Social Sciences | Penn Today

Jeffrey Kallberg; Keven Bethel; Joseph Neubauer; Cherelle Parker; Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer; John MacDonald; and Beth A. Winkelstein.

Penn, Neubauer Family Foundation, and Philadelphia Police Department partner to support police leadership education

The first-of-its-kind graduate degree in the U.S. for police leaders launches this fall at the School of Arts & Sciences.

3 min. read

Americans say benefits of MMR vaccine for children outweigh risks by nearly 5-1

While many Americans know how measles can spread, most cannot accurately estimate the prevalence of complications associated with measles such as hospitalization or the risks it presents during pregnancy, according to the latest Annenberg Science and Public Health survey, which was conducted by Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center.

How the Annenberg School connected all the dots for Naima Small

The Class of 2025 communications major was drawn to studying social media and culture, how gender is portrayed online, and the role of technology in perpetuating bias. “I loved how Annenberg enabled me to not only see the diversity of ways I could use my degree, but also learn from people who had much different academic interests than me.”

2 min. read

Performer, biomedical engineer, and soon-to-be graduate

A performer and dancer, fourth-year Jordyn Harris has been a work-study student for the Platt House and managed tech for myriad student shows, while also advising engineering first-years and working as a researcher at a hospital.

5 min. read

What behavioral strategies motivate environmental action?

A collaborative study from researchers affiliated with the Annenberg School for Communication, Annenberg Public Policy Center, and School of Arts & Sciences tested 17 strategies in an “intervention tournament.”

4 min. read

For dual architecture degree candidate Kelvin Vu, design begins with the body

Master of architecture and master of landscape architecture candidate Kelvin Vu, who was a professional dancer before coming to Weitzman, says “dance and landscape design are about change, flux, and dynamism.”

2 min. read

Melissa Teixeira stands in front of a conference room speaking to students.

Exploring inflation and economics through the lens of history

In Inflationary Times, a history course from Melissa Teixeira, students grappled with big-picture concepts of debt, money, and currency across the globe and through time.

4 min. read

Generative AI can help doctors diagnose patients—but is it biased?

A new study by Annnenberg School for Communication professor Damon Centola tests if AI tools could help improve medical care without increasing bias. The findings suggest that “AI can meaningfully augment physician decision-making without introducing inequities in clinical decisions,” Centola says.

Collaborating with southern Black grandmothers to reimagine scholarship

For an Annenberg School for Communication dissertation, Staci L. Jones and four grandmother co-authors introduce the Kitchen Scholar Framework. Their work embraces knowledge that goes beyond academia.