4/22
Sustainability
Shifting the climate narrative
Shifting the climate narrative
In a Q&A with Penn Today, Michael Mann of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media shares his views on the role of storytelling in the fight against climate change.
How to design across species to increase biodiversity
How to design across species to increase biodiversity
SNF Paideia Fellow Abigail (Abby) Weinstein participated in a summer internship with Terreform ONE, a nonprofit architecture and design research group.
From seed sowing to harvest
From seed sowing to harvest
Five undergraduates spent their summer interning at Penn Farm, where they practiced regenerative agricultural techniques and learned about environmental and food justice.
Closing the carbon cycle with green propane production
Closing the carbon cycle with green propane production
Researchers from Penn have helped develop a new carbon-capture solution for a cleaner, more energy-dense fuel source.
The Mancos Commons rises
The Mancos Commons rises
A historic preservation project in the Colorado town of Mancos led by Weitzman professors Frank Matero and Matt Neff includes a printing press inspired by Penn’s Common Press and an affordable mixed-use housing space.
Why Tesla wants to have the EV plug standard
Why Tesla wants to have the EV plug standard
John Paul MacDuffie, a professor of management at the Wharton School whose research examines vehicle and mobility innovations, explains the ongoing push by Tesla to establish its electric vehicle plug as an industry standard.
Nature-inspired designs give rise to stronger, lighter systems
Nature-inspired designs give rise to stronger, lighter systems
Weitzman’s Masoud Akbarzadeh discusses a recent multidisciplinary study that draws inspiration from dragonfly wings to redesign a Boeing 777 to be lighter, stronger, and more sustainable.
Climate change’s impact on extreme weather events
Climate change’s impact on extreme weather events
Michael Mann and collaborators investigated the effects of climate change on the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme weather events like wildfires, and found that “worst-case” scenario could lead to significant increases in all three.
Three things to know about a sustainable energy breakthrough
Three things to know about a sustainable energy breakthrough
Penn Engineering’s James Pikul explains how a new method of harnessing energy by using water trapped in the air is possible and discusses the implication of the research.
In MATTERS course, art materials are traced to their source
In MATTERS course, art materials are traced to their source
Through an innovative new course in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, students explore the life cycles of the materials frequently used in art and design—from paints to potting soil.
In the News
Tampa Bay Times
Could Florida electric bills go up because of a fuel made from manure?
Danny Cullenward of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the Weitzman School of Design says that federal and California state subsidies have led to a gold rush of companies trying to get into the business of renewable natural gas around the country.
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The New York Times
Why don’t we just ban fossil fuels?
Joseph Romm of the School of Arts & Sciences says that stronger action against fossil fuels is essential to save the planet.
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PBS NewsHour
UN reports worrying rates of warming as COP28 tries to tackle climate crisis
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences warns that the steady warming rate of the planet’s surface and oceans is fueling increasingly dangerous extreme weather events and coastal flooding.
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Vox.com
An oil executive is leading the UN climate summit. It’s going as well as you’d expect
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Ahmed al-Jaber’s comments about fossil fuels betray an ignorance of climate science and a dismissiveness about the need for rapid decarbonization.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Princeton and Penn scientists win Philly award for their climate change work
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences has won the 2023 John Scott Award for his work to address climate change.
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Yahoo! News
Should you stop flying to fight climate change?
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that decisions by individual climate scientists of whether or not to fly won’t change the system of air travel.
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