Climate, Energy and the Environment

Penn State faculty are actively publishing research on a wide range of possible implications like the continued burning of fossil fuels and extreme summer weather, droughts that threaten crops, warmer winter temperatures, and the threat to various animal and fish populations. Our experts frequently serve as sources for major media and are readily available during active, current events.

  • Richard Alley

    Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences

    Earth Science

  • Jenni Evans

    Professor of Meteorology

    Earth Science

  • Erica Smithwick

    Distinguished Professor of Geography

    Sustainability & Environment, Earth Science

  • Seth Blumsack

    Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and International Affairs

    Sustainability & Environment

The effects of human-caused climate change continue to ripple around the world. Penn State experts are at the forefront of the science behind the effects and possible solutions.

  • Penn State brings together scholars to catalyze transformative, integrated research on climate change, mitigation, adaptation and decision-making that transcends disciplinary boundaries and advances real-world climate risk management.
  • Richard Alley participated in the UN's 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, which was a co-recipient of that year's Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Penn State experts can speak to how climate change has altered geographic landscapes and the impact that has had on the people and ecosystems inhabiting them.
Richard Alley

Richard Alley

Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences

Expertise:

  • Earth Science

Focus Areas:

Contact Richard Alley with questions about: Glaciology, ice and climate, sea level change and abrupt climate change

Jenni Evans

Jenni Evans

Professor of Meteorology,
Director for the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences

Expertise

  • Earth Science

Focus Areas:

Contact Jenni Evans with questions about: The impacts of climate change on tropical cyclones, statistical methodologies for forecasts of tropical cyclones, the relationships between organized convection and tropical cyclone intensity with sea surface temperature, and the implications of these relationships in a warming climate

Erica Smithwick

Erica Smithwick

Distinguished Professor of Geography,
Director of the Center for Landscape Dynamics,
Associate Director of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment

Expertise:

  • Sustainability & Environment
  • Earth Science

Focus Areas:

Contact Erica Smithwick with questions about: The impact of climate change on people and environments, and how to address forest sustainability under climate variability.

Seth Blumsack

Seth Blumsack

Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and International Affairs,
Director of the Center for Energy Law and Policy

Expertise

  • Sustainability & Environment

Focus Areas:

  • Energy
  • Energy Law and Policy
  • Electric Power and Natural Gas

Contact Seth Blumsack with questions about: electricity and natural. gas industries and energy law and policy.

Need help finding an expert?

Penn State expertise spans far beyond those that we have currently featured on the site. Call us at 814-865-7517 or contact a member of the media relations staff

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