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The art of retelling ancient stories: A Q&A with Steven Weitzman
Steven Weitzman standing upright and smiling, facing forward, in the Library at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, next to a wall with books on display

The art of retelling ancient stories: A Q&A with Steven Weitzman

In his new book, the Penn professor and scholar of religion examines how the biblical story of the 10 plagues has been reshaped by people across time and culture to make sense of their experiences and find meaning in disasters.

3 min. read

Five from Penn named 2025 AAAS Fellows

Five from Penn named 2025 AAAS Fellows

Cherie Kagan, Daniel Krashen, George Pappas, Kai Tan, and Patrick Walsh are among the nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators honored by the Association for the Advancement of Science this year for distinguished contributions to their fields.
 

3 min. read

Stress tested, testing stress: Novel organoid models how the adrenal gland develops

Stress tested, testing stress: Novel organoid models how the adrenal gland develops

Researchers led by Penn Vet’s Kotaro Sasaki and Michinori Mayama have developed an organoid system that faithfully mimics how the human adrenal gland develops and forms complex tissue structures, providing a powerful tool to study adrenal biology and laying the groundwork for regenerative therapies targeting adrenal diseases.

3 min. read

A stiff defense: Rethinking gum disease
A section of healthy human gum tissue captured using an imaging technique called Second Harmonic Generation microscopy. In this sample, collagen fibers (shown in yellow), which give healthy gums their firm, resilient stiffness, are dense and well-organized—acting as a supportive scaffold for the surrounding cells (shown in teal).

A stiff defense: Rethinking gum disease

Penn Dental Medicine’s Kyle H. Vining and Hardik Makkar take a biomaterials approach to understanding periodontal disease, using a hydrogel system to investigate how the physical properties of the gum tissue impact inflammation.

3 min. read

Who, What, Why: Kara Butler on museum education
Kara Butler talks at podium.

Who, What, Why: Kara Butler on museum education

Butler, a fourth-year anthropology and communication double-major from Philadelphia, is starting a master’s program at the Graduate School of Education in the fall, with the goal of becoming a museum educator.

2 min. read

https://in-principle-and-practice.upenn.edu/
Students walk beneath The Covenant on Locust Walk at dusk

In Principle and Practice

Penn’s strategic framework

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.

Students test one way to combat extreme heat in Philadelphia
Nafisa Bangura (left) and Angelica Dadda (right) doing hands-on experimental work in the Composto Lab.

Students test one way to combat extreme heat in Philadelphia

Third-year students Nafisa Bangura and Angelica Dadda expanded upon a multidisciplinary research endeavor to evaluate a reflective pavement coating as a tool to mitigate extreme heat. Their work may inform policy efforts to improve urban heat resilience.

4 min. read

Penn in the News

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  • Average net tuition down when adjusted for inflation, Brookings data shows
    Higher Ed Dive

    Average net tuition down when adjusted for inflation, Brookings data shows

    “A growing number of [private, high-endowment] institutions—including Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology—offer free tuition to students whose families make below a given income threshold.”