| Penn Today

2026-02-04

Accountable Artificial Intelligence Lunch Series

Penn researchers interested in AI governance, ethics, and policy can join the Wharton Accountable AI Lab’s monthly lunches, which are informal conversations around recent business, technology, and legal developments. Attendees are encouraged to bring topics to discuss. Food will be provided. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut St.

2026-04-28

Fireside Chat with Medicare Director Chris Klomp

This Penn LDI fireside chat with Chris Klomp, the current director of Medicare and the deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will feature his reflections on driving health care reform at state and federal levels, as well as prioritizing value-based care and interoperability. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Colonial Penn Center, 3641 Locust Walk

2026-03-13

Is Medicare Advantage Working?

Hosted by Penn LDI, this expert panel will discuss whether Medicare Advantage is meeting its intended goals, such as expanding beneficiary choice, enhancing efficiency, and driving innovation. The panelists will discuss whether reforms are needed to create a sustainable, affordable Medicare program for taxpayers and beneficiaries. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

2026-04-03

Improv for Interviewing

closeup of a handshake between a man and woman over a table

Participants will learn ways to combat these pitfalls using theater-style improv techniques. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Career Services, 3935 Walnut St.

2026-02-11

Public Trust: Aural Coincidences

This program at Public Trust—presented in collaboration with the Department of English—will focus on misspeaking, mishearing, and the contingencies of discourse. The event will begin with a lecture by Daniel Heller-Roazen, a professor of comparative literature at Princeton, followed by a public dialogue with Penn professors Jean-Michel Rabaté and Peter Struck. Free and open to the public.

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Public Trust, 4017 Walnut St.

2026-02-04

How Literature Influences Everyday Life

This lecture at Public Trust—presented in partnership with the Department of English—will explore the ways that literature and literary study intersect with daily life. The program will begin with a talk by John Lurz, an associate professor of English at Tufts University, followed by a public dialogue with Jean-Michel Rabaté, professor of English and comparative literature at Penn. Free and open to the public.

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Public Trust, 4017 Walnut St.

2026-02-09

Early Childhood Development in a Changing Climate

Jorge Cuartas, an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University whose work intersects developmental psychology, economics, and public health, will share insights from his research into early childhood development amid a warming climate. He will present evidence and reflections for policy and practice. Free and open to the Penn community.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

McNeil Building, 3718 Locust Walk

2026-02-10

The Ingenuity of Black Women in Literature, Music, and Religion

This lecture and live violin performance featuring Melanie R. Hill will show how the fields of literature, music, and religion have been fundamentally shaped by the spiritual geniuses of Black women artists, writers, preachers, and movement advocates. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Max Kade Center, 3401 Walnut St.

2026-02-26

An Architect’s Journey Through the Indian Landscape

Architect and urban conservationist Brinda Somaya, in conversation with CEO of World Monuments Fund Bénédicte de Montlaur and Penn Museum director Christopher Woods, will explore the idea that architecture is not just about buildings and aesthetics, but also about people, politics, heritage conservation, and social responsibility. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Penn Museum, 3260 South St.

2026-02-10

Unraveling the Science Behind Sweaters

Part of the Penn Science Café series, participants in this session will learn more about the science behind sweaters—and knitting in general. Randall Kamien, Vicki and William Abrams Professor in the Natural Sciences, will discuss how this deceptively complex, centuries-old practice is shaped by geometry and the mechanical properties and behavior of materials. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St.