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Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
Amy Offner traces the roots of neoliberalism in Latin America
Amy Offner traces the roots of neoliberalism in Latin America
Decades of negative media attention have reinforced Colombia’s reputation as a violent region controlled by drug cartels. Amy Offner views the nation through a much different lens.
Nuclear weapons in an age of emerging technologies
Nuclear weapons in an age of emerging technologies
As part of a weeklong residency at Perry World House, Nobel Peace Prize winner Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, spoke on the impact artificial intelligence and other technologies have on nuclear risk.
How India and Bangladesh respond to rising seas
How India and Bangladesh respond to rising seas
Raka Sen, a doctoral candidate in sociology, studies how inhabitants of the Sundarbans region react to climate change.
Philadelphia looks to evidence-based insights to inform policy
Philadelphia looks to evidence-based insights to inform policy
A conference bringing academics and policy makers together looks at how behavioral science can benefit local government.
FDA’s policy change on flavored e-cigarettes
FDA’s policy change on flavored e-cigarettes
After months of considering a complete ban on flavored electronic cigarettes, a new policy announced on Jan. 2 will forbid the sale of some, but not all, flavored vapes.
A unique fellowship for Middle Eastern languages
A unique fellowship for Middle Eastern languages
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Foreign Language and Area Studies Program (FLAS) offers undergraduate and graduate-level academic year and summer fellowships to Penn students studying Middle Eastern languages.
Do DIY DNA kits revive a harmful perceived link between genetics and race?
Do DIY DNA kits revive a harmful perceived link between genetics and race?
Research from sociologist Wendy Roth reveals that on average, these tests don’t reinforce the idea of essentialism, but how much participants know about genetics going in matters.
A look back into humanity’s collective history, through religious rituals and practices
A look back into humanity’s collective history, through religious rituals and practices
In a Q&A, psychology doctoral student David Yaden describes his new book, which touches on traditions from Hinduism, Buddhism, and 11 other religions.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson honored with National Academy of Sciences award
Kathleen Hall Jamieson honored with National Academy of Sciences award
The award recognizes Jamison for her “nonpartisan crusade to ensure the integrity of facts.”
Susan Rice talks ‘Tough Love,’ career in government
Susan Rice talks ‘Tough Love,’ career in government
Susan Rice, the former national security adviser and United Nations ambassador, spoke with Provost Wendell Pritchett about her new book and her time in the Clinton and Obama administrations
In the News
The Washington Post
Trump’s sarcastic response to Mitt Romney’s negative test for coronavirus follows years of bad blood
Claire Finkelstein of the Law School commented on President Trump’s negative reaction to Mitt Romney’s self-quarantine. “[Trump] would have had a moment there to unify the country around this crisis and to show his moral leadership in doing so,” she said.
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The Hill
Lessons learned in an emergency
PIK Professor Jonathan Moreno wrote about how the U.S. can apply lessons learned from the past to the coronavirus pandemic. “The country needs to reorient itself to the advantages that the U.S. military can provide in this crisis,” he wrote. “If we look at our recent history, we will find lessons that can help with tactics and strategy.”
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The Washington Post
These social policies could help the U.S. cope with the coronavirus pandemic
Julia Lynch of the School of Arts and Sciences wrote about the U.S.’s structural vulnerabilities to the effects of COVID-19 and what we can learn from other wealthy democracies about how to cope.
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The Washington Post
How can Trump fight the pandemic when he’s chasing experts out of government?
John Gans of Perry World House wrote about the administration’s removal of “disloyal” civil servants and the effect on the effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic. “This sort of purge is undermining government at a time when it is needed most,” he wrote.
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The New York Times
Fed could bolster groups of businesses and localities with funds in G.O.P. bill
Peter Conti-Brown of the Wharton School said the Federal Reserve should avoid helping specific industries with emergency funding. The banking system has a “convenient set of easy tools that allow policymakers and politicians to skip the burden of their own accountability,” said Conti-Brown. “It’s the kind of set the Fed does not want to make today—which is to pick winners and losers.”
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