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  • The commonalities of common sense

    Researchers from Penn address a critical gap in how knowledge is understood.
    Artist rendering depiction of common sense: This image features an abstract representation of multiple silhouetted profiles facing each other against a background of overlapping, multicolored shapes, symbolizing the interplay and convergence of diverse perspectives and ideas. The interlocking colors and profiles suggest the complex, multifaceted nature of common sense.
    How common is common sense? A straightforward question that, surprisingly, has yet to receive a definitive science-based answer. Now, PIK Professor Duncan Watts and co-author Mark Whiting of the Wharton School and the School of Engineering and Applied Science present a new way to quantify common sense among both individuals and collectives.
    (Image: Courtesy of Mark Whiting)

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  • From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
    People gather around a large map placed on the floor.

    In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.

    (Image: Courtesy of Chaowu Li)

    From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel

    Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.

    Jan 31, 2025

    An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future
    The exterior of the Vagelos building lit up with dramatic lighting.

    The new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology boasts adaptable laboratory spaces to support the dynamic needs of pioneering research.

    nocred

    An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future

    Members of the Penn community celebrated an energy research milestone: the unveiling of the new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology.

    Dec 12, 2024