Thanks in large part to the foundation Ian McHarg built, the Stuart Weitzman School of Design Landscape Architecture Department has led the field for decades. Here’s how it’s staying relevant as the importance for the profession—one that is central to solving some of the world’s greatest challenges—grows.
Amy Chu spends a lot of her time running chemical reactions using one of her lab’s pressurized reactors. When she’s not doing research on fundamental chemistry, she’s busy working as a scientific consultant on a project collaborating with energy policy researchers.
Championing scientifically driven energy policy
In the lab, chemist Amy Chu is aiming to make the chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide into methanol more sustainable. Her work reflects her philosophy that scientists should have a stronger role in both public policy and education.
With help from the Penn Libraries' staff, Cebul and his students worked with maps in an electronic classroom in Van Pelt-Dietrich Library.
Image: Eric Sucar
From urban renewal to today, tracking the struggles of America’s cities
Equipped with SEPTA Key cards, Brent Cebul’s students are taking a deep dive into Philadelphia’s history, looking into the past and present challenges facing cities.
David McKnight of the Penn Libraries led the decade-long project to sort through the 200,000 books, and additional materials, and catalogue the Gotham Book Mart donation. A new exhibit showcases 300 selections, including the writing and illustrations of author Edward Gorey, who collaborated with the storied book shop.
Treasures revealed
It has taken nearly a decade for the Penn Libraries to sort and catalogue the contents of the Gotham Book Mart, the legendary New York City bookstore and publisher. A new exhibition, now on display through May 20, showcases a select 300 items.
Passing College Hall, the Anennberg (Lunchtime) Running Club turns attention to featured speaker Sean Brown (far left). The club organizes two Ideas in Motion lecture series, one held while running and the other while walking.
Campus running club benefits the body and the brain
Three times a week runners gather in Annenberg Plaza to work their bodies and stretch their minds. Through regular runs and monthly running and walking lectures, the group fosters community and health while promoting intellectual exchange.
Showing off the broad, tropical leaf of a banana plant, Samara Gray (left), greenhouse coordinator, highlights the diverse collection of the middle room of the Biology Department’s facility. During the tours, Gray and other staff point out specialized adaptations of certain plants, such as the water-conserving features of succulents, or the unusual features of carnivorous plant species.
Hands-on learning in the greenhouse
A revamped lesson in plant diversity added a tour of the campus greenhouse for students in introductory biology courses. Greenhouse coordinator Samara Gray worked with Linda Robinson and Karl Siegert to enhance the curriculum, incorporating lessons about plant biology and taxonomy that rely on the wide range of specimens present.
A ‘perfect blend’ of cutting-edge technology and real-world vision
As a high school student, Angela Lin founded an organization to bring students and technology leaders together. At Penn, she’s surrounded by the culture she craved.
A new Penn Museum exhibition showcases 200 artifacts from its vast Egyptian collection, as well as their conservation, including a 4,000-year-old model of a rowing boat featuring 16 figures.
Egypt on display
Penn Museum opens a new Ancient Egypt exhibition to display artifacts and their conservation during its Building Transformation project.
