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Q&A

The world according to Walter Palmer
Wearing a suit and tie, Walter Palmer stands outside of Penn's School of Social Policy and Practice with his hands in his pockets.

The world according to Walter Palmer

The educator, organizer, and alumnus discusses his six decades of activism, growing up in the Black Bottom, studying and teaching at Penn, his work at CHOP, the student strike of 1967, the Vietnam War, Frank Rizzo, Donald Trump, school choice, gun violence, the Chauvin trial, and why he thinks racism should be declared a national public health crisis.
A link between gun violence on TV and firearm deaths
A hand holding a television remote, pointed at a blurry TV straight ahead. On the TV are many colored boxes signifying many show options.

A link between gun violence on TV and firearm deaths

Research from Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Daniel Romer and Patrick E. Jamieson found that gun use on television doubled from 2000 to 2018, rising in parallel with the proportion of homicides from firearms in the U.S. during the same period.

Michele W. Berger , Michael Rozansky

A ‘human-focused approach’ to sustainability
Nina Morris against the backdrop of an urban farm

Nina Morris, Penn's sustainability director, hopes to engage more members of the campus community by “meeting people where they are, showing up to support them and their interests, and then finding out how their passions connect to sustainability.”

A ‘human-focused approach’ to sustainability

Sustainability Director Nina Morris, who started at Penn in October, aims to build on the University’s strengths in creating a more sustainable campus and community.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Penn’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions within the endowment
Facade of a Penn Campus building from the ground view with a blue sky.

Penn’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions within the endowment

Penn’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions within the endowment. The Office of Investments has established the goal of reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions from Penn’s endowment investments to zero by 2050.

Dee Patel

Exploring the future of higher education
A masked student looks up while working on a laptop

A new book, "Higher Education's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," looks to build a more resilient and just education system. 

Exploring the future of higher education

A new book co-edited by the Netter Center’s Ira Harkavy considers the various responses of universities to the pandemic, with the goal of building more sustainable and democratic societies.

Kristina García

Alumna Jessica Vaughn examines workplace space and culture in ICA solo exhibition
Artist standing in gallery in front of an illustration painted on the wall of people running a race

Artist and Weitzman School of Design alumna Jessica Vaughn examines the spaces, architecture, and cultures of the American workplace her first major solo exhibition, now on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Alumna Jessica Vaughn examines workplace space and culture in ICA solo exhibition

Artist and Weitzman School of Design alumna Jessica Vaughn examines the spaces and culture of the American workplace in her first major solo exhibition, now on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Working at the intersection of data science and public policy
an aerial view of city streets at night

Working at the intersection of data science and public policy

Ken Steif’s new book, “Public Policy Analytics: Code & Context for Data Science in Government,” available online and in print, provides guidance for how governments and policymakers can use data and algorithms to solve complex service-delivery problems.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Young and middle-age adults in the U.S. dying at higher rates
An image with four maps of the U.S. shaded in different colors, with the text "Males" and "Females" up top. Below the first two maps reads "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 25-44) 1990-92 to 2015-17" and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population." Below the bottom two maps reads, "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 45-64) 1990-92 to 2015-17"  and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population."

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reveals some new trends about working-age adults in the U.S., including what Penn’s Irma Elo considered the most disturbing: Increased mortality among 25- to 44-year-olds from cardiometabolic disease.

Young and middle-age adults in the U.S. dying at higher rates

According to a new National Academies report, cardiometabolic conditions now join drug overdoses, alcohol, and suicide as significant mortality causes. In a Q&A, demographer Irma Elo explains.

Michele W. Berger

What’s all the buzz about Bitcoin?
 picture of coins with the letter "B" on it and computer chip

What’s all the buzz about Bitcoin?

What’s all the buzz about Bitcoin? Mauro Guillén, a professor of international management at the Wharton School answers the questions surrounding the sudden interest.

Dee Patel