A new initiative that advances In Principle and Practice, the Draw Down the Lightning grants encourage collaborative endeavors in support of the strategic framework’s four principles and five practices.
The University announced today the Drawn Down the Lightning grants, a new series of grants in support of the highest aspirations and pressing imperatives named in In Principle and Practice, Penn’s strategic framework.
The name of the grants reflects the call of Benjamin Franklin to “draw down the lightning” to pursue the power of knowledge for the benefit of humanity. Open to any combination of current students, post-doctoral scholars, staff, and faculty—including standing, nonstanding, and emeritus faculty—the grants support two basic funding levels: programs requesting less than $50,000, and programs requesting between $50,000 and $250,000, with program budgets that should extend no longer than two years. Proposals should speak to any combination of In Principle and Practice’s four principles and five practices; applicants are encouraged to be creative and inventive in developing activities, programs, scholarship, and engagement opportunities that will provide a lasting legacy to Penn’s identity and future.
“Penn’s history is a story of innovators, from our founder Benjamin Franklin to Nobel Laureates and leaders in government, business, arts and culture, and nonprofits. The Draw Down the Lightning grants offer a unique opportunity to jumpstart the next great innovation at our esteemed institution and carry Penn—and our world—to new heights,” says Interim President Jameson. “In Principle and Practice asks Penn citizens to reaffirm and build upon our principles of being anchored, interwoven, inventive, and engaged. These grants, hand-in-hand with our creative community, will accomplish just that.”
In Principle and Practice grew out of the work of the Red and Blue Advisory Committee, charged in 2022 to pose the question to the Penn community, “What does the world need from Penn?” The work of the Committee, chaired by Jackson, culminated in the fall 2023 launch of the strategic framework, which aims to energize and align University programming to meet its goals.
“The Red & Blue Committee heard from a wide range of voices,” says Jackson, “and their perspectives deeply shaped the goals of In Principle and Practice. These grants are an exciting new avenue for Penn’s community to further enrich campus life, forge ahead with cross-disciplinary scholarship, and address the leading challenges of our time. We are excited to see what students, faculty, and staff develop.”
Those interested in applying for the Draw Down the Lightning grants can learn more through the initiative’s website, which includes details on the application process and an FAQ. Proposals will be judged by their alignment with In Principle and Practice, the feasibility of the proposed timeline, and how creatively they can provide a distinctive legacy for Penn. Cross-school, -center, and -discipline programs are strongly encouraged.
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.
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.
As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.
