Center for Sports Surface Research
The Center for Sports Surface Research at Penn State is an intercollege program managed within the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Plant Science. The center is dedicated to the improvement of all sports surfaces. Through cooperative scientific inquiry the center’s members expect to improve performance and safety on all sports surfaces.
News and Information
July 22, 2026
Penn State Graduate Students Featured for FIFA World Cup Internship
Three Penn State graduate students in the Center for Sports Surface Research gained hands-on experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup through internships supporting playing surface preparation and maintenance at MetLife Stadium and FIFA's referees base camp in Miami.
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June 12, 2026
Pennsylvania FFA Turfgrass Science Career Development Event Hosted at Penn State
Penn State hosted the Pennsylvania FFA Turfgrass Science Career Development Event, where high school students from across the state competed in turfgrass-related knowledge and skills assessments while exploring careers in the turfgrass industry.
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May 30, 2026
Pennsylvania Turfgrass Magazine Features Research on Athlete–Surface Interactions
Research conducted by Penn State Center for Sports Surface Research Director Dr. Chase Straw, Ph.D. student Ava Veith, and collaborators at Virginia Tech examining how variability within and between natural turfgrass and synthetic athletic fields influences athlete safety and performance was featured as the cover story in the Spring 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council Magazine.
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May 30, 2026
Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy Visits Penn State
High school students from the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy visited Penn State on May 20, 2026 to learn more about turfgrass science, sports field management, and career opportunities within the turfgrass industry.
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