College is not all classes and bookwork. Sometimes it can mean racing around a track in an off-road car you helped build, mud flying, your heart pounding as you bounce inside the harnesses keeping you in place. And yet this, for all the fun it is, is still an opportunity … Continue reading
After two years of virtual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair, URCAF came roaring back to the Adler Athletic Complex at Penn State Altoona with more than 40 student participants and many visitors to witness the students’ efforts. Lara LaDage, associate professor of biology and Undergraduate Research Coordinator, organized the … Continue reading
Every spring for the last decade people have gathered at the Flight 93 National Memorial site to “Plant a Tree at Flight 93.” And from the inaugural year Penn State Altoona faculty, staff, students, and family members have participated (original story here), whether it was stuffing a bucket with seedlings … Continue reading
Since the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was first chartered in Maryland in 1827, trains have been a crucial part of the growth of the United States. Nearly 200 years later, locomotives powered by diesel fuel or electricity travel over 140,000 miles of track, hauling both passengers and freight across the … Continue reading
It’s nearly spring and that means it’s nearly time for Penn State Altoona’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair, to be held on April 9 at 9 a.m. in the Adler Athletic Complex. A real highlight of the spring semester, URCAF gives students the opportunity to display their talents in … Continue reading
Two heads, it’s said, are better than one. Solving a problem is often easier if two people can talk it over. Applying that aphorism are Juan Gil, professor of mathematics at Penn State Altoona, and senior math major Jessica Tomasko. The two have teamed up for a number of research … Continue reading
College students working on senior projects always have two goals in mind. The first is universal—a good grade. The second goal varies. It could be building a business making sneakers from recycled materials. Or maybe a weather balloon as part of a local company’s research. But some projects are far … Continue reading
Cultural change is never easy, especially when what is being changed has been in place for decades or maybe even centuries. In the past year many White Americans were introduced to Juneteenth when it was made a national holiday marking the final emancipation of slaves in the United States. Columbus … Continue reading
When a movie that claims to be “historical” strays from an accurate portrayal, it is called “artistic license.” Sometimes the real story is more complicated than a movie can show. Always the storyteller (e.g., an author or witness to the event) brings a bias in the retelling. And—of course—movie producers’ … Continue reading
When the Internet came into existence there were murmurs that libraries were on their way out. After all, anyone with computer access could find the answer to any question. Or so it seemed. But as the Information Age developed, it became clear that libraries are more than just book-lending facilities; … Continue reading
