Another Quiet Place to Study

I made this photograph this morning during a break in an assignment in the Forestry Building lobby. Students have access to a collection of large, body consuming leather chairs in which they can relax and study. Add wireless internet access and a student can cover a lot of academic work from this location.

Students from across campus use the auditorium directly behind the student in the picture and there is a constant stream of students from the programs offered by the School of Forest Resources.

I can't study in chairs like these. I can only relax...

Relaxing at the HUB

The Hetzel Union Building, Penn State's center of student activities, is an oasis for students to have lunch, study, or catch a fast nap before heading to calculus class. With comfortable furniture, afternoon light and some heavy organic chemistry reading I can easily see myself needing a bit of rest...

Name That Place

You know the place in the picture? If you've been a student at Penn State you've probably passed by it many times but it is easy to miss the neat little architectural details.

It's one of the chimneys on the Arts Cottage between Armsby and Ferguson Buildings. In another life if was the home of the Agricultural Experiment Station beginning in 1889. This building and a few others across campus reflect the character of the campus at the turn of the 20th century. Things have changed a bit.

As I type this post I realize there used to be cows right where I'm sitting.

Pattee and Paterno

A bright, warm fall day on campus as a student walks past the entrance to the Pattee and Paterno Libraries. As more and more literature research is done online I hope students don't pass up the opportunity to lose themselves in this amazing place.

I could have a second office there. Quiet, no phone, and always something to read.

Bicycles Everywhere

Walking across campus I noticed dozens of bicycles chained to a railing alongside Osmond Laboratory. More students than ever seem to be traveling by bicycle. I don't remember so many when I was a student in the fall of 1972.

Working at Beaver Stadium

George is an undergraduate student in the Turfgrass Science program and has the opportunity to gain experience working on the wide range of athletic turf locations at Penn State. This picture was made just before new lines for the Temple game were painted on the field.

In the past our students have gained experience here and at professional athletic facilities across the country. Check the Turfgrass Science site for more information.

Meeting New People

A picture made during a game of Cannonball at a recent meeting of the Penn State chapter of Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Association (MANRA). Cannonball is a team building and ice breaking activity. I'm not sure about the results in the team building area but it sure loosened people up.

MANRA is made up of graduate and undergraduate students, with membership open to all students dedicated to its objectives. MANRA's primary objective is to provide a networking and support group to promote recruitment and retention of minority students through a program of social and educational activities.

For more information about the group visit the MANRA Web site or contact advisor Randi Congleton.

Creamery Tour

A picture from a recent tour at the Creamery Plant led by manager Tom Palchak. In this picture a group of visitors from Slovakia and the Czech Republic ask questions about cream cheese production. I saw the reflection of the wash water in one of the big cheese making tanks and had to make a picture.

Students and faculty take advantage of the facilities in this plant to explore the real world problems and opportunities faced by the dairy processing industry. For more information visit the Berkey Creamery Web site.

There are often visitors from other countries here representing industry, government and educational institutions. They are anxious to see how we do things at Penn State. I made a procedural error on this day. After the rather warm and humid air in the cheese making room we next headed through the ice cream freezer, a huge storage and hardening facility, which is kept at -30C. I neglected to dress warm that day and braved the cold in shirt sleeves.

It always puzzles me that people stop inside the freezer to ask questions.

The Complexities of Golf Course Management

Until this past weekend I had no idea how complicated management of a golf course can be. And I didn't expect work to begin at 4:30am.

But it wasn't golf that drew me and John Kaminski, Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science, to Merion Country Club this past weekend. We were there to take advantage of a gathering of Penn State graduates of the 2-year Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program to make photographs for a new Web site and recruiting materials. The club was hosting the Walker Cup Tournament which would bring many volunteers (and alums) to make sure things go as planned.

Organized chaos is how one superintendent described the mowing of fairways. During a tournament everyone is working against the clock and everyone has to know their role. This group converged on a fairway that required extra care due to heavy rains the day before. Knowing how to manage weather and prepare a course is just one of the things required of managers.

A United States Golf Association crew sets the pin on one of the greens. I was unaware of how exacting the process is or how complex the management of a green could be. Throughout the day I would see people "thumping" the turf to determine how resilient a green is or running tests to determine the speed of the green. The challenge for the superintendent is to keep all the greens within a certain set of parameters throughout the tournament.

The Walker Cup was a practice run for the grounds crew at Merion. In 2013 they will be hosting the U.S. Open, a bigger and more demanding event. Penn State helps train the people who help make an event like this a success. The Merion Club superintendent, Matt Shaffer, is a graduate of the Golf Course Turfgrass Program. He and many of his colleagues will be working together again when the Open comes to Merion.

By then perhaps a few more Penn State grads will be in the field.

Agribusiness Management Haunts

No, it's not Halloween. Yet.

But this photo of one of the staircases in the Business Building is one of the places where students in the Agribusiness Management Program take some of their classes. This program at Penn State offers students an opportunity focused on businesses that are part of the agriculture, life sciences and natural resources community. Graduating students receive a joint Bachelor of Science degree between the College of Agricultural Sciences and Smeal College of Business Administration.

One thing you can't see in this picture is the Blue Chip Bistro and Cafe right behind me -- home of free donuts with your coffee before 10am.

Climbing Trees at University Park

I can't remember the last time I climbed a tree. I do remember that I used to climb a lot of them. Last week the oak trees along Curtain Road across from the Creamery were alive with student climbers enrolled in Horticulture 201 -- Applied Aboriculture.

Around 26 students get together twice a week to learn how to manage themselves and the trees. The Department of Horticulture offers a wide range of courses and programs involving the application of science and technology to the production of horticultural crops and the management of public and commercial horticultural enterprises.

For more information about undergraduate programs visit the Plant Sciences page in our Future Students Web site.

Frequent Photo Sessions

Every day students, families and visitors gather at the Nittany Lion statue for a picture. These people had to wait awhile for their chance as I shot a group photo for the Ad Advocates. The weather was nice and the wait just heightened expectations for the kids who couldn't wait to climb on the Lion.

Ag Advocates are undergraduate students in our College chosen by a review panel to represent Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences at activities throughout the year. They help to inform the public about the college and the diversity of the agricultural sciences.

Another extracurricular opportunity for personal and professional development.

The Field Office

At work near Beaver Stadium making a photograph for a new undergraduate recruiting campaign. This was one of ten images for ads reaching out to students who haven’t chosen a major. Each has a short headline (Field Office for the latest one) and poses a question to the viewer about their future and plays against preconceived notions of agricultural sciences.

Production Assistant Stacie Bird brings an alternative chair for Mike Mohney, Instructor in Landscape Contracting, tests out his new Field Office. I tend to like offices with lower light levels.

Below are several other ads in the campaign.

The Club Fair in Ag Sciences

Every fall the Penn State College of Ag Sciences holds a Club Fair to give students in the college and across the University a chance to visit with members of the clubs and organizations that are part of Ag Sciences. I was there shooting portraits for the upcoming issue of Science for Your Life, the tabloid of student stories that we produce.

Denise Connelly and Debbie McAllister, both staff members in the Office of Undergraduate Education were there to help students with questions about clubs and student life in Ag Sciences.

From the Ag Advocates and the Equestrian Team to the Coaly Society and the Pre-Vet Club there seems to be something for any interest social or professional. Check the Student Activities Web page for more detailed information.