7.16
Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
The role of UN ambassador, explained
The role of UN ambassador, explained
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, distinguished global leader-in-residence at Perry World House, describes the workings of the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.—and whether it matters that it’s no longer of cabinet status.
Indigenous ethnologist
Indigenous ethnologist
Gladys Tantaquidgeon, the first Native American student in Penn’s anthropology department, published a series of academic articles, authored a book on ethnobotany and accompanied the department chair as his assistant, interviewing tribes and collecting folklore.
For non-Hispanic whites in the U.S., life expectancy outlook worsens
For non-Hispanic whites in the U.S., life expectancy outlook worsens
Research from Penn demographers shows that, though trends vary regionally, mortality is increasing, particularly for women, 25- to 44-year-olds, and those in rural areas.
Immersed in poetry at the Library of Congress
Immersed in poetry at the Library of Congress
Rising junior Joyce Hida is making the most of her RealArts summer internship, working at the Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
College admissions in crisis
College admissions in crisis
Admissions Dean Eric Furda on the Varsity Blues scandal, civil litigation, and rising disgruntlement over the way elite universities select their students.
The beauty and nuances of Iceland, through a multidisciplinary lens
The beauty and nuances of Iceland, through a multidisciplinary lens
Tracing a circular path around Iceland, the students in Alain Plante’s Penn Global Seminar saw firsthand the nation’s unique geology, culture, politics, energy, people, and wildlife.
Kelly Writers House chairs are more than just a place to sit
Kelly Writers House chairs are more than just a place to sit
Even the chairs at Kelly Writers House have stories to tell. The mismatched wooden seats came from the community, intentionally given to become part of Writers House everyday history.
Social solutions to antibiotic resistance
Social solutions to antibiotic resistance
Research by sociologist Julia Szymczak of the Perelman School of Medicine is aimed at understanding, and eventually changing, behaviors that lead to the overprescribing of antibiotics.
Mary Frances Berry on the 55th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Mary Frances Berry on the 55th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Africana Studies professor Mary Frances Berry discusses the history of civil rights legislation, and where the 1964 bill fits in.
A conversation about second-generation immigrants and mortality
A conversation about second-generation immigrants and mortality
In a Q&A, Penn demographer Michel Guillot discusses recent work showing that male children of immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia have a mortality rate nearly double that of the native population in France.
In the News
NPR
“Can we change social norms?”
Cristina Bicchieri of the School of Arts and Sciences joins a philosophical discussion about the possibility of changing social norms.
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Vox.com
Everyone wants to Instagram the world’s most beautiful canyon. Should they?
Anjan Chatterjee of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the tourist appeal of photogenic sites like Antelope Canyon. “There is a beauty to the space, but it is also overwhelming in the sense that you feel small and insignificant, and almost associated with some anxiety. There’s something about being forced to look upward that seems to convey both elevation and a sense of your own smallness.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Disney cast the Little Mermaid as a black woman. Why that unnerved some is the same reason others rejoiced
Ebony Elizabeth Thomas of the Graduate School of Education discussed the casting of a black woman as Ariel in the upcoming “Little Mermaid” remake. “Whether it’s seeing people of color traveling faster than the speed of light, or as superheroes, dragons, or even mermaids, when we see ourselves in these roles, even as kids we believe we can do anything,” she said. “These images shape our minds on a subconscious level.”
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WBUR Radio (Boston)
Employers want to do more with less. Where does that leave expertise?
Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about grit and other non-IQ competencies achieved through hard work over sustained periods of time.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Not over the hill: ‘Design With Nature,’ Ian McHarg’s landmark book of ecological design turns 50
Bill Whitaker of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design spoke about Penn landscape architect Ian McHarg’s influence on ecological design and city planning. “He realized that people paid attention when you had scientific information and you had hard facts,” said Whitaker.
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