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Penn Political Union hosts AG Loretta Lynch
Former attorney general of the United States Loretta Lynch, wearing glasses, a black surgical mask and a blue suit dress, gestures as the speaks to a man in the foreground

Former U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch spoke to the Penn Political Union on Sept. 23, launching their series of discussions and debates.

Penn Political Union hosts AG Loretta Lynch

The first female African American attorney general discussed everything from her thoughts on law enforcement reform to her most memorable cases.

Kristen de Groot

Mapping words to color
fanned out color sample sheets depicting a rainbow of shades

A Penn study has looked at the communicative needs that drive similarities and differences in how languages develop vocabularies for color. 

Mapping words to color

Researchers led by postdoc Colin Twomey and professor Joshua Plotkin developed an algorithm that can infer the communicative needs different linguistic communities place on colors.

Katherine Unger Baillie

‘The Stories We Wear’ puts a spotlight on fashion spanning 2,500 years
three garments in glass cases in a museum

A new Penn Museum exhibition puts a spotlight on fashion,  featuring 250 items spanning 2,500 years, including clothing, jewelry, uniforms, weapons, even tattoos. “The Stories We Wear” will be on view through June 12.

‘The Stories We Wear’ puts a spotlight on fashion spanning 2,500 years

A new Penn Museum exhibition puts a spotlight on fashion featuring 250 items spanning 2,500 years, including clothing, jewelry, uniforms, weapons, even tattoos. “The Stories We Wear” will be on view through June 12.
‘The climate girl’ at Penn
A college-age person standing outside, with greenery blurred in the front of the image. She is wearing a jean jacket with the words "Re-earth IN," a globe in the shape of a heart, and other earth-related designs.

Second year Xiye Bastida, from San Pedro Tultepec, Mexico, has participated in Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for the Future movement. She and friends began the Re-Earth Initiative aimed at “reimaging the future, reconnecting with the planet, and redefining collaboration.” Despite six years of environmental activism under her belt, Bastida says she’s just getting started.

  • Q&A

    • ‘The climate girl’ at Penn

    In a Q&A with Xiye Bastida, the second year describes how she’s bringing climate activism to her college experience, how her Indigenous background influences her path, and why storytelling and protecting Earth go hand in hand.

    Michele W. Berger

    Lauder students put language skills into practice
    Supplies being handed to someone inside a Chinese language school

    Supplies being delivered to the Guanghua Chinese School. Lauder Institute student Angela Huang worked with the school, based in Montgomery County, to translate newsletter materials about wellness. (Image: Courtesy of Angela Huang)

    Lauder students put language skills into practice

    In lieu of its in-country immersion program, which was canceled because of the pandemic, the Lauder Institute incorporated community engagement projects that connected students with communities in Philadelphia and beyond.
    Rethinking resilience in the face of climate change
    Hurricane satellite imagery

    Rethinking resilience in the face of climate change

    Hurricane Ida brought record-breaking rainfall and flooding, and stronger, more destructive storms will inevitably come. Being better prepared will require reconsidering how to protect people and their homes.

    Michele W. Berger

    Reimagining scientific discovery through the lens of an artist
    a headshot of Rebecca Kamen in front of an abstract painting

    Reimagining scientific discovery through the lens of an artist

    The latest exhibition by Rebecca Kamen, Penn artist-in-residence and visiting scholar, at the American University Katzen Art Center explores curiosity and the creative process across art and science.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    Exploring monuments of trauma in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Black Atlantic
    Stephanie Gibson

    Stephanie Gibson, a doctoral candidate in the history of art. (Image: OMNIA)

    Exploring monuments of trauma in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Black Atlantic

    Stephanie Gibson, a doctoral candidate in the history of art, explores in her dissertation how museums and monuments interpret sites with painful histories to help people move past the trauma that occurred there.

    From Omnia

    Afghanistan’s future after the U.S. withdrawal
    Meg Guliford, John Gans, Wazhmah Osman and Trudy Rubin sit in chairs on a stage with the words Perry World House on the wall behind them

    The Perry World House event featuring Meg K. Guliford (left), John Gans (second from left), Wazhmah Osman (second from right) looked at the future of Afghanistan and was moderated by Trudy Rubin (right).

    Afghanistan’s future after the U.S. withdrawal

    Perry World House held a hybrid panel this week to look at what the future holds for Afghanistan, featuring in-person speakers and audience members, as well as virtual attendees watching online.

    Kristen de Groot