Q&A

The history behind International Women’s Day

Kristen R. Ghodsee, professor of Russian and East European studies, talks to Penn Today about the global holiday’s history, and why America has been late to embrace it.

Kristen de Groot

Tales of bringing the dead back to life

Meet Vikram Paralkar, an oncologist at Penn Medicine who has received extraordinary attention for his new fiction novel, “Night Theater,” a story where a surgeon is asked to bring the dead back to life.

Dee Patel

Demystifying feline behavior

Carlo Siracusa and James Serpell of the School of Veterinary Medicine contextualize recent findings in cat behavior science, debunk some cat-related myths, and explain why our kitties are not just “low-maintenance dogs.”

Katherine Unger Baillie

International film and the Oscars

Cinema & Media Studies Senior Lecturer Meta Mazaj describes Hollywood's traditional attitude toward international films and the chances of Korean film “Parasite” winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Brandon Baker

The future of innovation in consumer technology

Wharton’s David Hsu discusses what the recent Consumer Electronics Show says about the consumer technology landscape and what innovations will become prevalent in the future.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Battling longer, more intense fire seasons

In a Q&A, doctoral student Clare Super describes her research into wildland firefighting, the impact on firefighters, U.S. policy around wildfires, and parallels to what’s happening in Australia.

Michele W. Berger

A history of U.S.-Iran relations

John Ghazvinian, interim director of the Middle East Center and an expert on Iran/U.S. relations, talks about the countries’ historical relationship and what led to the current situation.

Kristen de Groot



In the News


Philadelphia Inquirer

Back at Penn, former president Amy Gutmann reflects on ambassadorship and where she is now: ‘I feel very free’

In a Q&A, Amy Gutmann discusses her life post-Penn presidency and ambassadorship, including her return to campus for the christening of Amy Gutmann Hall.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Former Penn president Judith Rodin on the changing relationship between business and universities

In a Q&A, former Penn President Judith Rodin discusses her current role advising the Bellwether District, which seeks to reinvent two square miles of former oil refineries in South and Southwest Philly, and the rapid changes in business-academic relations throughout her career.

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Forbes India

Life is not a series of linear stages defined by age: Mauro F Guillen

In a Q&A, Mauro F. Guillén of the Wharton School discusses his latest book, “The Perennials,” which outlines the shaping of a post-generational society and its implications for businesses, governments, and society at large.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

The Biden administration is trying to make it easier to convert offices to apartments post-pandemic

In a Q&A, Vincent Reina of the Weitzman School of Design discusses a new White House initiative to incentivize commercial-to-residential conversion projects, especially as the office market continues to struggle.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Lab tests and scans interpreted by AI? These Penn doctors are researching the good—and bad—ways to use AI in health care

In a Q&A, Samiran Mukherjee of the Perelman School of Medicine discusses the potential ways that AI can benefit health care professionals and patients.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

A CHOP pediatrician shares how she talks to patients—and her own kids—about pedestrian safety

In a Q&A, Katie Lockwood of the Perelman School of Medicine explains when and how to teach children about pedestrian safety.

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