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The future of urban waters
Rising Waters fellows in Mumbai in January

Rising Waters fellows in Mumbai in January (Photo credit: Photography Promotion Trust)

The future of urban waters

Students and faculty of the Penn Program in Environmental Humanities’ Liquid Histories course study the impact of rising sea levels from the banks of Philadelphia and Mumbai.

Penn Today Staff

Shooting for the moon
Schuler in the classroom

Linguistics professor Kathryn Schuler (right) wanted her students to think big. Throughout the semester, they worked on passion projects, following a Google X model to allow for unconstrained ideas to solve grand problems.

Shooting for the moon

In her Language and the Brain course, linguistics professor Kathryn Schuler asked 30 undergrads to think big about big problems—and their solutions didn’t disappoint.

Michele W. Berger

Bridge to Ph.D. program provides a way forward for greater access in STEM fields
a group of students and a professor looking at a chalk board covered in math equations

Penn’s Bridge to Ph.D. program provides students from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to earn master’s degrees in mathematics while also preparing for a Ph.D. The students are advised by Ryan Hynd (not pictured) and Philip Gressman (center). 

Bridge to Ph.D. program provides a way forward for greater access in STEM fields

The pilot program in the Department of Mathematics enables students from underrepresented groups to become the next generation of enterprising mathematicians.

Erica K. Brockmeier

A meeting of medievalists
Professor speaking to classroom, sitting at table, with computer in front of him.

Penn English Professor David Wallace is the president of the Medieval Academy of America, which is holding its annual conference on campus. (Photo: Eric Sucar)

A meeting of medievalists

More than 500 medieval scholars from the U.S. and Europe will be on campus for the annual Medieval Academy of America conference. Dozens of panels, workshops, and lectures about the Middle Ages will convene, many led by Penn faculty.
Championing scientifically driven energy policy
amy chu smiles while adjusting a knob on a metal piece of lab equipment

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.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Cells use sugars to communicate at the molecular level
Illustraion showing Percec cell morphology

Cells use sugars to communicate at the molecular level

A recent study reveals the chemistry behind cellular communication using a new method that holds promise for future applications ranging from materials science to nanomedicine.

Erica K. Brockmeier , Erica K. Brockmeier

A tour of the ancient world—in Mandarin
Susan Radov leads a tour of the China Gallery with sculptures in the background Susan Radov, an undergraduate cultural anthropology student, leads a tour of the China Gallery at Penn Museum.

A tour of the ancient world—in Mandarin

The Penn Museum offers tours of its exhibits in Mandarin, increasing cross-cultural access to its invaluable assemblage of objects on display, the only known museum in Philadelphia with regularly scheduled tours in the language.
From urban renewal to today, tracking the struggles of America’s cities
Penn history professor Brent Cebul working with students on wall maps.

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.

Gwyneth K. Shaw

Treasures revealed
Librarian standing behind museum display case holding several books and illustrations.

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.