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School of Arts & Sciences
Pokémon activates a unique part of the brain, offering insights into its structure
In a study of adults who played the game extensively as children, Penn and Stanford researchers discovered that a particular area of the visual cortex lights up when players view characters from the original version.
The Sachs Program announces 2019 grants, marks one-year anniversary
A year and 23 grant projects later, The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation is phasing into round two of its annual grant awards throughout eight categories that support the teaching, making, and presenting art.
Kurdish is the newest class on the global language roster
A course taught by Annenberg doctoral student Mohammed Salih offered, for the first time at Penn, entrée into the basics of a language spoken by 30 million people worldwide.
Latin American and Latino Studies celebrates 30 years of growth, plans for the future
What began as a handful of faculty and students has matured into a program offering a major and minor, grants, and a local and international community hub.
Looking beyond the disease to the person living with it
In a new course taught by PIK Professor Jay Gottfried, students lead discussions on cognitive neuroscience topics and then meet patients who have relevant neurologic conditions.
In conversation with the Russian ambassador
During an event on campus, Professor Mitchell Orenstein spoke with Anatoly Antonov about ‘fake news,’ U.S.-Russia relations, and why arms control negotiations need to resume.
Cohort of PIP/PEP winners celebrate at luncheon
Nine students received handcrafted certificates at the annual luncheon, held May 3, that recognizes the work of graduating seniors awarded the President’s Engagement and Innovation prizes.
A financial literacy class with a twist
NFL player and alumnus Brandon Copeland co-taught a course at Penn this semester alongside longtime University lecturer Brian Peterson.
Five events to watch for in May
Happening around campus this May: the second-annual Sachs Grant Awards, the Philadelphia Children’s Festival, and the screening of a 1930s Hollywood B-movie.
Two Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Eugene Mele of the School of Arts and Sciences and Nancy Speck of the Perelman School of Medicine are welcomed into the Academy for their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.”
In the News
Scientists struggle to explain ‘really weird’ spike in world temperatures
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that tendencies to exaggerate climate science in favor of “doomist” narratives helps no one except the fossil fuel industry.
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Scholars at risk in their own countries find a new home at Penn
Penn Global’s Scholars-at-Risk program is featured. Global’s Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Scott Moore, Penn Carey Law’s Eric Feldman, and Wharton’s Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, along with former and current scholars Angel Alvarado, Pavel Golubev, and Jawad Moradi are interviewed.
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Report: Latin America’s progress on helping sex abuse victims
Marci Hamilton of the School of Arts & Sciences points to Chile as an international example of a large sex abuse scandal turning into effective activism.
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Gordion: A lost city of legends in central Turkey
Brian Rose of the School of Arts & Sciences and Penn Museum has led excavations at the ancient Turkish city of Gordion since 2007.
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Spring is here very early. That’s not good
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that plant-flowering, tree-leafing, and egg-hatching are all markers associated with spring that are happening sooner.
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