Social Sciences | Penn Today

An illustration of the Philadelphia Gas works complex in 1890

Exploring Philadelphia’s petrochemical past

Penn historian Jared Farmer recently launched a website about Philadelphia’s fossil fuel economy to help students and residents learn about the local past in larger context.

2 min. read

New white paper analyzes US vaccine safety monitoring system and suggests improvements

To facilitate understanding how the U.S. monitors vaccine safety, biostatistician professor Jeffrey S. Morris authored a new Annenberg Public Policy Center white paper, “The Complementary Components of the U.S. Vaccine Safety Monitoring System,” which analyzes how FDA researchers determine whether a vaccine has resulted in the death of a vaccine recipient.

Mia McElhatton: How climate change affects migration

Fourth-year philosophy major Mia McElhatton is investigating the effects of climate change on how people move from place to place.

2 min. read

Three people sitting at front of room with slideshow behind them.

Breaking down misconceptions on unconditional cash programs

As part of the Politics of Well-Being series, associate professors Amy Castro and Ioana Marinescu shared findings from their research on guaranteed income and universal basic income.

3 min. read

Guide for parents of adolescents with autism published by Oxford

Oxford University Press has published the new book “If Your Adolescent Has Autism: An Essential Resource for Parents,” the latest in a series overseen by Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center for parents of teens who have been diagnosed with a variety of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder.

Buddhism behind bars

Kirby Sokolow, a School of Arts & Sciences Ph.D. candidate in religious studies, wants to challenge stereotypes around incarceration and religion.

2 min. read

Although public overwhelmingly supports hepatitis B vaccine for a newborn, partisan differences exist

A new survey from Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that more than three quarters of Americans surveyed would be either very or somewhat likely to recommend that a newborn in their household be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Addressing post-separation abuse

Jennifer J. Prah of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses recommended reforms to address abuse that continues after women leave their abusive partners.

2 min. read

Gareth Nellis named director of Penn’s Center for the Advanced Study of India

Nellis has been named the new director of the Center for the Advanced Study of India, and associate professor of political science, and will hold the Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary India, effective July 2026.

Analyzing feminism and traditional gender roles on social media

In a new paper, Annenberg School for Communication Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser and doctoral student Sara Reinis analyze popular “tradwife” social media accounts, which embrace traditional gender roles and the rejection of “the rejection of hustle culture.”

2 min. read

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Exploring Philadelphia’s petrochemical past

New white paper analyzes US vaccine safety monitoring system and suggests improvements

Mia McElhatton: How climate change affects migration

Breaking down misconceptions on unconditional cash programs

Guide for parents of adolescents with autism published by Oxford

Buddhism behind bars

Although public overwhelmingly supports hepatitis B vaccine for a newborn, partisan differences exist

Addressing post-separation abuse

Gareth Nellis named director of Penn’s Center for the Advanced Study of India

Analyzing feminism and traditional gender roles on social media