Concrete on Paper examines concrete's past and present as a construction material. The exhibit showcases scientific papers on hydraulic materials and specialized imitation stone products in the late 18th century, along with popular do-it-yourself house building manuals of the mid-19th century.

On the first and second levels of the Penn Museum Library, visitors can view a collection of photographs by Penn students that reflect key themes from their fieldwork experiences in the past year. Contributing student photographers are from Penn's departments of Anthropology, Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World, Classics/Ancient History, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and History of Art. Free with Penn ID.

Penn Libraries and the Penn Museum present materials held in their collections that reflect upon the creators, modes, and influences of the Ainu, Indigenous peoples connected to the northern islands of Japan and parts of Russia. This exhibit is co-curated by Stephen A. Lang, Eri Mizukane, Rebecca Mendelson, and Deborah Stewart.

A new exhibition curated by students in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences will explore the deep human history associated with the color blue. Into the Blue will span 4,000 years—displaying 20 objects from across the Penn Museum’s collections, including select artifacts from the Middle East, China, Africa, ancient Egypt, and Central America. The exhibition will examine three themes: Obtaining Blue, Making Blue, and Synthesizing Blue. On view through spring 2026. Included with Museum admission.

Faculty panelists will explore the shifting relationship between universities and the government, the consequences for research funding and academic freedom, and the broader political and cultural forces driving these changes. This event will consider what it means to uphold our values as a university and how faculty, staff, and students can respond to this evolving landscape.

The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation will announce the recipients of its 2025 annual grant awards and celebrate students and faculty awarded earlier in the academic year. Penn Vice Provost for the Arts Timothy Rommen will share welcoming remarks.

Penn Medicine will host Leslie Francis, the Alfred C. Emery distinguished professor of law and distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of Utah, for a timely discussion about the intersection of medical ethics and health policy today.

Fiona Cunningham, an assistant professor of political science at Penn, will discuss her book, “Under the Nuclear Shadow: China’s Information-Age Weapons in International Security” focused on how modern technologies are reshaping how states, including China, gain leverage in the 21st century.

Zine makers and DIY-print enthusiasts are invited to join the annual Zine Fest at Kelly Writers House, co-organized by students in Weitzman School Lecturer Kayla Romberger’s Pixel to Print course.

Attendees will learn about the historical significance of Philadelphia’s coffeehouses as hubs of political activity and debate in the decade leading up to the Declaration of Independence. This event is part of Penn's America 250 programming.

The Penn Staff and Community Choir, hosted by the Office of Social Equity & Community, will bring together Penn employees and Philadelphia residents to sing a range of music across genres and traditions. Register to attend.

 

 

A roundtable of Penn faculty and alumni will discuss the history of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Americans in the Greater Philadelphia area over the last half-century. With 2025 marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam and other conflicts in Southeast Asia, the Asian American Studies Program invites community members to share stories of resilience and achievement to foster understanding and promote reconciliation.

The semi-annual Penn Neuroscience Public Lecture features three 15 minute TED-style talks from Penn faculty members on a neuroscience topic. This event will showcase some of the cutting-edge neuroscience research happening at Penn and other research institutions in the Philadelphia community.

Named after the pioneering architect Julian Francis Abele, a 1902 Penn graduate, the Abele Lecture re-centers the voices of Black practitioners and practitioners of color who are reshaping the built environment. This year’s lecture will feature Angela D. Brooks, Philadelphia’s Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer, who will reflect on her journey as a national leader in urban planning, affordable housing, and zoning reform.

 

 

Attendees will learn about Penn Medicine’s contributions to population health over the past 30 years and how Penn is helping inform the future of health and health care. The daylong event will feature TED-style talks, panel discussions, roundtables, and poster presentations.

Penn third-year students will celebrate Hey Day, a tradition dating back to 1916, by wearing red shirts, parading along Locust Walk with mahogany walking canes, and biting into flat-brimmed hats. Hey Day follows the last day of classes, marking the transition from junior to senior at Penn.

The opening reception of “Scattered Earth, Sounded Depth: Penn Fine Arts MFA Thesis Exhibition” will feature the work of Eissa Attar and Alvin Luong, marking the return of the MFA Thesis Exhibition to campus. This event provides attendees the chance to hear directly from the artists and connect with the Penn community.

Attendees will work in small groups to explore new incentive structures, business models, and funding approaches for publishing. This hands-on, collaborative session will connect participants with others at Penn who care about scholarly publishing and wish to imagine what alternative futures might entail.

This guided tour of letterpress printing and typography will include the history of letterpress printing, type, and books from 1000 C.E. to now. There will also be demonstrations of how movable type is used, as well as the mechanical history of all the different machines at Common Press.

This virtual seminar will consider the role of anchor institutions in raising the economic status and health of their communities. Panelists will discuss trends in anchor institutions’ approaches, limitations or cautions, and recommendations for the future.

This talk will introduce some of the approaches graduate students and early-career scholars are taking to create or contribute to podcasts for sharing research more broadly. The event will address the growing field of educational podcasts, publishing and peer review considerations, and paths to get started on conceptualizing, recording, and editing podcasts at Penn.

Penn Libraries hosts a study break before finals with a relaxing afternoon of activities, featuring a chance to engage with therapy dogs from Comfort Caring Canines and goats from the Philly Goat Project. Attendees can get study tips and resources from the Weingarten Center, Career Services, and Wellness at Penn, as well as grab a few snacks and enjoy activities to recharge mind and body.

The Philadelphia Children's Festival celebrates its 40th birthday. This year's festival features a supercharged circus of extreme sports, a refugee's powerful memoir brought to life onstage, and a story of friendship and plucky determination told through vibrant visuals and puppetry.

 

 

This session, sponsored by the Division of Human Resources, will celebrate differences by exploring ways to practice self-acceptance, self-compassion, and build a supportive community. Participants will leave with a deeper appreciation for neurodiversity across Penn and practical ideas for fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance both personally and within their communities.

This full-day course will teach skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes or risky topics. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), participants will practice effective decision-making, as well as acting on such decisions with unity and commitment.

William Glasgall, Penn IUR Fellow and Volcker Alliance Public Finance Advisor, and Susan Wachter, co-director of Penn IUR and a Wharton professor, along with an expert panel, will address the current outlook for state and local budgets and what this means for policymakers, taxpayers, and investors.

This timely conversation between Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education and current director of Chicago CRED, and Katharine O. Strunk, dean of Penn GSE, will focus on the evolving role of the federal government in education. The purpose will be to foster productive dialogue about innovative approaches to education policy.

Experts at the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory have uncovered new insights into several artifacts, including the ashes of a burned Shakespeare folio. As part of the Global Discovery Lecture Series and co-sponsored by The Penn Libraries, this panel will feature English professors Whitney Trettien and Zachary Lesser, and Head of Conservation Sarah Reidell, for a talk about these mysterious relics and what this means for the present and future of libraries and conservation. Register to attend.

Organized by the Penn Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics in partnership with the Penn Philosophy, Politics & Economics Program, NoBeC (Norms and Behavioral Change) Talks provide a platform for interdisciplinary early career and senior researchers who are working on norms and behavioral change around the world.

This symposium will feature authors from The Future of AI in Education, a special edition of the Social Innovations Journal, exploring the promise, challenges, and ethics of AI in learning—from K-12 to higher education. Contributors will examine the role of AI in education from multiple perspectives—including research, policy, technology development, and classroom practice—to better understand how AI is shaping the future of learning.

This kid-friendly guided tour will explore the real-world artifacts and cultures behind the “Minecraft” game’s most iconic elements. Participants will unearth ancient tools from Africa, journey through the vibrant cities of Mesoamerica, check out the battle-ready armor worn by Greek hoplites, and be immersed in a mosaic-making workshop.

Visitors will celebrate the joys of spring as the garden and trees bloom. The vibrant flowers change on a weekly basis as the season unfolds, bringing bursts of color and fragrance. Free with Penn ID.

This exploration of the Revolution at Penn? exhibit will examine the formation of the University, the debates that divided the school during the American Revolution, and the compromises that reorganized it as the University of Pennsylvania in 1791. Free and open to the Penn community, this Alumni Weekend session will offer an insider’s look at rare documents and new insights on Penn’s history.

 

 

The 2025 Quattrone Center Spring Symposium will span two days of solution-focused discussions on the future of criminal justice reform. Sessions will be led by policymakers, academics, and legal practitioners, offering a unique opportunity to learn, engage, and build connections that drive tangible change for a fairer future.

The Baccalaureate ceremony and celebration for graduating students will comprise an interfaith program that includes student musical performances, readings, prayers, a special event for the graduates, the unveiling of the new class Ivy Stone, and distribution of a commemorative class pin. Tickets and academic regalia are not required.

Participants will kick off Senior Week at the New Alumni Orientation and Senior Carnival, hosted by Alumni Relations and the Office of the President. The event will include games, food, and information about how to stay involved with Penn after graduation.

Penn’s Association of Alumnae will present their annual awards: the Rosemary D. Mazzatenta Scholars Awards, the Continuing Education Award, the Fathers’ Trophy, and the Robert J. Alig Student Leadership Award, including a dinner and meet and greet.

In this workshop, the Office of Clinical Research will explore the ethical and privacy considerations involved with clinical research recruitment, as well as related strategies and resources at Penn. The event will include a Q&A where attendees can talk about experiences around recruitment for research studies or trials.

Penn Alumni will reunite with classmates at events like Franklin Fest, will stroll down Locust Walk during the Parade of Classes, enjoy the Alumni Picnic, attend panel discussions, raise a toast to Dear Old Penn at reunion celebrations, and attend an all-alumni brunch and memorial service, among numerous other activities.

This edition of the Penn Alumni Water Forum’s Speaker Spotlight series will examine why drinking water system structures and governance are getting so much attention in popular media, the pros and cons of different organizational models like regional structures and cooperatives, and what the future of water systems might look like, followed by a discussion with practical takeaways for communities and system managers.

Penn Nursing’s annual awards program will celebrate the recipients of this year’s Student, Alumni & Faculty Awards. Attendees will hear about the achievements of Penn Nursing alumni, graduating students, and faculty.

The Weitzman School of Design's Year End Show brings together work from the Class of 2025 in architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, historic preservation, and urban spatial analytics. The gallery opens on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Afterwards, regular visiting hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free and open to the public.

 

 

Alumni Weekend participants can stop by the Penn Arts & Sciences Tent for an opportunity to reconnect with other College alumni, take pictures at our fun photobooth, pick up some unique Penn swag, and discover opportunities to get involved.

Alumni are invited to explore the Fisher Fine Arts Library, including guided tours of the building and a chance to check out the Penn Fine Arts MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Arthur Ross Gallery. Light fare will be served.

During Alumni Weekend, attendees will reacquaint themselves with Kelly Writers House (KWH) or get to know this lively and innovative home for writers of all ages and genres. This open house will convene members of the KWH community for informal conversation, coffee, and light refreshments.

This event will feature “Discourse and Democracy: The Classroom as a Catalyst for Bridging Differences,” a panel discussion with Professor Sigal Ben-Porath and Associate Professor Abby Resiman, moderated by Dean Katharine Strunk. The event will also honor Penn GSE alumni teachers who are celebrating at least their fifth year in the classroom, ending with a reception to connect with members of the Penn and Penn GSE communities.

This panel discussion will focus on food writing in its many forms—recipes, journalism, cultural history, memoir, reviews, and more. Experts will include seasoned editors, journalists, authors, novelists, and cookbook writers.

 

 

The Penn alumni procession to Franklin Field for the 269th Commencement Ceremony will celebrate graduating seniors. Attendees must register in advance and wear their regalia (provided or their own) to participate.

This four-day training event is designed to help humanists develop new digital skills to assist with their research, teaching, and learning. Participants select one of nine classes, each constructed with graduate students and early career professionals in mind. No previous digital humanities experience is assumed or required for most classes.

Participants will learn the different types of conflict and how to use several tools to help address conflict in healthy and productive ways, among other best practices. Attendees will practice using these tools to increase confidence in managing professional and interpersonal conflict.

This 90-minute training will help situate the setting and maintenance of personal and professional boundaries within the Restorative Practices framework. Participants will learn to define what boundaries are and practice strategies to communicate them effectively.

Morris Arboretum staff will kick off the “Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms” summer-long exhibition at the Hummingbird Hut. Participants will learn about the connections between plants and pollinators, including the hummingbird, as well as how they pollinate and how to attract them to homes. Free with Penn ID.

Penn Farm is a campus farm and educational program that uses regenerative practices to grow produce in support of food access initiatives across the Penn community. Volunteers will convene for a hands-on learning experience. There will be an optional tour of Penn Farm from 1-1:30 p.m. Registration required for the tour.

This symposium will explore how scientific advancements, platform technologies, and entrepreneurship can drive more effective and equitable innovations in oral healthcare. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a panel of experts on the challenges and opportunities for innovation in oral and craniofacial medicine.

This panel discussion about the future of arts leadership in academia will serve as the keynote event of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Arts Administrators in Higher Education. The conversation will be moderated by Timothy Rommen, Penn Vice Provost for the Arts. Free and open to the public.

Local businesses and community vendors will participate in a semi-annual West Philadelphia tradition by offering special one-night-only deals for $1, $3, or $5. Local musicians and artists will provide entertainment up and down Baltimore Avenue, from 40th Street to 51st Street.

Toll the Bell is a city-wide sound installation bringing greater awareness to the gun violence epidemic affecting our city and the nation. At 1 p.m. on June 6, National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a prolonged period of bell ringing and other sound-making will take place at 30-plus locations across the city and beyond.