Discover Penn State

Penn State is a top-ranked research university and Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, founded with a mission of high-quality teaching, expert research, and global service. Discover a community—more than 775,000 strong—driven to make a difference.

Serving Pennsylvania

Penn State is proud to educate more undergraduate Pennsylvanians than any other public 4-year university in the state, delivering world-class education in communities from Erie to Philadelphia, and everywhere in-between.

24

Campuses in communities across Pennsylvania.

80%

Commonwealth campus students are Pennsylvania residents.

$11.6B

Annually contributed to Pennsylvania’s economy.

Mushrooms are more than a superfood; they’re a living material

Did you know Pennsylvania grows almost two-thirds of white button mushrooms produced in the United States? And since the beginning, Penn State’s leadership in research and education has shaped the industry. Recently, mushroom-related research has expanded into new and surprising areas. Watch to learn how mushrooms could impact the future of environmental clean-up and architecture and design.

In the video that follows, Penn State researchers discuss mushrooms as a living material, as a food of the future, the industry, and how Penn State supports these efforts.