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Materials for a more sustainable future
thomas mallouk poses in a laboratory surrounded by equipment and glassware

Materials for a more sustainable future

Using a collaborative approach and their expertise in fundamental chemical research, new Chemistry Department faculty member Thomas Mallouk and his group address challenges faced by engineers and materials scientists.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Penn chemists to lead NSF-sponsored center for sustainable metals supply chains
subotnik, anna, and schelter posing in a chemistry lab wearing googles, schelter is holding a round-bottomed flask

Penn chemists to lead NSF-sponsored center for sustainable metals supply chains

The Center for Sustainable Separations of Metals will conduct research on metals recycling to reduce pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions, and energy usage while promoting political and environmental sustainability.

Erica K. Brockmeier

The chemistry behind fireworks
a massive blue an orange firework exploding over the Philadelphia skyline
  • Q&A

    • The chemistry behind fireworks

    A Q&A with inorganic chemist Eric Schelter about the chemical reactions that create explosive displays and how different metals are used to create bright and brilliant colors.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    Inside the scientific glassblower’s studio
    blowing glass in the studio

    Inside the scientific glassblower’s studio

    A glimpse inside Penn’s glass shop and how the art of scientific glassblowing makes the innovative research happening on campus possible.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    Revealing ‘hidden’ phases of matter through the power of light
    an abstract depiction of atoms moving inside a crystal structure

    A new study reveals a “hidden” phase of strontium titanate. On the left, extremely fast pulses of light excites atoms within the crystal structure (red arrows), which shifts the material into a new, ferroelectric phase. Vibrations of other atoms then work to stabilize the hidden phase (right panels). (Image: Felice Macera)

    Revealing ‘hidden’ phases of matter through the power of light

    New research shows how materials can be imbued with new chemical properties using a solid phase transition method that relies on extremely fast pulses of light.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    Community outreach inspires interest in STEM for kids
    students in a lab looking at filter paper

    Younger students learned how scientists use color to study chemical solutions, such as using red cabbage to find out if something is an acid or a base.

    Community outreach inspires interest in STEM for kids

    Graduate students and postdocs led an afternoon of hands-on science activities and fun for students grades 3-8 in the hallways and labs of Penn Chemistry.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    From the bench to bedside, boardroom, and beyond
    a person standing at the front of a full lecture hall giving a presentation

    Penn Life Sciences & Management seniors from the Trident Therapeutics team present their final capstone project to a room of more than 100 of the “who's who” of biotechnology. (Photo: Brooke Sietinsons)

    From the bench to bedside, boardroom, and beyond

    Penn’s Life Sciences & Management program empowers the next generation of biotechnology leaders with an education in both business and the natural sciences.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    Creating connections with a Nobel laureate
    students sitting around a table over lunch talking to a professor

    Penn students had the opportunity to hear about Nobel laureate Michael S. Brown’s childhood growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, stories from his time as a student at Penn, and the origins of his work that led him to winning a Nobel prize. 

    Creating connections with a Nobel laureate

    Thanks to their creative approach on a class project, a group of biochemistry students had the opportunity to get to know one of Penn Chemistry’s seven Nobel laureates.

    Erica K. Brockmeier