10.21
Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
‘NewsFeed Defenders’ teaches students how to spot misinformation
The Annenberg Public Policy Center, home of FactCheck.org and Annenberg Classroom, and iCivics, the education nonprofit founded by Sandra Day O’Connor, have released NewsFeed Defenders, a new online game designed to teach media literacy and help students and adults better understand what news is and how to avoid being deceived by misinformation.
An informative study of information
A new report from The Lenfest Institue and the Annenberg School for Communications that studied how Philadelphia residents receive and seek information outlines seven ways publishers and the media outlets can best reach residents.
A new take on the 19th-century skull collection of Samuel Morton
After unearthing and analyzing handwritten documentation from scientist Samuel Morton, doctoral candidate Paul Wolff Mitchell drew a new conclusion about the infamous 19th-century collection: Though Morton accurately measured the brain size of hundreds of human skulls, racist bias still plagued his science.
PennDesign studios tackle disaster recovery planning in Puerto Rico
To begin planning hurricane disaster recovery for Puerto Rico, PennDesign faculty members recognize that the disaster began unfolding long before hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall.
A study in black and white
The Arthur Ross Gallery’s current exhibition features 58 linocut prints by South African artist William Kentridge. Created with black ink on type-filled dictionary pages, the prints depict objects that are iconic in the artist’s work, including coffee pots, typewriters, trees, birds, and cats. The exhibit is on display through Nov. 11.
Exploring Shakespearian times in London
During an intensive interdisciplinary five-week course this summer, undergraduate students traveled to the heart of Elizabethan theater to gain an in-depth appreciation for the works of William Shakespeare where it all began.
Invisible partners: Recovering relationships in early anthropological research
Margaret Bruchac, an assistant professor of anthropology, examines the social relationships between early 20th-century anthropological collectors and Indigenous collaborators.
Annenberg brings premiere performances to Philadelphia in new season
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2018-19 season with contemporary new work and artists, focusing on themes of the human experience, migration and history.
How do stereotypes affect what people think is fair?
Stereotypes systematically affect what people think is fair, according to new research from psychologist Anna Jenkins. The findings make it possible to predict how people will treat members of different social groups.
Is ‘Democracy in Trouble?’
“Democracy in Trouble?” is the focus of a year’s worth of programming at the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy. Its 2018-19 Speaker Series examines and counters trends regarding the ongoing threats to democracy in the United States and around the world.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test: How reliable is it? A Penn prof explains
Theodore Schurr of the School of Arts and Sciences said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s genetic analysis, which used indigenous DNA samples from Peru, Mexico, and Colombia as reference points, was legitimate due to historical migration patterns.
FULL STORY →
“Morning Joe,” MSNBC
Did link between Russian bank, Trump campaign exist?
The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Kathleen Hall Jamieson joined a panel of experts on “Morning Joe” for a discussion about allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. She identified “trolls, hackers, and disinformation to [James] Comey” as major factors in Trump’s win.
FULL STORY →
The Atlantic
Lindsey Graham doesn’t want a primary
In an article by Dick Polman, writer in residence in the School of Arts and Sciences, Brian Rosenwald of the Fox Leadership Program was cited for his political expertise. Lindsey Graham “knows that infuriating the left and the media really poses no risk, given the nature of his state,” said Rosenwald.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Inquirer
This prominent Penn prof didn’t believe Russia got Trump elected. Here’s what changed her mind
The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Kathleen Hall Jamieson was featured for her new book, “Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President.” Though she had initially been “actively skeptical,” Jamieson said, she eventually concluded that the data clearly supported claims of Russian meddling.
FULL STORY →
The Washington Post
1 in 6 older black people have been homeless at some point in their life, study finds
Research from Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice suggests that baby boomers experienced higher rates of homelessness than other generations, though it was unclear how the rates among post-boomer generations were affected by the mortgage crisis of the mid-2000s.
FULL STORY →