Penn Integrates Knowledge Professors

Landmark gift endows Penn Integrates Knowledge Professorship in honor of Amy Gutmann

A $5 million commitment from James S. and Gail Petty Riepe will endow a new PIK Professorship in recognition of Dr. Gutmann’s distinguished tenure as Penn’s longest-serving President

Two human figures communicating via different colors, shapes, and dialog boxes.

Want to reduce political polarization? Start by looking beyond politics

New research from PIK University Professor Duncan Watts sheds light on how even hardliners can be swayed when coming in contact with opposing viewpoints.

Cover of the book "Creating conspiracy beliefs: How our thoughts are shaped" by Dolores Albarracín, Julia Albarracín, Man-pui Sally Chan, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson

A novel theory on how conspiracy theories take shape

In a new book, Dolores Albarracín, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, and colleagues show that two factors—the conservative media and societal fear and anxiety—have driven recent widespread conspiracies, from Pizzagate to those around COVID-19 vaccines.

Microsoft sets itself up as a one-stop tech shop with historic purchase of video game giant

PIK Professor Herbert Hovenkamp said Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard would likely invite antitrust challenges. “The agencies might be applying closer scrutiny given that they have been attacked for being somewhat under deterrent with respect to mergers over the last decade,” he said.

It’s time to rethink America’s pandemic strategy, experts say. Here’s what they recommend

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel advocated for a new approach to managing the pandemic that emphasizes living with the virus rather than eradicating it. The approach includes improving air filtration, mask compliance, and vaccine distribution, and developing more antiviral therapies.

Supreme Court blow to Biden vaccine mandate means more suffering, deaths and overfilled hospitals, expert says, as U.S. sets fresh COVID record

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel said a Supreme Court ruling that prevents the Biden administration from implementing vaccine-or-test mandates through OSHA was “terrible” and “a disaster for our fight against COVID.”

Penn researchers study why conspiracy theories are so believable

PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín and Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center were interviewed about “Creating Conspiracy Beliefs: How Our Thoughts Are Shaped,” a book they co-authored with Man-pui Sally Chan of the Annenberg School for Communication and Julia Albarracín of Western Illinois University.

Former Biden adviser says US won't get more than 70 percent vaccinated 'without a mandate'

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel has spoken out in favor of vaccine mandates. “Many front-line workers have died from COVID and contracting COVID in the workplace. They need protection, and ... mandating vaccination is a quite reasonable protection,” he said.

Former Biden advisers urge a pandemic strategy for the ‘new normal’

Six of the Biden administration’s former advisers, organized by PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel, are calling on the President to adopt a new domestic pandemic strategy that focuses on living alongside the virus rather than eliminating it.

A guide to the right’s unhinged conspiracy theories about Jan. 6

PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín explained why conspiracy theories persist. “For a realistic style of thinking, if there is no evidence for a belief, the lack of evidence invalidates the belief. Conspiracy theories undermine this logic and make it so that lack of evidence or evidence to the contrary proves the belief,” she said.

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