My name is Lilly Kensicki, and I am a first-generation, third-year mechatronics engineering technology major with a minor in sustainability, graduating in 2026. My senior year of high school, I was deciding between two schools. They both had the program I was interested in, and the price point was about the same. After touring both schools, I chose Kent State because of the people I met, the walkable campus and the many opportunities available for me here.During my two and a half years at Kent State, I have had several fantastic experiences. In my first year, I spent my spring break ...

Researchers from Kent State University and other institutions have published a study in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal, “Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts,” detailing the environmental consequences of the chemical spill and burn following a Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, over two years ago.The soil sample study, led by Myron Lard, Ph.D., provides insights into the hazardous byproducts formed from the incident. Lard, who earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Kent State University in 2020, recently completed his doctorate at Louisiana...

The use of stone hammers to produce sharp stone flakes—knapping—is traditionally thought to be a process that ancient humans started doing intentionally or by accident before looking for things, such as animal carcasses and hard fruits, to cut. It is a defining feature of hominins and is seen as a massive leap of inspiration, or a “eureka!” moment around 3 million years ago. However, six Kent State researchers and their team suggest there may be more to the story.Metin Eren, Ph.D., published a research paper in Archaeometry arguing that the origin of knapping was instead a cumulative process t...