Q&A: Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation A Juneteenth Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900, Texas. nocred Q&A Q&A: Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation Penn Today spoke with Marcia Chatelain of Africana Studies and Kermit Roosevelt of Penn Carey Law about the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and the impact of Juneteenth throughout the American story and today. 4 min. read
Getting to the root of it: Why soil matters Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center.(Image: Elliot Bullen) Q&A Getting to the root of it: Why soil matters Soil specialist Alain Plante of the School of Arts & Sciences explains what soil is, how it works, and why its health matters far beyond plant growth. 3 min. read
The art of retelling ancient stories: A Q&A with Steven Weitzman Steven Weitzman is the Ella Darivoff Director of the Katz Center of Advanced Judaic Studies.nocred Q&A 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
Expert viewpoints on the Iran war The rubble of a police facility struck during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran.(Image: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Q&A Expert viewpoints on the Iran war Penn Today spoke with experts from Penn Global and Perry World House to get a sense of what’s happening in the region and what may be next. 3 min. read
David Meaney on Penn’s research enterprise David Meaney, Penn’s vice provost for research.nocred Q&A David Meaney on Penn’s research enterprise Penn Today spoke with David Meaney, vice provost for research, about research at Penn—its current focus and plans for its growth and evolution in the continued quest to help make lives better. 4 min. read
Iran at a crossroads Iran is functioning under an Internet communications blackout, which has strained economic and family ties, says Penn’s Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet.(Image: Vahid Salemi via AP Images) Q&A Iran at a crossroads In a Q&A, Penn historian Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, an expert on Iran and the modern Middle East, speaks about the Iranian opposition movement, current protests, the Islamic Republic’s crackdown, and daily life in the country. 4 min. read
The research landscape is changing. Penn Forward’s Research Strategy co-chairs are ready to adapt Michael Ostap, left, with David Meaney on College Green. Ostap and Meaney are co-chairs of Penn Forward’s Research Strategy and Financing working group.nocred Q&A The research landscape is changing. Penn Forward’s Research Strategy co-chairs are ready to adapt As co-chairs of the Penn Forward Research Strategy and Financing working group, David Meaney, vice provost for research, and Michael Ostap, chief scientific officer of the Perelman School of Medicine, are collaborating to expand Penn’s research impact. 5 min. read
Kelly Jordan-Sciutto on advancing graduate education through Penn Forward Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, vice provost for graduate education and chair of the Penn Forward working group for Graduate and Professional Training. nocred Q&A Kelly Jordan-Sciutto on advancing graduate education through Penn Forward Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, vice provost for graduate education and chair of the Penn Forward Graduate and Professional Training working group, says, ‘I don’t want students to walk uphill both ways in the snow just because I had to.’ 7 min. read
Air travel quandary: Gad Allon and Megan Ryerson on challenges and solutions Travelers at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago during the government shutdown in November.(Image: Nam Y. Huh via Getty Images) Q&A Air travel quandary: Gad Allon and Megan Ryerson on challenges and solutions The recent government shutdown exposed long-standing issues facing commercial air travel. Leading into Thanksgiving holiday travel, Gad Allon of the Wharton School and Megan Ryerson of the Weitzman School of Design discuss the system’s infrastructure challenges and the need for workforce development. 4 min. read
Tom Murphy is leading Operational Transformation at Penn. Here’s his approach Tom Murphy, senior vice president and chief transformation officer, is chair of the Operational Transformation working group for Penn Forward, Penn’s strategic initiative to reshape how the University fulfills its missions of education, research, and service in a rapidly changing world.nocred Q&A Tom Murphy is leading Operational Transformation at Penn. Here’s his approach In a Q&A, Tom Murphy, who leads the Operational Transformation working group, one of six Penn Forward teams, discusses his approach to leading change in non-academic areas of Penn. 5 min. read