All Articles
All Articles
Expeditions: nature, adventure, and personal growth
Research shows that exposure to nature has benefits. Expeditions—immersive trips into nature—challenge participants’ capacity, endurance, and decision making. In doing so, expeditions improve self-confidence, planning, and teamwork.
Protecting Children
Penn State researchers are working to protect children from sexual abuse. Facilitators have educated hundreds of parents and thousands of children across Pennsylvania using the ‘Smarter Parents, Safer Kids’ and ‘Safe Touches’ programs. Learn how to help keep children safe from abuse.
Language, culture, and pesticides: how to protect farmworkers
Farmworkers in the United States are exposed to pesticides, machinery, and other potential hazards. Researchers are working to provide the protective equipment and the health literacy needed to improve farmworkers’ well-being.
Using artificial intelligence to evaluate newborn health
Much can be learned about the health of both a mother and her newborn by examining the placenta. Penn State faculty developed and patented software to evaluate a placenta with only a photograph, and they are working to improve and disseminate their innovation to people who need it.
Placing technology in the hands of those who need it
Zita Oravecz and Tim Brick, associate professors of human development and family studies, plan to launch a company for their Wear-IT smartphone app, which measures emotional and physiological states in everyday life and can intervene when it is most needed.
Human Development and Family Studies degree helped Wholesome co-creator develop her entrepreneurial spirit
Entrepreneurship is often associated with emergent technology and raising money, but one recent Penn State graduate turned her entrepreneurial spirit toward helping people create a sense of well-being and community.
How hot is too hot?
Once a person exceeds the temperature where their body can cool itself, they continue to heat up, which can cause health problems. As climate change makes extreme heat more common, researchers are studying temperature limits that people can tolerate.
Improving the environment to promote health and well-being
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of all deaths can be linked to an environmental contributing cause, suggesting changes made to our surroundings could prevent or forestall deaths across the globe. The college seeks to improve societal well-being through environmental-health science.
Understanding abuse to aid recovery and protect children
In the last 10 years, Penn State has taken unprecedented steps to address child abuse and neglect through ground-breaking, interdisciplinary research. Penn State’s training, outreach, and research are making a difference across the nation.
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