What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles?
PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors.
Benjamin C. Lee, a professor of electrical and systems engineering, explains what a neural processing unit (NPU) is and why it matters in the age of artificial intelligence.
$50 million gift to launch the Lurie Autism Institute
The transformational gift to Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will establish a joint initiative for autism research and treatment.
A team of researchers from the Computational Social Science Lab at the University of Pennsylvania find that cable news has increasingly diverged from broadcast news in the topics covered and language used.
AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellows collaborate across disciplines
The new fellowship program, offered through the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, offers mentorship and peer engagement opportunities.
This program will honor Juneteenth and the summer solstice by practicing letterpress printing. Participants will use letterpress printing technology to print impressions of leaves from native plants found in Philadelphia, with a focus on species used by enslaved people, such as elderberry and coneflower. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.
Annenberg Classroom, part of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, has released a documentary “Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom’s Stories” that surveys the history of the holiday.
Juneteenth—commemorating the end of slavery in the United States—is a day to celebrate freedom, heritage, and community. Ahead of June 19, this festival will feature live performances, DJ sets, immersive storytelling, and hands-on activities for all ages. Participants can support Black-owned businesses at a community marketplace and attend the Juneteenth Honors Program. Free and open to the public.
A Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, 2019. (Pre-pandemic image: Tippman98x/Shutterstock)
Penn’s guiding principles are the University’s enduring values and distinctive strengths: anchored, inventive, interwoven, and engaged. The practices support and strengthen Penn’s core educational mission.
At Penn Today, we focus on some of the ways the University is putting this framework into action. From student, faculty, and staff profiles to research updates and event coverage, Penn Today highlights the latest examples of the University’s principled approach to excellence.
Keeping it local: Penn’s partnerships with Philadelphia-based vendors boost local economy, neighborhood impact
According to the University’s latest Economic Impact Report, Penn helps power Philadelphia’s economy by procuring goods and services from neighboring businesses. Local CEOs discuss the meaningful impact that Penn has on their bottom line and in the community.
Using behavioral economics-based interventions, a 2025 President’s Engagement Prize-winning project will address health and nutrition inequities in a West Philadelphia elementary school.
Penn lends support to Rebuilding Together Philadelphia effort repairing 11 local homes in two days
Marking a milestone block build, 70 Penn volunteers combined forces with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, a nonprofit with roots at the University, to revitalize owner-occupied houses in the West Philadelphia community. The momentous two-day event involved a block build and speaking program—with a local homeowner sharing a heartfelt message.
Supporting a community for learning, research, and thriving
Four months after the launch of the Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests (Title VI), the office is combating discrimination in all forms while leading educational efforts about dialogue and adaptive leadership.
Why is chronic kidney disease now on my medical problem list?
In a co-written opinion essay, Renée Betancourt and Jeffrey Millstein of the Perelman School of Medicine discuss the evidence-based protocols used to treat early-stage kidney disease and keep it from worsening.
How client advocates are quietly reshaping criminal defense
A 2019 study by Penn Carey Law found that holistic defense which integrates legal, social, and community support may not only reduce jail and prison time but also improve long-term outcomes for clients.
Archeologists uncover royal tomb tied to the real King Midas
Penn Museum researchers in collaboration with the Turkish government have found a preserved royal tomb chamber with ties to King Midas, featuring remarks from C. Brian Rose of the School of Arts & Sciences.
