A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Amol Navathe is the new chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
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Penn health economist on shaping Medicare’s future
Amol Navathe, professor of medical ethics and health policy at Penn Medicine and healthcare management at Wharton, is the new chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the independent congressional agency that advises lawmakers on Medicare payment policy.
Penn Engineering materials scientist Shu Yang and Weitzman School of Design architect Masoud Akbarzadeh teamed up to develop a 3D concrete printing system that captures carbon dioxide and boosts the structural performance of the building materials. The solution is based on diatomaceous earth and offers enhanced carbon capture and structural fortitude while using relatively fewer materials.
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Getting into the nitty gritty of sand
Materials scientist Shu Yang explains the hidden physics of a day at the beach, like why some sands scorch your feet, what makes the perfect sandcastle, and how the same humble grains end up in windows and smartphones.
Inspired by the cracked, water-trapping skin of elephants, Penn researchers have developed a low-cost cement tile that cools buildings by capturing and slowly evaporating water—turning a structural flaw into a climate solution.
Penn Engineers led by Xue “Sherry” Gao have developed a gene-editing tool built specifically for fungi, unlocking a hidden library of molecules—including some with early anti-cancer promise—from one of biology’s most overlooked kingdoms.
A roundup of recent awards for faculty members in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences, Penn Carey Law, Graduate School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Perelman School of Medicine.
Cheryl Krementz of Penn Business Services—which oversees the Penn Bookstore—says that a beach read “leans toward the ‘lighter’ genre: romantasy, light science fiction, memoir and cozy mysteries, true crime.” She describes the bookstore’s selection as “very Penn beach reads,” as they are “fun and breezy with a little bit of intellect in it.”
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The concept, popularity, and dismissal of the ‘beach read’
Penn Today talked about beach reads with comparative literature Ph.D. candidate Angelina Eimannsberger, whose dissertation focuses on women readers, social media, the romance genre, and bookstores.
The historic Academy Bell on display in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center.
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The journey of Franklin’s fire bell
A sister of Philadelphia’s famous Liberty Bell, Penn’s Academy Bell has been secreted from the city during the Revolutionary War, signaled the start of class and the outbreak of fires, hung in a church tower, and stored in basements around Penn’s campus before going on display.
Penn Today spoke with historian Daniel Richter, philosopher Jennifer Morton, and democratic governance expert Claire Finkelstein about the Declaration’s historical context, political ideas, and evolving legacy.
A course taught by Professor of History Roger Chartier and Kislak Center curator John Pollack took students on a journey through revolutions as told through writing, tackling issues of both political and societal change.
