New EIC Podcast on food insecurity during the pandemic
This month on the Evidence-to-Impact Podcast, we continue the Pandemic Perspective series and examine how the pandemic has revealed the “hidden crisis” of food insecurity throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country.
We spoke to Muzi Na, Ph.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of nutritional…
'Research Questionnaire Design' webinar to be presented June 10
A session on “Research Questionnaire Design” will be presented at the next Penn State College of Medicine SMaRT Connects webinar series from 1 to 2 p.m. on June 10. Team members from the Penn State Harrisburg Center for Survey Research will present how to organize research survey topics and connect…
Sufficient knowledge but sense of information overload evident early in pandemic
Residents of central Pennsylvania had the information they needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 early on in the pandemic, but were overwhelmed with worries about mixed messages and distrust of some sources, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The researchers said the results…
Solomon receives College of Liberal Arts alumni award
Several members of the Penn State liberal arts community were honored during two College of the Liberal Arts alumni awards ceremonies, which took place remotely April 13 and 15.
Denise Solomon, Liberal Arts Professor and head of the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, received the Welch…
Data4Action Project Update
The Centre County COVID-19 Data4Action Research Project phase three has wrapped up data collection for students and community participants. The retention rate was over 90 percent from the previous waves. Additionally, wastewater sampling for coronavirus on campus and in the surrounding community is…
Consequences of COVID-19 on adolescent behavior
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been widely reported, but less is known about the indirect consequences on health-related behaviors. Researchers recently discovered that while there was a decline in physical activity in adolescents during stay-at-home orders, there were no changes in the…
Are more parents letting their teens drink during the pandemic?
COVID-19 stay-at-home orders during spring 2020 dramatically changed daily life and created significant challenges for families. A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that 1 in 6 parents first allowed their adolescent children to have an alcoholic drink with their families…
Penn State participates in virtual social science advocacy day
Penn State researchers recently participated in the Consortium of Social Science Association’s (COSSA) Annual Social Science Advocacy Day, meeting virtually with Congress and their staff during this annual event.
Penn State social and behavioral scientists and stakeholders were teamed up with other…
Two receive 2021-22 Reducing Disparities in Child Welfare scholarships
The Child Maltreatment Solutions Network recently awarded two liberal arts students with its newly introduced Reducing Disparities in Child Welfare Scholarship for the 2021-22 academic year.
This year’s winners are Lani Rosenbaum, a junior majoring in psychology with a minor in child maltreatment…
Brook J. Lenfest Foundation supports students from foster care system
The Brook J. Lenfest Foundation, in partnership with the Philadelphia Foundation, has committed up to $630,000 to Penn State as part of the Lenfest "Immensitas" Scholars Program, which will provide scholarship support for youth from the Philadelphia region in foster care and aging out of foster…
Training seminars offered for patient population discovery tool TriNetX
April 29, 2021
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is offering four training sessions for its patient population discovery tool for health research, TriNetX. Training sessions will be held virtually on May 26. Registration is required for each session.
Through TriNetX…
Parents more lenient about alcohol with teens who experience puberty early
Parents of teens who went through puberty early may be more lenient when it comes to letting them consume alcohol, according to a new Penn State study. But the researchers said that even if adolescents appear more mature, drinking alcohol is still not safe for them.
Rebecca Bucci, a doctoral…
Pennsylvania losing congressional seat explained in new brief
Pennsylvania is set to lose one U.S. House seat as its population growth lags behind some other states, the Census Bureau announced this week.
The change comes due to apportionment after completion of the 2020 Census. Raeven Chandler, director of the Pennsylvania Population Network (PPN) and…
Food Access and Insecurity During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in ways beyond what we could have imagined. The disruption of essential elements of life, such as food, water, money, and housing, has been devastating to families and communities, particularly those most vulnerable. While some of the impact on the…
AI Hub to help enhance Penn State's global leadership in artificial intelligence
Penn State has launched an expanded initiative in artificial intelligence (AI), termed the AI Hub. It will bring together the University’s considerable resources and talent in AI to further advance its position as a global leader developing fundamental innovations in AI, in using AI and machine…
Frankenberg recognized with 2021 Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award
Erica Frankenberg, professor of education and demography in the College of Education and PRI affiliate, is the recipient of Penn State's 2021 Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award.
The award honors and recognizes outstanding achievement by a faculty member with at least five years of service who…
Pérez-Edgar named recipient of 2021 Graduate Faculty Teaching Award
SSRI Associate Director and cofunded faculty member Koraly Pérez-Edgar, McCourtney Professor of Child Studies and professor of psychology in the College of the Liberal Arts, has received Penn State's 2021 Graduate Faculty Teaching Award.
The award, established in 1992 by The Graduate School, is…
Buss recognized with 2021 President's Award for academic integration
Kristin Buss, Tracy Winfree and Ted H. McCourtney Professor in Children, Work, and Families, Professor of Psychology; professor of human development and family studies; and head of the psychology department in Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts; has been awarded Penn State's 2021 President’s…
Congressional Use of Evidence Can Be Improved: Reflections from a Trial of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration Model
By Max Crowley, Taylor Scott for the William T. Grant Foundation
As we consider the state of domestic policymaking in the United States, it is easy to feel disillusioned about the role research evidence has played over the last few years. From denialism to misuse, science seems to be frustratingly…
Why Social Science? - Because Leaders Need to Know How to Lead with Evidence
By Ellen Peters, PhD, Director, Center for Science Communication Research, University of Oregon
Being bad at math can kill people. Even experts who should understand medical science and help us make good health decisions sometimes fail. In December, a doctor—let’s call him Dr. Smith—advised a…
Glick recognized by Penn State Global Programs
Penn State Global Programs has announced the 2020-21 recipients of its annual awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and academic programs at Penn State who have helped to advance the University’s global engagement goals.
The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes one…
Byun honored at recent College of Education awards ceremony
Penn State College of Education faculty, staff and students who have made compelling and momentous contributions to their chosen fields or majors over the past year were honored April 15 at the college’s virtual spring appreciation and awards ceremony.
Winners were selected through nomination…
EIC Podcast on childcare during the pademic with Karen Grimm-Thomas and Philip Sirinides now available
This month, the Evidence-to-Impact Podcast returns to the Pandemic Perspective series and explore the state of the childcare system in Pennsylvania during the pandemic. We discuss the challenges and opportunities to funding, access, and quality for the childcare system.
We spoke to Karen Grimm-…
COVID-19 pandemic may have increased mental health issues within families
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, many families found themselves suddenly isolated together at home. A year later, new research has linked this period with a variety of large, detrimental effects on individuals’ and families’ well-being and functioning.
The study — led by Penn State…
What do I need to know about the J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
The FDA has paused use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine after six people—out of the almost 7 million people who so far have received the vaccine—developed a rare blood clotting disorder. Experts do not yet know if the J&J vaccine is responsible for the blood clots, so even though six events in…