Michael Bychkowski, a structural engineering graduate student,  examines a concrete barrier after a June 1, 2016, crash test at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute.  The barrier effectively stopped a truck traveling at 50 mph. The crash is part of a multi-year project sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to conceptualize, research, simulate, build, and test safety barriers. Photo: Hai Nguyen
FALL 2016
FEATURES

Three new faculty members join the department

Penn State's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering added three new faculty members to its roster this semester.  >>
New approach more accurately predicts structural performance under extreme loads

Extreme event hazards, such as major earthquakes, destroy countless structures worldwide every year. To fight this problem, the National Science Foundation has awarded
Kostas Papakonstantinou, assistant professor of civil engineering,  a grant to develop a new computational approach that will more accurately predict how a structure will perform under extreme loads. >>
Bacterial research may lead to less polluted waters

Phosphorus is a crucial nutrient regularly applied to crops such as corn and soybeans to help them grow efficiently. However, excess phosphorus can be carried by rainwater runoff into lakes and streams, creating potential problems for aquatic environments and the ecosystem services they provide to humans. To combat this problem, Penn State researchers are trying to better understand how several kinds of interactions affect phosphorus mobility in agricultural soils and streams.  >>
A new way to learn: Flipping STEM education upside down

Given the difficult-to-digest subject matter in many STEM classrooms, educators have customarily relied on traditional lecture-based educational methods. The problem is that even with capable and committed faculty, the method doesn't engage some students and keep them interested. Stephanie Butler Velegol is changing that.  >>
Research aims to make water cycle modeling data more accessible

Improved publication strategy for authors who use hydrological modeling software will make model data easier for readers to understand and reuse, according to an international team of researchers. >>
Students and faculty learn valuable lessons from research trip to Rwanda

Penn State engineering students and faculty recently traveled to Rwanda to explore whether or not a readily available plant seed could be used as a viable alternative to clean wastewater.  >>
Study looks at bacteria to remove metals from mine-impacted water

Researchers at Penn State are refining a natural, low-cost process that will help remove some of the most abundant pollutants, such as iron, from mine-contaminated water.  >>
FACULTY NEWS
  • Logan named Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University >>
  • Radlinska joins crack reduction initiative for concrete industry >>
  • Qiu named outstanding reviewer for aerospace journal >>
  • CSCE awards for Andrew Scanlon and Mark A. Scanlon >>
  • El-Chabib named outstanding reviewer for materials journal >>
  • Velegol named CEE undergraduate program coordinator >>
  • Researchers create device that could generate energy where rivers meet the sea >> 
  • Gayah attends respected National Academy of Engineering symposium >>
  • CEE faculty bring international scour and erosion conference to the U.S. in 2020 >>
          
STUDENT NEWS
  • Penn State students build pedestrian bridge in remote village to improve lives >>
  • Students engage with community at sustainability expo >>
  • Civil engineering's Kermani wins geosynthetics research grant >> 
  • Doctoral candidate selected as Distinguished Teaching Fellow >> 
  • Graduate student awarded prestigious transportation fellowship >>
  • Concrete Canoe team prepares for April competition >>
          
ALUMNI NEWS
  • Brad Striebig: Championing education in sustainable design and development >>
  • David Lowdermilk wins ACEC/PA Distinguished Award of Merit >>
  • CEE alum and former Nittany Lion wrestler now 'living the dream' as engineer >>
  • Gary Brunner receives AAWRE award >>
  • Jacqueline Hinman named top 100 CEO leader in STEM >>
  • Ethan Wendle's DiamondBack Truck Covers becomes one of Inc. 5000's fastest growing companies >>
  • Thomas Pugh selected to lead McKim & Creed, Inc.'s expansion of services in the Fort Myers area >>
  • Minseok Seo recognized by Marquis Who's Who for excellence in industrial engineering >> 
  • Daniel B. Humes named PSPE 2016 Young Engineer of the Year >> 
  • Paul McNemar named senior civil engineer in RETTEW's land development group >>
     
LARSON TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE NEWS
  • Eric Donnell named director of Larson Institute >>
  • Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team powers students on the road to success >>
  • Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team places sixth in EcoCAR 3 competition >>  
  • Penn State road research center earns state training excellence award >>
     
UPCOMING EVENTS
OCT. 26
2016 Harleman Lecture  >>

NOV. 9
2016 Hankin Lecture  >>
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