Chinese flag flies in front of modern skyscrapers

An ambitious new Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations

Launched in May, the initiative brings together “next generation” thinkers—scholars and practitioners—to address the complex and changing relationship between the two countries.

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Burlap sacks full of coffee beans.

A food journey across the Middle East

During a summer internship with Professor Heather J. Sharkey, four undergrads studied oranges, olive oil, coffee, and sorghum in an effort to understand their political, nutritional, and emotional value to the region.

Michele W. Berger ・

Rose on top of tombstone

Understanding death

In the latest episode of Penn Today’s “Understand This ...” podcast series, assistant professor of Religious Studies Jolyon Thomas and Director of Pastoral Services James Browning explore dialogues around death.

Brandon Baker ・

Inside Penn

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Upcoming Events See all →

9.21

Climate Week at Penn

Climate Week at Penn demonstrates how the issue of today intermingle with climate change. Throughout the week will be teach-ins, workshops, readings, lectures, and more. Speakers range from activists to academics, policymakers to students.

11:00a.m. - 8:30p.m.

Online

9.23

1.5-Minute Lectures

As part of Climate Week, this edition of the 1.5* Minute Lectures series discusses the maximum amount the temperature can rise to avoid catastrophe. The presentation includes a series of faculty members who will speak.

12:00p.m.

Online

Multimedia

Gallery

New look for campus research

For some scientists around campus, donning masks and working in the open air has enabled research projects to continue safely and rigorously this summer.

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Big Ideas

Penn in the NewsSee all →

Marketplace (NPR)

AI is reshaping the way we buy, sell and value homes

Christopher Geczy of the Wharton School was interviewed about digital advancements in real estate. “The advent of computer technology, especially with respect to artificial intelligence—computer vision—is that it can compare what it sees to hundreds of thousands of other examples for reference points,” he said. “The scale of the intelligence can potentially add where humans can potentially lack.”

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CBS Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania program training dogs to sniff out spotted lanternfly eggs

Jennifer Essler, a postdoc in the School of Veterinary Medicine, spoke about a new program that trains dogs to detect the presence of spotted lanternfly eggs. “For the dogs, it’s a game, it’s like anything else. They don’t know that they are saving the planet in any way,” she said.

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The Wall Street Journal

Thousands of American troops to take part in COVID-19 early-detection study

PIK Professor Jonathan Moreno commented on plans to conduct a COVID-19 early-detection study on U.S. troops. “Should we ask for consent if it reveals medical issues that a person in uniform may not want revealed and is not relevant to job performance?” he asked.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

They Shazamed songs blasting from cars on Philly’s Girard Avenue and created a ‘Girard Jams’ playlist on Spotify

Guthrie Ramsey of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about two Philadelphians who compiled a playlist of songs played from cars passing by their apartment. “If we all listen to playlists created in that manner for us, you might get a different understanding about the world surrounding you,” he said.

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The Washington Post

FDA poised to announce tougher standards for a COVID-19 vaccine that make it unlikely one will be cleared by Election Day

Holly Fernandez Lynch of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on the FDA’s use of emergency authorizations to expedite coronavirus drugs. “Is the president going to put the screws to the FDA so much that they will speed ahead on a vaccine?” she asked.

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CNBC

$300 unemployment benefits end in at least 9 states as stimulus hopes fade

Ioana Marinescu of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the absence of a second stimulus detail and its impact on unemployed Americans. “This is going to be hardest on more disadvantaged, lower-income individuals and communities of color because they’ve been disproportionately impacted by job loss,” she said. “Also, a dollar means more to a poor person than a rich person. Losing those precious dollars is really a meaningful loss for those people.”

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The Wall Street Journal

U.S. medical school applications soar in COVID-19 era

Admissions Dean Neha Vapiwala of the Perelman School of Medicine said some medical schools are waving prerequisites to accommodate students who may have been unable to participate in extracurricular activities earlier this year.

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Chicago Tribune

Commentary: Ruth Bader Ginsburg practiced anti-cancel culture

Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education wrote an op-ed about how Ruth Bader Ginsburg modeled a better way of engaging with political and intellectual opponents. “Her entire career reflected the faith that you could move others to your point of view,” he said.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

How to conduct an engaging lab experiment in the time of COVID: Brew beer

Biology instructors at Penn assembled and mailed hundreds of lab kits to students to aid virtual learning. “It’s important to get students off of their computers and using some of the tools and techniques that are used by scientists,” said Linda Robinson of the School of Arts & Sciences.

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Bloomberg

Ginsberg’s death injects new doubt into fate of Obamacare

Dean Theodore Ruger of the Law School said of efforts to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, “Whoever wins the presidential election will have much more to say about the success or failure of the act than the court. If it’s Trump, there are many administrative ways he could stifle it.”

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