1990-2020,” published in Environmental Research Letters, evaluated more than 700 policies over 30 years.
The study found that fiscal tools, such as payments, financing and taxation, along with strategic planning, are most effective in reducing emissions, with lasting impacts of up to 18 years.
Also awarded was PRI associate Kathleen Sexsmith, assistant professor of rural sociology, along with Adrian Barragan, associate research professor and extension veterinarian, and Maria Gorgo-Simcox, horticulture extension educator, who received the Integrated Team Award for research and outreach benefiting Spanish-speaking farmworkers in Pennsylvania’s dairy, mushroom and fruit industries.
Their work addresses housing access, English language training and workplace safety. Projects include a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture grant on farmworker housing and a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal on workforce microcredentials. They also engage students in community-based learning and English tutoring programs.