11/15
History
Russia’s attack on Ukraine, through the lens of history
Historian Benjamin Nathans offers background on Putin’s use of history in justifying his war in Ukraine
The now-faded walls of a medieval structure, reimagined in digital form
History of Art’s Ivan Drpić is working with sophomore Logan Cho to create 3D renderings of what once-gilded paintings on the walls of a medieval church in Serbia would have looked like.
Nixon’s China visit, 50 years later
On the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to the People’s Republic of China, David Eisenhower discusses the significance of the milestone amid the fraying relations between the two nations.
Orthodox Jews and slavery in antebellum America
School of Arts & Sciences undergraduate Samuel Strickberger investigates how 19th century Jewish migrants to the U.S. squared assimilation with the existence of slavery.
A chance to imagine memorials of tomorrow
A history course taught by Jared Farmer looks at Philadelphia’s monuments past and present, and lets students envision what future memorials may be.
Studying the past through a modern-day lens
In a Q & A, archaeologist and PIK Professor Lynn Meskell discusses her background, the subjects that interest her—from espionage to World Heritage sites—and collaborations that have organically arisen at Penn despite the pandemic and a mostly remote first year.
Climate change and the problem with time
Episode 7 of “In These Times” brings together an oceanographer, a geophysicist, and a historian about the challenges to understanding the Earth’s 4.6 billion year history, and how our actions in the present impact a future we can only imagine.
Riot at the U.S. Capitol, one year later
Political scientist Rogers Smith shares five things to keep in mind as the country looks back on Jan. 6, 2021, while trying to move forward.
Three historians on the future of history
David Young Kim, Sophia Rosenfeld, and Heather Andrea Williams share their thoughts on how history affects our lives, and what it means to rewrite history.
Two Penn seniors named 2022 Marshall Scholars
Kennedy Crowder and Chinaza Ruth Okonkwo have been named 2022 Marshall Scholars, among 41 chosen in the U.S. this year. Established by the British government, the Marshall Scholarship funds up to three years of study for a graduate degree in any field at an institution in the United Kingdom.
In the News
Stop treating students like babies
Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education organized an in-person 2016 discussion between Penn students and Republican students at Cairn University to foster productive conversation and find common ground.
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Presidential historian assesses Trump’s 2024 win
Mary Frances Berry of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory and upcoming second term.
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The bad politics of bad posture
In her book “Slouch,” Beth Linker of the School of Arts & Sciences outlines how societal pressures have driven huge swaths of people to embrace falsehoods about posture.
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Time will tell if Kamala Harris made the right choice by picking Tim Walz
In an opinion essay, Brian Rosenwald of the School of Arts & Sciences outlines the thought process behind past picks for vice-presidential running mates.
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This should be our response to Donald Trump’s comments that ‘you won’t have to vote anymore’
In an opinion article, Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education argues that voting should be mandatory.
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The local democratic mission of HE: Lessons from the U.S.
A paper edited by Ira Harkavy and Rita A. Hodges of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships examines how urban universities can further democracy and inclusion by working with their local communities.
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