The Penn State Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES)

The SAFES Institute provides a welcoming and dynamic platform for interdisciplinary research through engagement in our Critical Issue Initiatives (CIIs). Housed in the College of Agricultural Science, SAFES is uniquely positioned to integrate the three pillars of the land grant mission – research, education, and Extension. Come hear more about the SAFES vision, resources we have to support you, and ways to become involved!  

Heather Preisendanz
Director, SAFES

New Ideas Wanted - How to Participate in the MRSEC Renewal Competition

The Center for Nanoscale Science, Penn State’s NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, will compete for renewal in 2025, with the preproposal due at NSF in June.   I will briefly describe  (1) the internal down-select competition to become one of the Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs) in the renewal proposal, (2) the events, people, and resources that will be available through the winter and early spring to help teams in generating compelling IRG white papers, and (3) the key measures of a successful IRG proposal.  This presentation will be immediately followed by ~45 minutes of further discussion in the Cafe Commons.

Vin Crespi PSU MRSEC

Transforming the Built Environment: The Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation

The built environment impacts nearly every area of our lives, from the air we breathe and the natural light we enjoy to the resources we consume and the spaces we inhabit. However, the future of real estate faces significant challenges in adapting to the demands of a rapidly changing world including growing energy demands, extreme weather events, urbanization, resource scarcity, and the need for resilient infrastructure. The Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation was developed to bring together diverse faculty across the university and leverage, integrate, and expand interdisciplinary research to solve real estate’s most pressing challenges. Learn more about how our faculty are developing and integrating cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the future of real estate, creating healthier, more resilient communities through cross-disciplinary collaboration and find ways to engage.

Scarlett R. Miller Director, Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design and Manufacturing

Millennium Café Winter Break

The Millennium Café will return in January 2025.
Enjoy your winter break!

End of Year Survey

Please let us know your suggestions and comments to enhance the Millennium Café experience.
Complete this 3-QUESTION SURVEY today!

Save the Date: January 21, 2025 is when the Millennium Café returns.

Boosting Bioethics & Bioprinting

In this special edition of the Millennium Café, we will have a moderated panel discussion with researchers from different disciplines to consider the scientific developments and corresponding ethical, legal, and social implications of bioprinting technologies. Could bioprinted organs be a solution to the transplant organ shortage? Who owns a bioprinted organ? Are “silent” clinical trials with personalized bioprinted tissues and organs ethical? Intended to inspire intellectual curiosity and encourage new interdisciplinary collaborations, the panel discussion will expand upon the distinct topics featured in the “Boosting Bioethics & Bioprinting” webinar series and engage the audience with a wide-ranging discussion of issues.

PANELISTS:
Jennifer K. Wagner | Assistant Professor of Law, Policy, and Engineering and Anthropology
Laura Y. Cabrera | Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Neuroethics
Ibrahim T. Ozbolat | Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in 3D Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine
MODERATOR:
Alyna Khan | Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Engineering Design & Innovation