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Religious Studies

An affirmation tree grows on campus
Elana Burack hangs cards on chicken wire tree Elana Burack, left, hangs an affirmation notecard, as Julia Magidson looks on from a distance.

An affirmation tree grows on campus

Through a Penn Wellness and Sachs grant, Elana Burack, a senior religious studies major, is touring the ‘Affirmation Tree’ around campus, soliciting reflections from the University community at large.
How Islamic feminism could shape gender equity
Islamic women in marketplace

How Islamic feminism could shape gender equity

Ahead of a lecture as part of the Religion and the Global Future speaker series, Assistant Professor of South Asian Religions Megan Robb discusses Islamic feminism’s potential influence on grassroots feminist movements.
Five events to watch for in February
Yellow and red ornate dragon mask used in lion dance

A demonstration of the lion dance, frequently part of Lunar New Year celebrations and a Chinese tradition that ushers in good luck. (Photo courtesy: International House Philadelphia)

Five events to watch for in February

Happening around campus and beyond this February: the annual Lunar New Year celebration at International House, a thought-provoking new speaker series on the future of religion, and an innovative story slam by nurses.
The calm before the storm in the Middle East
heather_sharkey

Heather Sharkey, a professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Photo courtesy of Omnia magazine.

 

The calm before the storm in the Middle East

In her new book, Heather Sharkey, a professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, explores Muslim, Christian, and Jewish relations in the period before World War I.

Penn Today Staff

Reclaiming a fragmented history
Cairo Geniza

Reclaiming a fragmented history

Digital humanities scholars are orchestrating an epic crowdsourcing effort to sort and transcribe handwriting on thousands of documents discarded hundreds of years ago, known as the Cairo Geniza.
Immersive trip exposes students to the complex narratives of Israel
Encompass

Immersive trip exposes students to the complex narratives of Israel

15 undergraduates took part in the inaugural Encompass fellowship, a project run by Penn Hillel, with a tour around Israel examining cultural and political sites with a focus on gaining a deeper understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lauren Hertzler

Crowd-sourced map showcases campus accessibility in real time
Mark Bookman and Alice McGrath are the co-leads on a new map accessibility project.

Mark Bookman and Alice McGrath are spearheading the new accessibility mapping of the Penn campus.

Crowd-sourced map showcases campus accessibility in real time

Mark Bookman and Alice McGrath are on a quest to map physical and social barriers across campus. The goal is a crowd-sourced platform that automatically updates to present a real-time user accessibility resource.

Michele W. Berger

Undergraduate seminar takes students to India

Undergraduate seminar takes students to India

Nearly 8,000 miles from the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in Philadelphia, eight students immersed themselves in “The Performing Arts of Modern South India” through a year-long course that included a 12-day visit to India and continues through the spring.