Inspired by the cracked, water-trapping skin of elephants, Penn researchers have developed a low-cost cement tile that cools buildings by capturing and slowly evaporating water—turning a structural flaw into a climate solution.
R. Jisung Park, an environmental and labor economist at the School of Social Policy & Practice, discusses climate change and the impact of extreme heat on academic success and worker productivity.
Running the Cocodona 250 and hiking the Trans Bhutan Trail: This Penn Vet clinician thinks big
Rose Nolen-Walston, a Penn Vet associate professor of large animal internal medicine, has a history of doing hard things. ‘I didn’t take the conventional path to vet school. I didn’t take the conventional path to running the Cocodona 250.’
Penn GSE and the School District of Philadelphia are co-creating solutions—in areas from algebra to AI—by listening first, aligning priorities, and turning research into real-time change across an urban school system.
How artists have depicted—and shaped—society’s relationship with the sea
In recognition of the summer season and beach vacations, Penn Today spoke with history of art professor Ann Kuttner about ancient Roman portrayals of the sea and Ph.D. student Benjy Jude about 19th-century French seascapes.
Documenting architecture and memories of a changing neighborhood
A film by Penn fine arts professor David Hartt about Watts, a historically Black neighborhood in Los Angeles, is one of five videos included in ‘Freedom Dreams,’ an exhibition at the Barnes in Philadelphia that centers the “memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans.”
This year’s Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP) cohort and current artist-in-residence, Cory Kram, will explore how art can foster deeper connections between researchers and the community. Students will share how they have translated their scientific work into tangible, visual forms, making complex ideas more accessible and engaging for lay audiences. Free and open to the public. Register to attend either virtually or in person.
In conjunction with “A World in the Making: The Shakers,” the Institute for Contemporary Art will host a screening of the 2023 film “Those Who Wait,” a retelling of the Millerite doomsday movement that swept across America in the 1840s. Following the screening, there will be a short Q&A with the filmmakers, Chani Bockwinkel and Ty Burdenski. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.
A University-wide initiative to shape Penn’s future
Guided by Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, Penn Forward launched in September 2025 with six working groups of faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars who challenged legacy assumptions and proposed bold, actionable strategies to advance Penn’s mission and strengthen operations.
Penn Forward’s initial nine priority initiatives aim to build trust with those we serve, enable bold discovery, and extend Penn’s geographic reach and impact across a lifetime. Learn more about these initiatives and follow along with Penn Today as Penn continues to drive forward.
Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century
The third installment in the limited series ‘Chapters of Change’ explores how Penn has led community engagement efforts in public education, economic development, and neighborhood prosperity during a time of widespread change in the nation’s cities.
Chapters of Change: Thirty years of life sciences transformation at Penn
In the fourth and final installment of the series, ‘Chapters of Change’ highlights another transformational moment in Penn’s past when the evolution of life sciences research sparked the University to commit to investing in new research facilities and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
How the Quaker Commitment empowered one student to create her path at Penn
Gabrielle Fine, a fourth year in the Wharton School and recipient of financial aid from the Quaker Commitment, will graduate in May with an interdisciplinary skillset and new perspectives from a global adventure and local engagement.
Chapters of Change: The blossom of Penn’s professional schools in the 19th century
‘Chapters of Change’ highlights key moments of change in Penn’s history, adapting to shifts in society. In the 19th century, the University faced industrialization and more by creating some of its first professional schools.
Kalshi adds 3 million new users as prediction market capitalizes on the World Cup
“They’re seizing this moment to remind people about the ubiquitousness of what these prediction markets are,” says Elizabeth Johnson of the Wharton School.
Narcissistic leaders more likely to oppose remote work, new research suggests
“A paper published this month from researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania argues that leaders who display stronger narcissistic qualities are more likely to dislike remote work.”
‘The Odyssey’ is the hit of the summer—the epic poem, not just the film
Emily Wilson of the School of Arts & Sciences, whose translation of “The Odyssey” inspired Christopher Nolan's film adaptation, has been a popular choice for book clubs.
