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Energy Science
Topping off the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology
A project nearly four years in the making sees new heights as the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology marks a significant milestone in its construction.
Where does charcoal come from—and is it sustainable?
Charcoal energizes everything from backyard barbecues to industrial metallurgy, but its environmental impact is worse than once thought. Research from the School of Arts & Sciences finds that policy changes could make charcoal more sustainable.
Marrying models with experiments to build more efficient solar cells
Penn chemist Andrew M. Rappe, in collaboration with former postdoc Arvin Kakekhani and researchers at Princeton University, has gained insight into how the molecular make up of solar cells can affect their properties and make them more efficient.
With school out, construction crews work in earnest
Campus may have depopulated for the summer, but construction workers have moved in to begin or accelerate work on projects both big and small. Here, an overview of what’s in progress on Penn’s campus—and beyond.
Solutions to mitigate climate change, from the IPCC
The latest assessment offers both a harsh reality check and a path forward. Experts William Braham, Peter Psarras, and Michael Mann offer their thoughts.
Talking energy at Penn
Energy Week 2022, hosted by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, runs April 4-8. It includes student presentations, along with conversations about renewables, energy and the war in Ukraine, and much more.
Four takeaways from the IPCC’s report on climate adaptation and vulnerability
The assessment gets explicit about the effect of climate change on people, places, and ecosystems. Experts from Penn weigh in on what it means.
An investment in energy and sustainability ‘for the survival of humanity’
Significant new support for research and hires will bolster Penn’s existing strengths in developing the energy and sustainability solutions of the future.
Four things to know about the latest IPCC climate report
The assessment describes ‘unequivocal’ human influence that no doubt caused ‘widespread and rapid changes’ to the atmosphere, oceans, and more. Professors Mark Alan Hughes and Michael Weisberg discuss the findings, plus how we can avoid passing the point of no return.
Penn Engineering’s ENIAD sets new world record for energy-efficient supercomputing
ENIAD, named after ENIAC, the world’s first digital computer, which was developed at Penn 75 years ago, took the top spot among a list of 500 of the most energy-efficient supercomputers reported in the world.
In the News
From the U.N. climate conference, advice for Philly as it adapts to global warming
A delegation of Penn students, researchers, and faculty who attended the COP27 climate conference offer their ideas for how Philadelphia officials can work to make the goals of the Paris Agreement a reality.
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Facing climate change: action and optimism
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences appears on “Radio Times” to share his climate optimism while reiterating the need for urgent action.
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Will the Amazon rainforest’s chances improve with Brazil’s new leader?
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses the importance of the Amazon rain forest and its potential preservation under Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
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Climate questions: Does what I do matter?
Michael E. Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that individual citizens should minimize their carbon footprints but that true change can only be enacted at the systemic level with pressure on policymakers.
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In court, the Maryland Public Service Commission quotes climate deniers and claims there’s no such thing as ‘clean’ energy
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that climate change deniers are shifting towards the promotion of false solutions like natural gas as outright denial becomes untenable.
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Cop27 climate summit: Window for avoiding catastrophe is closing fast
Michael E. Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that many impacts of climate change are playing out faster than predicted, despite the warming itself being in line with model projections.
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