5/25
Erica K. Brockmeier
Science News Officer
ekbrock@upenn.edu
Computer Science
PIK Professor Kevin Johnson named University Professor
PIK Professor Kevin Johnson named University Professor
Kevin Johnson, who has appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and a secondary appointment in the Annenberg School for Communication, will become the David L. Cohen University Professor.
Social media bots may appear human, but their similar personalities give them away
Social media bots may appear human, but their similar personalities give them away
A new engineering study examines how social media bots disguise themselves to interact with genuine accounts on social media platforms, while suggesting a new strategy for how to detect them.
Reported anger, sadness, depression, and anxiety spiked after George Floyd killing
Reported anger, sadness, depression, and anxiety spiked after George Floyd killing
The police killing of George Floyd took an unprecedented toll on the emotional and mental health of Black Americans, according to a new study by LDI senior fellow Sharath Guntuku.
Xunjing Wu on a mid-career switch to computer science
Xunjing Wu on a mid-career switch to computer science
Penn’s Online Master of Computer and Information Technology degree allows professionals like Wu the opportunity to switch careers without restarting their education from the beginning.
New engineering approaches to address unmet oral health needs
New engineering approaches to address unmet oral health needs
With a new NIH training grant, awards, and new faculty and publications, the recently launched Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry is leveraging technological advancements to improve oral health.
The pioneering career of Norman Badler
The pioneering career of Norman Badler
The computer and information sciences professor retired in June. He chats about his recent ACM SIGGRAPH election and his expansive computer graphics path.
The multilayered challenges of broadband expansion
The multilayered challenges of broadband expansion
Penn professors identify the challenges ahead for expanding broadband access to people who need it, in areas both rural and urban.
Studying plants from 400 miles up
Studying plants from 400 miles up
Using remote sensing data, senior Paul Lin looked for signals of climate change in the grasslands of the Great Plains.
From insightful courses to traveling and teaching, reflecting on Penn’s ‘unending opportunities’
Hyacinthe Uwizera came to Penn with an interest in science and engineering. During the past four years, she’s also fostered an interest in Africana studies and discovered a passion for traveling and teaching.
Four Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Four Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Sciences
The new members of the Academy, honored scholars recognized for their unique and ongoing contributions to original research, include researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Annenberg School for Communication.
Media Contact
In the News
The New York Times
Ty Haney is doing things differently this time
Kevin Werbach of the Wharton School said “web3,” a block-chain-centered iteration of the internet, won’t be as democratized or utopian as some believe. “There’s a web3 that’s out there which is wonderful and trying to make the world a better place, but just by labeling something web3, it doesn’t mean power dynamics will magically reverse,” Werbach said.
FULL STORY →
Wired
Now that machines can learn, can they unlearn?
Aaron Roth of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about his research on machine unlearning, which seeks to answer the question, “Can we remove all influence of someone’s data when they ask to delete it but avoid the full cost of retraining from scratch?”
FULL STORY →
KYW Newsradio (Philadelphia)
The first computer is turning 75 in Philadelphia: 'ENIAC set the stage for everything'
Penn is celebrating the 75th anniversary of ENIAC, an early computer, with a week of virtual presentations and roundtable discussions.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Inquirer
Made in Philadelphia, the ‘first modern computer’ is celebrated on 75th anniversary
Seventy-five years ago, the first all-electronic programmable computer was unveiled at Penn. This year, a weeklong series of events celebrates the men and women that made it possible.
FULL STORY →
U.S. News & World Report
The AI revolution: For patients, promise and challenges ahead
Ravi Parikh of the Perelman School of Medicine said the use of machine learning in health care can be a double-edged sword. "Even though you might have an AI that's accurate on the whole, if it's mischaracterizing an outcome for a specific group of patients you really have to question whether it's worth it," he said.
FULL STORY →
CNBC
These iPhone apps know how you’ll spend and save money—even before you do
Mauro Guillén of the Wharton School weighed in on personal finance apps for smartphones. “With digital technology, the possibilities expand,” he said. “I think we’re just seeing the beginning.”
FULL STORY →