Coronavirus or COVID? A glossary to help navigate pandemic vocabulary Coronavirus or COVID? A glossary to help navigate pandemic vocabulary As scientific jargon and new words become prevalent in headlines, social media, and everyday conversations, Penn Today provides key definitions and context for making sense of COVID-19.
Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Alum Kate Panzer had just a little experience sewing before she began making the clear-fronted masks. “I’ve learned so much about sewing,” she says. “People across the world have pulled out their sewing machines to provide this resource.” (Image: Courtesy Kate Panzer) Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Clear-fronted face masks, better and more frequent interpreters, and amped up involvement from local organizations have made a big difference during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Side Gigs for Good during COVID-19 Side Gigs for Good during COVID-19 Whether making masks, writing letters, raising funds, or shopping for neighbors, members of the Penn community have stepped up during the pandemic to support those in need.
Negative financial shock increases loneliness in older adults Negative financial shock increases loneliness in older adults The conclusions hold even after accounting for changes in chronic health conditions and functional limitations, religious service attendance, and relationship strain.
At home, but still engaged with STEM classes At home, but still engaged with STEM classes While instructional laboratories on campus are closed, students, faculty, and instructors are finding creative solutions for science, math, and engineering courses and projects.
Gaze and pupil dilation can reveal a decision before it’s made Penn Integrates Knowledge professor Michael Platt holds appointments in the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts & Sciences, the Department of Neuroscience in the Perelman School of Medicine, and the Marketing Department in the Wharton School. Gaze and pupil dilation can reveal a decision before it’s made These two biomarkers may offer clues into the underlying biological processes at play in decision making, according to research from neuroscientist Michael Platt.
Virtual vet app wins Penn Wharton Startup Challenge Virtual vet app wins Penn Wharton Startup Challenge Penn Wharton Startup Challenge Competition winner My Virtual Veterinarian, a virtual veterinary portal for pet owners, makes it possible for pets to receive the care they need, when they need it.
Coming together to solve the many scientific mysteries of COVID-19 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (purple), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. (Image: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH) Coming together to solve the many scientific mysteries of COVID-19 Putting some of their regular research projects on the back burner, researchers around Penn are digging into unknowns about the novel coronavirus from their deep and varied perspectives.
Language in tweets offers insight into community-level well-being Lyle Ungar, a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and one of the principal investigators of the World Well-Being Project, which has spent more than half a decade working on ways to grasp the emotional satisfaction and happiness of specific places. Q&A Language in tweets offers insight into community-level well-being In a Q&A, researcher Lyle Ungar discusses why counties that frequently use words like ‘love’ aren’t necessarily happier, plus how techniques from this work led to a real-time COVID-19 wellness map.
Supporting agriculture and a safe food supply In pre-Covid-19 times, the Marshak Dairy at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center was a place for teaching as well as research. Now an essential crew of workers remain to care for the cows, as other veterinarians in the School continue to care for livestock around the region. (Credit: Penn Vet) Supporting agriculture and a safe food supply Essential workers in the School of Veterinary Medicine are caring for livestock, keeping track of disease, ensuring product consistency, and communicating with farmers to ensure that farms can continue providing a reliable food supply for the community.