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Penn at COP26: By the numbers
The midnight sun shines across sea ice.

The midnight sun shines across sea ice along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (Image: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Penn at COP26: By the numbers

A look at who is representing the University at this global conference, what they’re focused on, and how it fits into the bigger picture of worldwide climate action.

Michele W. Berger

A partnership to preserve Kashaya
A person leaning against a tree outside, wearing a blue-and-white button down shirt, arms crossed.

Eugene Buckley is an associate professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Linguistics.

A partnership to preserve Kashaya

Since the 1980s, linguist Eugene Buckley has studied this Native American language, now spoken by just a dozen or so people in northern California. In collaboration with members and descendants of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, he’s built a database of Kashaya words, sounds, and stories.

Michele W. Berger

Alumni Award of Merit and Creative Spirit Awards honor seven alumni
Judith Bollinger, Al Filreis, Stephen Goff, Ghislain Gouraige, Mike Kowalski, Clemson Smith Muniz, Ashley Zampini Ritter, and John Vosmek.

Top row, left to right: Judith Bollinger, Al Filreis, Stephen Goff, and Ghislain Gouraige. Bottom row, left to right: Mike Kowalski, Clemson Smith Muniz, Ashley Zampini Ritter, and John Vosmek.

Alumni Award of Merit and Creative Spirit Awards honor seven alumni

Stephen Goff is awarded Creative Spirit Award and Al Filreis is to receive the Faculty Award of Merit.
Guarding the goal with Gracyn Banks
Wearing her blue Penn jersey, Gracyn Banks leads against a field hockey goal post at Vagelos Field.

Guarding the goal with Gracyn Banks

The senior captain discusses her role as a center back, the field hockey team’s brutal schedule, playing for USA Field hockey, her work as a field hockey coach and referee, and her plans for next year.
Sudan coup, explained
Person in streets of Sudan in a protest crowd flashes the peace sign.

On Oct. 25, 2021 pro-democracy protesters flash the victory sign as they take to the streets to condemn a takeover by military officials, in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: AP Images/Ashraf Idris)

  • Q&A

    • Sudan coup, explained

    Ali Dinar of the department of Africana Studies discusses last week’s military coup, and what comes next.

    Kristen de Groot

    The controversy surrounding vaccinations, then and now
    Person in a white coat reaching into a refrigerator full of bagged vaccines.

    Image: Dan Burke

    The controversy surrounding vaccinations, then and now

    Robert Aronowitz, Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor in the Social Sciences, reflects on vaccine hesitancy today compared to the past, and the politicization of public health.

    From Omnia

    Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity
    An image of a Black woman with a flower crown. Text reads "no pride without Black trans lives"

    The work of BIPOC activists is integral to the history of women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights, says Melissa Sanchez

    Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity

    In the first in a series of diversity lectures offered through the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity Programs, Melissa E. Sanchez of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke on “Addressing a More Complex and Encompassing Understanding of Identity.”

    Kristina García

    Supporting Philadelphia newcomers and longtime residents through Palms Solutions
    Person holds up sign that says "Free Food" at a distribution event

    Wil Prall, a biology doctoral student, volunteered as part of Palm It Forward, an event organized by Palms Solutions to support the West Philadelphia community during the pandemic. (Image: Courtesy of Mecky Pohlschröder)

    Supporting Philadelphia newcomers and longtime residents through Palms Solutions

    Founded by a Penn alum, the West Philadelphia-based nonprofit connects members from area African and Caribbean immigrant communities with students through mentoring and tutoring alongside social and cultural exchanges.

    Katherine Unger Baillie

    A new model for how the brain perceives unique odors
    a diagram of a simplified brain created with string and pins

    A new study from the lab of Vijay Balasubramanian describes a statistical model for how the olfactory system discerns unique odors. This work provides a starting point for generating new hypotheses and conducting experiments that can help researchers better understand this complex, crucial area of the brain.

    A new model for how the brain perceives unique odors

    Using statistical physics and insights from biology, this research can help inform new hypotheses and experiments towards understanding the olfactory system, a complex and crucial pathway of the brain.

    Erica K. Brockmeier