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On Galápagos beaches, human presence conclusively affects sea lions
Person standing outside on a rocky beach holding a clipboard and wearing a t-shirt that reads "Penn." Three sea lions lay on the beach at the front of the photo.

Twice a week between June and December of 2017 and 2018, local Galapagueño students observed sea lion behavior at four local beaches. The community scientists assessed how frequently the animals growled, barked, and moved toward the observer, as well as conducted an overall census of the animals. (Pre-pandemic image: Courtesy Michael Weisberg)

On Galápagos beaches, human presence conclusively affects sea lions

Penn researchers, in conjunction with Galapagueño high school students, found that on more crowded beaches, the endangered animals are less aggressive to people.

Michele W. Berger

Seven ways to be green at home
A photos of bunches of peanuts with soil and leaves in view.

Ellen Iwamoto, director of research support services at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, was an avid gardener pre-pandemic. She decided to try kitchen scrap gardening, as well as growing some peanuts (seen here). (Image: Courtesy Ellen Iwamoto)

Seven ways to be green at home

Eco-Reps across Penn offer sustainability tips to save money, help the environment, and consume less during the holidays.

Michele W. Berger

Gers and the grid: Combatting air pollution in Mongolia
Two people standing beside a Mongolian ger on a hill with Ulaanbaatar in the background.

(Pre-pandemic image) Weitzman’s Stephanie Carlisle with GerHub’s Uurtsaikh Sangi seen conducting interviews with residents in the Ger District in Ulaanbaatar. (Image: The Weitzman School)

Gers and the grid: Combatting air pollution in Mongolia

The Center for Environmental Building and Design (CEBD) at The Weitzman School partnered with Mongolian nonprofit GerHub to test out ways of making ger living more energy efficient to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory conditions in Ulaanbaatar.

From the Weitzman School of Design

Why Joe Biden should trade his buildings plan for a Green New Deal
Gizmodo

Why Joe Biden should trade his buildings plan for a Green New Deal

Billy Fleming of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design spoke about Joseph Biden’s plans to weatherize American homes. “I can’t help but oscillate between despair and frustration with the lack of imagination and ambition in this plan,” said Fleming. “Sure, take care of the low-hanging fruit that Presidents Clinton and Obama left for you on climate. Then, for all our sakes, think about extending your grasp an inch or two higher.”

Hydrogen fuel could revolutionize airlines. Here’s how that could look
Los Angeles Times

Hydrogen fuel could revolutionize airlines. Here’s how that could look

Megan Ryerson of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design advocated for the use of alternative fuels, like hydrogen, in the airline industry. “Without [alternatives], we either have to stop flying or make drastic cuts in other sectors,” she said.

Latin American Green New Deal
Two workers labor in an industrial site

Workers labor inside the lithium plant at Llipi, on the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia. (Image: Tom Perreault, pre-pandemic.)

Latin American Green New Deal

Daniel Aldana Cohen, an assistant professor of sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences, organized and moderated an event on the Latin American Green New Deal, rethinking recession recovery and carbon emissions reduction.

Kristina García

A farm for the community
lila watering plants

A farm for the community

The Food and Wellness Collaborative, which emerged from the ‘Your Big Idea’ competition, has turned an expanse of turf into a productive growing space.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Architecture’s William Braham on energy, carbon, and buildings for the future
Philadelphia rowhouse roofs with solar panels in foreground and city skyline in background.

Architecture’s William Braham on energy, carbon, and buildings for the future

For Climate Week 2020, The Weitzman School speaks with Braham about Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, and what he’s learned about the build environment and its carbon footprint over time.

From the Weitzman School of Design

Can Galápagos businesses be eco-friendly and profitable at once?
turtle in the sand in galapagos

Can Galápagos businesses be eco-friendly and profitable at once?

In an effort to try for this, a group of Penn undergrads led by doctoral student Jesse Hamilton partnered with five small enterprises on the islands. Even amidst a global pandemic and local civil unrest, the pilot was a success.

Michele W. Berger