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School of Arts & Sciences
Art walk
Art walk
A summer course in history of art took students to the streets of Philadelphia to view and discuss murals, sculptures, and other public artworks.
In Hong Kong, a new round in the long-standing clash over law, autonomy, and democracy
In Hong Kong, a new round in the long-standing clash over law, autonomy, and democracy
Political scientist Jacques deLisle explains what spurred the latest conflict, and whether the desire to end it could prompt mainland China to intervene with force.
Woodstock at 50
Woodstock at 50
During three days of Woodstock in August of 1969, Anthony DeCurtis of the School of Arts and Sciences was 18, growing up in New York City and obsessed with the music that would form the foundation of his writing and teaching.
A society’s cultural practices shape the structure of its social networks
A society’s cultural practices shape the structure of its social networks
Biologists Erol Akçay and Marco Smolla used mathematical models to show that societies that favor generalists, who have a wide range of skills, are less well-connected than those societies that favor specialists, who are highly skilled at a smaller number of traits.
Training the next generation of globally minded researchers
Training the next generation of globally minded researchers
As part of the Research and Education in Active Coatings Technologies for the Human Habitat program, students conduct fundamental research on materials that can improve lives while engaging in international collaborations and educational activities.
A wearable new technology moves brain monitoring from the lab to the real world
A wearable new technology moves brain monitoring from the lab to the real world
The portable EEG created by PIK Professor Michael Platt and postdoc Arjun Ramakrishnan has potential applications from health care to sports performance.
Materials for a more sustainable future
Materials for a more sustainable future
Using a collaborative approach and their expertise in fundamental chemical research, new Chemistry Department faculty member Thomas Mallouk and his group address challenges faced by engineers and materials scientists.
Five insights into how the brain works
Five insights into how the brain works
As the Center for Neuroscience & Society celebrates 10 years, founding director Martha Farah reflects on the array of research from its faculty, on subjects from brain games to aggression.
Penn remembers and celebrates Toni Morrison
Penn remembers and celebrates Toni Morrison
The Penn community recalls the life and legacy of renowned author and teacher Toni Morrison, H‘88.
Engaging history
Engaging history
Junior Margarita Ortiz conducted a comprehensive survey of 18 sites as a summer intern for the Historic Germantown consortium in her hometown of Philadelphia.
In the News
NPR
Understanding Kashmir
Suvir Kaul of the School of Arts and Sciences talks about political conflict between Indian and Pakistan. “I’m watching this [Indian] government doing all it can to change that kind of unitary sense of the nation and that’s what worries me enormously,” said Kaul.
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NPR
A century later: The Treaty of Versailles and its rejection of racial equality
Frederick Dickinson of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about the history of opposition to limiting non-white immigration. The racial equality clause in the Treaty of Versailles, for example, was “one of the first attempts to establish ... the unprecedented principle of free and open migration,” he said.
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NPR
The lasting impact of ‘Dora the Explorer’
Americo Mendoza-Mori of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about his work consulting for the film adaptation of “Dora the Explorer.”
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NBC Philadelphia
Philly’s drinking water threatened by climate change
Howard Neukrug of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about the potential effects of climate change on Philadelphia’s water supply. “We’ve seen a lot of one in one-hundred-year events occurring back to back,” says Neukrug.
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Scientific American
The illusion of safety
Research led by Johannes Burge of the School of Arts and Sciences was cited in an article about the potentially dangerous effects of monovision contact lenses and surgical procedures.
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