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The ignorance of blackface
abstract faces rendered in bold patterns and colors

The ignorance of blackface

Historian Mia Bay discusses the history of blackface, its intent, and why it is still occurring in the 21st century.
The ‘off’ button that lets plants make flowers
Scanning electron microscope image of plant parts. Main image is covered in spikes, smaller one looks smoother and less complex.

AA 10-day-old Arabidopsis seedling displayed no defect in forming new organs (main image), unless they lacked the key genes MP, ETT, and ARF4. In that case, a small stubby plant (inset) that cannot form new organs is the result. (Image: Wagner lab)

The ‘off’ button that lets plants make flowers

Flowers aren’t just pretty to look at; without them, plants couldn’t reproduce. Investigating the critical process of flower formation in plants, School of Arts and Sciences biologist Doris Wagner and colleagues discovered how a key gene is shut off in order for blooms to form. “Identity is not just what you are; it’s what you aren’t,” she says.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Penn sophomore wins an Oscar
Claire Sliney at the Academy Awards

Penn sophomore wins an Oscar

Claire Sliney is an executive producer of the short documentary “Period. End of Sentence.” that won an Academy Award on February 24.
The times and life of W.E.B. Du Bois at Penn
W.E.B. Du Bois sits at his desk in his office.

Photo courtesy: W.E.B Du Bois Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries

The times and life of W.E.B. Du Bois at Penn

In 1896, Du Bois was appointed an assistant instructor at Penn and began his investigation of the Seventh Ward of Philadelphia—research that he would turn into his groundbreaking work, “The Philadelphia Negro.”
Hands-on learning in the greenhouse
Holding a broad tropical leaf, a person speaks to students holding papers in a greenhouse.

Showing off the broad, tropical leaf of a banana plant, Samara Gray (left), greenhouse coordinator, highlights the diverse collection of the middle room of the Biology Department’s facility. During the tours, Gray and other staff point out specialized adaptations of certain plants, such as the water-conserving features of succulents, or the unusual features of carnivorous plant species.

 

 

Hands-on learning in the greenhouse

A revamped lesson in plant diversity added a tour of the campus greenhouse for students in introductory biology courses. Greenhouse coordinator Samara Gray worked with Linda Robinson and Karl Siegert to enhance the curriculum, incorporating lessons about plant biology and taxonomy that rely on the wide range of specimens present.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Penn announces eight 2019 Thouron Award winners
Composite photo showing each of the award winners

The Penn 2019 Thouron Scholars include seven undergraduates and one 2018 graduate. Top row, from left: Sona Dadhania, Nicholas Escobar, Nick Joyner, Carson Kahoe. Bottom row, from left: Ryan Leone, Krishna Patel, Libby Rockaway, Hannah Sweeney.

Penn announces eight 2019 Thouron Award winners

Seven University of Pennsylvania seniors and a 2018 graduate have each won a Thouron Award to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom.
Eleventh state enacts law to protect victims of child sex abuse
Woman in a red jacket standing at a podium with two microphones.

Marci Hamilton, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program professor of practice, speaking on behalf of the Child Victims Act. (Photo: Courtesy of Marci Hamilton)

Eleventh state enacts law to protect victims of child sex abuse

Marci Hamilton, a professor of practice and founder and CEO of the nonprofit think tank CHILD USA, helped draft the original New York legislation more than 15 years ago and has been working ever since to push it through.

Michele W. Berger

Documenting refugees
Six people sitting on a stage during discussion.

A documentary film by Penn junior Sonari Chidi,“Shattering Refuge,” premiered at Penn, followed by a panel discussion at Perry World House on the depiction of refugees and immigrants in the media. From right, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Michel Gabaudan, Chidi, Sozi Tulante, Fatemeh Shams, and Emma Restrepo. 

Documenting refugees

A documentary film by Penn junior Sonari Chidi and a panel discussion at Perry World House focused on the depiction of refugees and immigrants in the media.
Oscar insights
Meta Mazaj speaking at podium.

Global cinema is the focus of Mazaj’s research.  

Oscar insights

At the Lightbulb Cafe, cinema studies senior lecturer Meta Mazaj speaks about the globalization of cinema and her Oscar picks in anticipation of the 91st Academy Awards.
Two Penn faculty named 2019 Sloan Research Fellows
head shots of Jessica Anna and Davi Maximo

Chemist Jessica Anna and mathematician Davi Maximo are being recognized for their work that marks them as the next generation of scientific leaders. 

Two Penn faculty named 2019 Sloan Research Fellows

Jessica Anna and Davi Maximo of the School of Arts and Sciences are among the 126 recipients of this year’s Sloan Research Fellowships, which recognize early-career researchers and scholars in North America. Each will receive a two-year, $70,000 Fellowship for research.

Erica K. Brockmeier