UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 2026 Ashtekar Frontiers of Science lecture series, titled, “Unexpected pairings: Addressing today’s biggest societal questions using different disciplinary approaches,” brought together two researchers from disparate disciplines to hear how they tackle pressing scientific issues and help shape the future of science, health and humanity. Over the course of six weeks, 12 researchers from the college’s seven departments shared how they are approaching some of today’s biggest societal questions.
“The Eberly College of Science is fortunate to have outstanding researchers leading work on addressing society’s most important questions using many different perspectives,” said Aleksandra Slavković, professor of statistics and associate dean for research in the Eberly College of Science. “As the heart of Penn State’s research engine, our college has a long-standing tradition of scientific excellence and a legacy of creating positive real-world impact, both today via our translational research and for tomorrow via our foundational, curiosity-driven research. The overview talks we heard highlight how their disciplinary discoveries and interdisciplinary collaborations are already making a difference in society.”
This past winter, the lecture series celebrated its 32nd year. Lectures included:
- Suvrath Mahadevan, Verne M. Willaman Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Tom Stewart, assistant professor of biology, started the lecture series with their talks about habitable planets and the water-to-land transition on the theme of “Origins.” Watch Mahadevan’s and Stewart’s lectures.
- Wenrui Hao, professor of mathematics, presented his lecture “How computational modeling is transforming Alzheimer’s research,” and Santhosh Girirajan, T. Ming Chu Professor of Genomics and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, presented "How our genes influence the risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders,” on the theme of “Medicine.” Watch Hao’s and Girirajan’s lectures.
- Helen Greatrex, assistant professor of geography and statistics, shared how unconventional data can make weather forecasts more useful and trustworthy, and John Harlim, professor of mathematics, presented how structure-aware mathematically grounded methods can influence the prediction skill of AI-based models. Watch Greatrex’s and Harlim’s “Climate” lectures.
- On the topic of “Materials,” Bryce Gadway, professor of physics, presented his lecture, titled “Building quantum materials from atoms and light,” and Danielle Hickey, assistant professor of chemistry and of materials science and engineering, presented her lecture, “Utilizing Electron Microscopy to Reveal the Atomic Frontier.” Watch Gadway’s and Hickey’s lectures.
- Charlie Anderson, professor of biology, presented on how plant cell walls can help support the bioeconomy in Pennsylvania and beyond, and Joey Cotruvo, professor of chemistry, shared how biotechnology may ensure a sustainable supply of rare earth elements for the 21st century and beyond, on the topic of “Resources.” Watch Anderson’s and Cotruvo’s lectures.
- The final Ashtekar Frontiers of Science lecture was presented by Jennelle Malcos, associate dean for undergraduate education, and Matthew Beckman, associate research professor of statistics, on the topic of “Education.” Malcos and Beckman shared how self-regulated learning is being studied in undergraduate STEM classrooms and how AI is being integrated into classrooms. Watch Malcos’s and Beckman’s lectures.
“Thank you to Abhay Ashtekar, Atherton Professor Emeritus, for recognizing early on the importance of science outreach and connecting our community to the exciting and impactful research that is being done at the University and in the Eberly College of Science. His support continues to sustain this preeminent long-standing lecture series, so it will continue for many years to come,” said Heather Robbins, director of communications.
“And thank you to our wonderful research and communications office staff for organizing the series and to our faculty members for sharing the groundbreaking work they are doing to help answer some of today’s biggest societal questions while training the future scientists," Robbins added. "Research impacts our everyday lives in countless ways — our health, our technology, our jobs, and our entertainment — and the work of our Eberly researchers alongside fellow scientists across the world is constantly shaping and improving our lives. Simply put, science matters.”
Learn more about the Eberly College of Science's research impact here.
About the Ashtekar Frontiers of Science Lectures
The Penn State Lectures on the Frontiers of Science was founded by Abhay Ashtekar in 1995, soon after he arrived at Penn State as director of a new research center that subsequently evolved to become the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos. It owes its success to tireless efforts and meticulous planning by Barbara Kennedy, who presided over the series during its first 25 years, making it one of the most successful science outreach events in central Pennsylvania.