4.20
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Beyond topological insulators
Beyond topological insulators
Charlie Kane and Eugene Mele’s groundbreaking theories on the existence of a new class of materials continues to inspire an upcoming generation of physics researchers.
Toward a better understanding of ‘fake news’
Toward a better understanding of ‘fake news’
PIK Professor Duncan Watts publishes a framework for developing a comprehensive research agenda to study the origins, nature, and consequences of misinformation on democracy.
Communicating change in a ‘land of extremes’
Communicating change in a ‘land of extremes’
In Aurora MacRae-Crerar’s Penn Global Seminar, students are grappling with the impacts of a shifting and unpredictable climate in Mongolia.
Even without a brain, metal-eating robots can search for food
Even without a brain, metal-eating robots can search for food
SEAS engineers are developing robot-powered technology with energy sources that are harvested in the robot’s environment.
New campus buildings to house centers for innovation and collaboration
New campus buildings to house centers for innovation and collaboration
Several new facilities, including Tangen Hall and the Academic Research Building, have finished construction and the University is eyeing opening dates. Penn Today provides an overview.
Computational insights towards future personalized cancer treatments
Computational insights towards future personalized cancer treatments
Researchers from Penn Engineering, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Yale University use molecular simulations to uncover how mutations in a class of enzymes known as kinases lead to cancer progression.
The Philadelphia Orchestra is playing safe
The Philadelphia Orchestra is playing safe
Penn experts are working with The Philadelphia Orchestra to study the aerosol droplets that wind and brass musicians produce when playing. Their findings, aimed at reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, could help the Orchestra once again play together.
‘Research at Penn’ showcases University breakthroughs and innovations
‘Research at Penn’ showcases University breakthroughs and innovations
Produced by the Provost’s Office, the brochure highlights groundbreaking research from each of Penn’s 12 schools. This year it is online-only.
Kevin Johnson appointed Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor
Kevin Johnson appointed Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor
Johnson, the University’s 27th PIK Professor, will hold joint appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, with a secondary appointment in the Annenberg School for Communication.
The impact of providing hands-on, interactive projects
The impact of providing hands-on, interactive projects
With inventXYZ, President’s Innovation Prize winner Nikil Ragav has created a high-tech curriculum for high school to motivate future problem-solvers.
In the News
MIT Technology Review
Keeping COVID vaccines cold isn’t easy. These ideas could help
Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine and Michael Mitchell of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about efforts to develop new ways to keep temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccines cold during shipment.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Wolf administration to buy half of state government’s electricity from solar
Mark Hughes of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy said Pennsylvania’s solar fields will provide jobs and tax revenue and move the state toward clean energy. “You want to make it hip, you want to make it cheap—but eventually you’re going to have to make it mandatory,” he said.
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Newsweek
7 women scientists who defied the odds and changed science forever
Ashley Wallace of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about Kizzmekia Corbett, a viral immunologist who co-developed Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. "The pandemic exposed layers of racial disparities in medical treatment and clinical research, resulting in conversations surrounding the effects of how COVID-19 disproportionately infects and kills people of color," said Wallace. "Dr. Corbett is not only advancing science but she is also using her voice and platform to contribute to these conversations."
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Los Angeles Times
This L.A. start-up is building tiny injectable robots to attack tumors
Marc Miskin of the School of Engineering and Applied Science commented on a new startup that is developing remote-control medical microrobots. “I would give them a lot of credit for figuring out a space where they can make an impact and justify how they’ll be competitive with traditional pharmaceutical approaches,” he said.
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NBC Philadelphia
Rapid COVID-19 test developed at Penn could give on-the-spot results quickly
César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his work, conducted in collaboration with the School of Engineering and Applied Science, developing a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test. “It all works through these chips that we’ve generated. They’re very small. You can make them out of different materials: paper, cardboard,” he said. “You can put your saliva sample onto the chip, and you can connect it to this little machine, and then you connect it to your phone.”
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