The aim of the research initiatives at the Rock Ethics Institute is to integrate ethical concerns, processes, and objectives into interdisciplinary scholarship at Penn State. The initiative strives to situate Penn State as a global leader in ethics scholarship, and a trusted voice on these issues among academics and the broader public. Its activities include convening small working groups on ethical challenges, generating peer-reviewed publications, building capacity through interdisciplinary grant proposals, mentoring graduate students, and fostering community conversations.