Voting for the 2022 EME Student Photo Contest is closed.
Limestone Stockpile
Photographer: Joelson Alves
Program: Mining Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was taken at the Texas Quarry owned by Martin Marietta. Two different sizes limestone stockpile produced from an aggregate mine, being deposited by a conveyor belt, and containing a ramp providing access to the mine trucks."
The Sleeping Dragline
Photographer: Meredith Pepka
Major: Energy Business and Finance
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was taken at a client's site during my internship with an environmental consulting company. This photo shows a dragline sitting at the edge of an open pit mine for limestone in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The dragline in the photo is the largest in operation at any Pennsylvania mining site, but at the time of the picture, the dragline was not active."
Baaasking in the Sun
Photographer: William Newcomb
Major: Energy and Minerals in the World
Category: Penn State Pride
"Over this past summer I worked as an intern at Silicon Ranch Corporation, a solar developer. I took this photo during a site visit that I went on. Besides being adorable, sheep (and other animals) can provide many benefits to solar sites. Among other benefits, regenerative agriculture practices revitalizes soil, limits erosion, and manages plant growth. I had a great time learning more about the solar industry this summer!"
Colosseum
Photographer: Adeline Weitknecht
Major: Environmental Systems Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
" I took this photo on a summer trip to Rome. While there, my family and I visited the famous Colosseum. Although impressive in photos, the enormity of the structure was truly phenomenal in person. So many years later, this massive construction of various stones and minerals withstands wind and rain and millions of awestruck footsteps. What I found so incredible was the sheer magnitude of energy and ingenuity that must have been needed to build the theater. The Colosseum is a prime example of the human utilization of energy and minerals around the world."
Another way to Travel
Photographer: Adeline Weitknecht
Major: Mining Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I took this photo over the summer during a family trip to Italy. In the world of engineering, we think of transportation-related energy in terms of petrol, diesel, and electric. In Venice, however, fuel is found in the form of pasta. Helpfully converting carbs into paddle strokes, this gondolier operator is giving a family a tour of Venice's famous waterways. What I found surprising about streets like this were the submerged foundations of the adjacent buildings. What minerals or physical structures had to be contained in the materials such that the foundations didn't deteriorate?"
Flower Power
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This is a photo of a bee that I saw on a flower while in Denver with the CAUSE Program."
Micro Maple
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This is a microscopic picture of a red Japanese maple leaf."
Grapefruit
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This is a grapefruit under a microscope."
Pond Scum
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Microscopic look into the world of a pond."
Passed Out
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Energy Systems Engineering, Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"While on the CAUSE Program travel, we went to Rocky Mountain National Park. This was one of the highest points to stop and look out and the elevation really took its toll!"
Glamorous Sea Lion
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This is a photo of a flamboyant sea lion that glided through his exhibit."
Petals and Grass
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This beautiful flower was part of the sensory garden at EarthLinks in Denver that I visited while with the CAUSE Program."
Window Palms
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"While walking through the Denver Botanic Garden with my new found friends from CAUSE, I looked up to see this beautiful sight."
Pinyon Jay
Photographer: Lauren Larko
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This beautiful pinyon jay sat on the edge of the Red Rocks Amphitheater, watching the crowds."
Goonies Never Say Die!
Photographer: Sean Nichols
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"As part of the PSU CAUSE 2022 trip, we were able to spend a relaxing day in Ouray, Colorado, a mountain town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Some of us did this very cool, short hike through, above and over Box Canyon Falls with Professor Sankey. It was amazing to see the water at work and imagine it carving the granite walls over millions of years. It was also another great bonding experience with my peers as we all had a great experience."
Through the Canyon with Companions
Photographer: Sean Nichols
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"As part of the PSU CAUSE 2022 Trip, we got to do some hiking in Ouray, Colorado, a small mountain town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Baby Bathtubs is an interpretive hike up a rocky stream where you get to do some light mountaineering and bouldering. My peers and I had a great time. A snapped this pic of Bella and Wayne beginning to explore the falls and stream. We had quite a bit of fun and the hike could go on for miles!"
Rise of the Arches
Photographer: Sean Nichols
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"My girlfriend and I spent the Labor Day holiday exploring some of Utah's National Parks. We got to Arches NP at sunrise to do the Devil's Garden Hike which quickly became one of the most challenging but all-time favorite hikes I've ever done. Pine Tree Arch was our first stop and it is always amazing to me to contemplate the exact pathways of things happening at a molecular level to create these wonderful natural expressions."
The Snake and the Raven
Photographer: Sean Nichols
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering,
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is a truly awe inspiring and vastly underrated park. We only had time for one long hike because of the heat but we decided we will definitely be going back. We decided to do Grand Wash and Cassidy Arch. I'm always amazed at what we "see" in the rocks due to our pareidolia and pattern recognition. At first, I just really enjoyed the striations and rock layers in the eroded canyon which is similar to the narrows at Zion, but then I noticed what appeared to me to be a bird's head and a snake's head carved out of the fallen rocks. Ravens are ubiquitous in Utah NP's so I chose that name. Such an amazing landscape!"
Undulating Pathways
Photographer: Sean Nichols
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Wire Pass is a cutoff slot canyon in Kanab, Utah that connects to the much longer Buckskin Gulch. My girlfriend and I hiked a good chunk of it a couple years ago for her birthday. It was our first slot canyon and we were instantly hooked. The sunlight paints the walls of the canyons rock layers and you feel immersed in a sacred and special part of nature. It is very meditative and yet energetic and inspiring. I had to stop taking pictures so I could just enjoy and absorb the different formations, cutouts and curvatures and contemplate all of the life that has flowed through here and left its mark in this canyon."
Energy brings life to Manhattan
Photographer: Mohammed Alamri
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was taken early in the morning around 7 am, I had to wait for cars to clear off and pedestrians to move away so I could take the shot."
Cows in the Coal Mine
Photographer: Mitchell Corsi
Major: Energy Business and Finance
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) owns and operates Antelope Coal Mine in Gillette, Wyoming. It is the responsibility of the environmental department to manage cattle grazing on reclaimed sites. During my summer internship with the company, I made friends with many of the cows and they visited me frequently!"
Old Main at Night
Photographer: Katherine Seidel
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Penn State Pride
"I took this picture on a walk late at night with friends. Old Main serves as a focal point for our campus, and on this night, as I laughed with my friends, with only the stars and the lights of Old Main, I understood why I came to college here."
Katie Rasmussen
Photographer: Katie Rasmussen
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The Three Sisters is an unusual rock formation in the Blue Mountains in Australia, named after an Aboriginal legend about three sisters turned to stone."
Learning from home
Photographer: Katherine Seidel
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I took this photo at the Student Farm. In an attempt to provide healthy food for students, the farm works with dining halls to make sure there is fresh produce available. Through my time as a member of Student Farm club, I have learned about topics from gardening to food justice to mushroom logging. I thought this photo encapsulated the beauty of the farm."
The THON Total 2022
Photographer: Katherine Seidel
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Penn State Pride
"This photo was taken as we celebrated at the end of THON. They had revealed how much was raised throughout the year. At this time, you see the whole community come together and see why we do the work we do."
Power of the Tide
Photographer: Katherine Seidel
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Penn State Pride
"I caught this photo at sunset on my way up to Penn State during the summer. While the sunset was beautiful, what really blew me away were the towering wind turbines on the mountain in the back. This photo shows me the true beauty that renewable energy can bring to the world, and the ingenuity of engineers."
The View of a Mining Engineering
Photographer: Joelson Alves
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Gold Mine Stockpile owned by Barrick Gold."
Natural Gas energy
Photographer: Mohammed Umais Pakkar
Major: Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"A picture depicting the natural gas separators in the field."
The Big Friendly Giants
Photographer: Kyra Green
Major: Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I caught this photo at sunset on my way up to Penn State during the summer. While the sunset was beautiful, what really blew me away were the towering wind turbines on the mountain in the back. This photo shows me the true beauty that renewable energy can bring to the world, and the ingenuity of engineers."
Serpentinite deposition of unkown genesis
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Energy Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo was taken by me during a heavy mineral field survey. The geological occurrence of Ussangoda serpentinite deposit is still unknown, although geologists have come up with several different ideas. The deposit is the only of its kind found in Sri Lanka. It borders to the souther coast and bares endimic flora and fauna. Since the area is found to be rich in nickel, only a few species of plants can be seen to grow on it."
Art Natural work of the Earth
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Energy Systems Engineering, Graduate degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering: Option in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Ilmenite is the major source for titanium and TiO2 pigments. Ilmenite is commonly found in costlines bordering the Indian Ocean."
A Geuda Stone
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Mining Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"Geuda is a gem quality common variety of corundum found in Sri Lanka and Madagascar. It is a thermally unmatured (lacks clarity and colour compared to sapphire grade gemstones) species of corundum potentially treatable by heating to add value (increase clarity and colour). The aluminum oxide lattice of geuda when heated upto 1800 degrees celcius is disrupted and titanium and ferrous impurities are alllowed insto the lattice structure making the stone blue and clear. This photo was taken by me by placing the specimen under gemmological microscope in reflected light."
A Corundum Crystal Under Microscope
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Mining Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This piece of corundum crystal under microscope was captured by me. Although the specimen is gem grade, it lacks the royal blue colour and clarity reflecting the formation conditions millions of years ago. The specimen is hexagonal di-pyramidal or more commonly known as barrel-shaped (characteristic crystal structure of corundum) with characteristic horizontal striations. The photo was taken in rfelected light to highlight the natural colour of the gemstone."
An Aquamarine with inclusions
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Environmental Systems Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo of a cut and polished aquamarine gemstone was captured by me. Air bubbles or inclusions trapped inside the stone are clearly visible. The aquamarine is the dazzlingly blue birthstone for the month of March. It has a unique hue compared to other precious gemstones. It evokes the purity of crystal bluw water. Aquamarine is said to be spiritually associated with trusting and letting go."
The Star Ruby
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo of the star ruby was taken by me. Star rubies are extremely rare and therefore extremely valuable. This photo was taken by placing the stone in brightfield illumination under gemmological microscope. The natural arrangement of rutile needles in the red corundum crystal (ruby) produces a star on its surface when cut and polished in cabochon shape."
Old is gold
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"In captured this photo during a field visit for heavy mineral exploration. The deposit contained over 99% of heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, garnet and monazite. The deposit, although was restricted to a narrow area, was seen to be extremely high grade. It was an ilmenite dominant deposit with a vertical deposition of about 10 feet. The geiger couner and hand shovel were placed as scales."
The Serpentinite Rock
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo was taken by me during a field survey for heavy minerals. The hand shovel is the scale placed on the piece of serpentinite rock."
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View of the Indian Ocean from a Heavy Mineral Depsoit
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo was captured by me during a coastal heavy mineral exploration study along the east coast of Sri Lanka. It shows the ocean and coastal boundary and the wave action specifically sorting heavy minerals on beach. Almost all the minerals (ilemnite, rutile, garnet and monazite) sorted in this deposit are categorized as critical minerals by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)."
The Brown Oyster Shells Stranded on Ilmenite Rich Sand
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"A rare species of brown colour oyster shells stranded on a few locations of the east coast of Sri Lanka. The beach is highly prospective for ilmenite sands. This photo was taken by me during a field survey for heavy minerals exploration."
Erosion in Ilmenite Rich Beach
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was captured by me during a filed survey for heavy minerals exploration in the coastline of Sri Lanka. The boats were considered as scales to demarcated beach erosion in ilmenite rich sand. This kind of erosion can be seasonally observed in Sri Lanka."
A Crow Feeding on a Carcass of a Fish
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo of a crow feeding on a carcass of a fish was taken by me during a field study in Sri Lanka. The location is believed to be the highest grade heavy minerals depsoit in the world. The Pulmoddai deposit contains around 80% heavy minerals dominated by ilmenite."
A Wind Farm
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo of a wind farm in Mannar in the North West coast of Sri Lanka was captured by me during a field survey for heavy minerals explorations. The plastic bottle was placed as the scale. Renewable energy or green energy generation became prominent with the global shift towards de-carbonization."
The Sampur Lighthouse
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"It was in a rainy dusk in a November 2021 when I captured this photo of the Sampur Lighthouse during a heavy mineral exploration study in the east coast of Sri Lanka. The location of the lighthouse demarcates a boundary where heavy minerals no longer occurs towards its southern side."
Marine Pollution and Beach Erosion
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo I captured in March 2022 shows marine pollution and beach erosion. The coastline is prospective for heavy minerals such as ilmenite. The picture shows white color plastic nurdles or pellets washed ashore following the X-Press Pearl Marine debacle. The largest marine pollution of its kind occurred in the proximity to Colombo harbor in Sri Lanka (one of the 20 busiest harbors in the world) in the Indian Ocean. The pellets are probably a hindrance for ilmenite mining and separation."
The Red Beach
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I captured this photo during a field survey for heavy mineral sands. The picture shows that the beach is highly prospective for garnet sands. The photo was taken facing the Indian Ocean from the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Garnets are presently sort after as a source for scandium."
The Boat Wrecked in Silica Sand
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I captured this photo during a field survey for heavy mineral sands. The picture shows that the beach is highly prospective for garnet sands. The photo was taken facing the Indian Ocean from the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Garnets are presently sort after as a source for scandium."
Vein Quartz in a Metamophorsed Granitic Rock
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"I captured this quartz vein during a heavy minerals exploration survey in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The vein seems to be younger than the host rock as the hydrothermal fluid rich in silica has intruded the precambrian charnokite rock."
The Sallitivu Island
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The Sallitivu Island located in the Indian Ocean belongs to Sri Lanka. It is in the east coast of Sri Lanka quite close to the city of Trincomalee which has a most scenic natural harbors in the world. The strait to the island is special because the beach waters meet each other as clearly seen in the capture. The Sallitivu Island and the bystanding coast of Sri Lanka is highly prospective for heavy mineral sands such as ilmenite, rutile, silimanite and monazite. The photo was taken during a field survey for heavy minerals exploration."
Layered Deposition of Ilmenite in an Eroded Beach
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The layered structure appears as varves of ilmenite and quartz. The photograph was taken by me during a heavy mineral exploration study in the south east coast of Sri Lanka. The geiger counter was placed as the scale. The black color layers are ilmenite which is recently known as "ash gold" as it was categorized as a critical mineral."
Wave Action Sorting Heavy Minerals
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was taken by me during a field survey for exploration of coastal heavy minerals in Sri Lanka. It shows how heavies are naturally sorted while the lighter mineral fraction is taken back by the wave action. The handshovel represents the scale."
Sorting of Heavy Minerals
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo was taken by me during a heavy minerals exploration field survey conducted in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It clearly shows the selective deposition of ilmenite rich sand in the beach by the action of waves. The handshovel was kept as the scale."
Erosion of Ilmenite Rich Beach Rock
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The ilmenite rich beach rock was seen to be eroded during the time I captured it in the last year. It was in the east coast of Sri Lanka near by an outlet from a lagoon in the area. The handshovel represents the scale."
Dead Corals Stranded on Ilmenite Rich Sand
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo was captured by me during a heavy mineral field survey in the east coast of Sri Lanka. It shows how dead pieces of corals are washed ashore by the wave action. It also convey a message to humans that their actions are gradually diminishing coral reefs."
Erosion of Ilmenite Rich Beach
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The erosion of ilmenite rich beach was captured by me in the south eastern coast of Sri Lanka during a field visit to explore heavy minerals.."
Ilmenite and Garnet Rich Sand Layeres in the Verugal Aru River Mouth of Sri Lanka
Photographer: Chandima Subasinghe
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"The photo of ilmenite and garnet rich sand layered with seasonal deposition was captured at the Verugal Aru River mouth in the east coast of Sri Lanka. THis was captured by me during a field survey for heavy minerals exploration in 2021. The pen indicates the scale."
Fall Morning
Photographer: Kayla Sucro
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Penn State Pride
"I took this photo the morning of a road cleanup with the Society of Environmental Systems Engineers as I was walking from my dorm to the Deike building. The sun was shining through the fall leaves and brightened the many colors that the tree had. This picture shows the beauty of Penn State's campus and embodies Penn State Pride!"
Deike in the Fall
Photographer: Kayla Sucro
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Penn State Pride
"This picture was taken late fall when the tree outside of the Deike Building had lost almost all of its leaves and blanketed the entire sidewalk. To show just how beautiful the campus is, the picture was taken in 0.5x zoom to show how much area the leaves covered and to focus on the rainbow rays captured by the camera from the sun."
Beauty Within Waste
Photographer: Katherine Bowser
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"When traveling to Iceland this summer, I visited a geothermal site in Grindavik where the Blue Lagoon is located. Runoff water from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant trickles into the lava fields and a blanket of mineral-rich mud lines the foundations of the Blue Lagoon. People from all over the world travel to bathe in the byproduct. The natural wonder is composed of the mineral, silica, which brings deep-cleansing radiance and strengthens the skin's barrier function, benefiting people's well-being. Beauty does really take any shape and form."
Ordovician history
Photographer: Mohammad Badghaish
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This photo is of a limestone outcrop by Tyron pa. in this picture you can see the layering of the sedimentary rocks in which shaly layer on top of limestone layers. you can see the effect of stress on the rocks as the plate moved and caused the rocks to crack."
Lithium-ion in the Lake
Photographer: Ridge Bachman
Major: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Category: Energy and Minerals in the World
"This summer, my father and I found a 1946 Feathercraft aluminum boat being used as a rusty old cow trough. We decided that we could make better use of this antique boat and fix it up as a summer project for use in Lake Naomi in the Poconos. I was able to use my expertise in electrochemical engineering and we ended up making it a 100% electric boat powered by a 110 lbs. lithium-ion. We have advanced the state of the boat to power speakers, a 20 hp electric motor, and a GPS fish finder. Cars aren't the only thing that can be powered by batteries."
