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Penn Museum
To improve climate models, an international team turns to archaeological data
To improve climate models, an international team turns to archaeological data
The project, called LandCover6k, offers a new classification system that the researchers hope will improve predictions about the planet’s future and fill in gaps about its past.
Penn Museum announces the repatriation of the Morton Cranial Collection
Penn Museum announces the repatriation of the Morton Cranial Collection
The remains of Black Philadelphians within the Samuel G. Morton Cranial collection will be repatriated or reburied, based on a report that outlined recommendations from the Morton Collection Committee.
Penn Museum interns explore jazz through family, protest, and creativity
Penn Museum interns explore jazz through family, protest, and creativity
Penn Museum interns delve into “The Year of Jazz” through a monthly series of events exploring family, protest, and creativity. Music Professor Guthrie Ramsey and his singer/songwriter daughter Bridget Ramsey headline the first event on Feb. 28.
Penn Museum series highlights ‘Black History Untold: Revolution’
Penn Museum series highlights ‘Black History Untold: Revolution’
With “Black History Untold: Revolution,” the Penn Museum’s virtual programming offers a different perspective.
Christopher Woods appointed director of Penn Museum
Christopher Woods appointed director of Penn Museum
Woods, an award-winning scholar of Near East civilizations, will begin his position on April 1, carrying on the Museum’s missions of research, teaching, and public outreach.
Penn Museum awarded National Endowment for the Humanities grant
Penn Museum awarded National Endowment for the Humanities grant
The Penn Museum has been awarded a $750,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.The grant will help catalyze fundraising for the renovation of the Museum’s Egyptian Wing, part of its major Building Transformation project.
Lynn Meskell appointed Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor
Lynn Meskell appointed Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor
The world-renowned archaeologist has joint appointments in the Department of Anthropology, the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation and the Department of City and Regional Planning, and the Penn Museum as a curator in both the Asian and Near East sections.
‘Living with the Sea’
‘Living with the Sea’
A student-led exhibition at the Penn Museum features objects from the rarely seen Oceanian collection.
Southeast Asian megadrought dating back 5,000 years discovered in Laos cave
Southeast Asian megadrought dating back 5,000 years discovered in Laos cave
In a Q&A, Penn archaeologist Joyce White discusses the partnership with paleoclimatologists that led to the finding, plus possible implications of such a dramatic climate change for societies at that time.
Celebrate the arts, history, and nature from home
Celebrate the arts, history, and nature from home
While Penn’s arts and culture centers remain closed, they are still finding ways to sustain connections through online collections and programs.
In the News
The Wall Street Journal
‘Invisible Beauty: The Art of Archaeological Science’ review: More than meets the eye
A Penn Museum exhibition featuring scientific images of ancient artifacts was reviewed.
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Philadelphia Business Journal
Penn Museum appoints first diversity liaison in effort to strengthen community relations
The Penn Museum has appointed Muriel Patricia Clifford as the institution’s first diversity liaison. Clifford will lead community outreach strategies, serve on the Museum’s diversity committee, and develop public programming.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn Museum has hired its first Black director, who pivoted from physics to antiquities
The Museum’s new director, Christopher Woods, was interviewed about his journey to Penn and how he plans to address challenges faced by the institution.
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Philadelphia Business Journal
Penn Museum names new director at 'pivotal moment' for the institution
Christopher Woods has been named director of the Penn Museum, effective April 1.
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“All Things Considered,” National Public Radio
Refugee docents help bring a museum’s global collection to life
Ellen Owens, Julian Siggers, and Kevin Schott of the Museum were interviewed about the Global Guides program, which hires refugees and immigrants to work as docents. “We really wanted to have the narratives of lots of different people, to bring the authentic voices of people that live in other places into the galleries of the museum,” said Owens.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Return of the Rat: Chinese lunar new year honors the trickster
Haibin Wechsler of the Museum spoke about 2020 being the Year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac calendar. “A lot of famous writers are rats,” Wechsler said. “Shakespeare is a rat. Truman Capote is a rat. Charlotte Bronte is also a rat.”
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