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Karen Roberto celebrates a career of scholarship, mentorship, and impact

As founding executive director of the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, Karen Roberto spent 20 years building the institute into a supportive place for social science faculty to pursue research, collaborate, and connect across Virginia Tech. Under her leadership, the institute supported hundreds of faculty research projects and expanded its reach through new centers, programs, and initiatives across the university. A nationally recognized gerontologist and accomplished scholar, Roberto has also dedicated her career to advancing research on aging and mentoring generations of faculty and students. Now retiring after 30 years at Virginia Tech, Roberto leaves a lasting legacy of leadership, scholarship, mentorship, and commitment to the people and ideas that have shaped our institute.

Karen Roberto smiles while wearing a black jacket and a black dotted shirt, indoors

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Science on Tap: Mosquitoes Eat Nectar?? How Flowers Fuel Mosquitoes , redirect
Join the Center for Communicating Science at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Rising Silo Brewery, 2351 Glade Road in Blacksburg, for Science on Tap: Mosquitoes Eat Nectar?? How Flowers Fuel Mosquitoes. James Moloney, a Ph.D. student in Virginia Tech’s Department of Biochemistry, will share how mosquitoes use nectar from flowers in your garden to get the energy they need to bite. Test your knowledge afterward with a round of mosquito trivia!
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Research Links Industrial Pollution to Health Risks in Louisiana , redirect
A new study analyzing statewide Louisiana Medicaid data found elevated health risks among children and adults living near petrochemical plants and refineries. The findings provide new evidence supporting concerns about the health effects of industrial pollution that communities have voiced for decades. The study was co-led by Virginia Tech professor Barbara Allen, who has previously received research support from ISCE.
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Whole Health Consortium Turns Ideas into Action to Support Health in Rural Virginia , redirect
In May, more than 150 researchers, clinicians, community partners, public health leaders, educators, and students came together during the Whole Health Consortium’s third annual meeting to build partnerships and develop collaborative solutions for improving health and well-being in rural Virginia. By the end of the day, participants had developed 10 collaborative projects, with seven teams receiving flash funding to launch their work.