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Social Sciences

APPC Visiting Scholar John Gastil on democracy and digital media

APPC Visiting Scholar John Gastil on democracy and digital media

Gastil, the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) distinguished sabbatical scholar in residence, has been working on a book titled “The Democracy Machine: Reimagining How We Can Govern Ourselves Online.” His sabbatical from teaching political science and communication arts and sciences at Penn State allows time to research the “potential for a strong, positive relationship between digital technology and democratic reform.”

Awareness grows of cancer risk from alcohol consumption

Awareness grows of cancer risk from alcohol consumption

Public awareness of the link between drinking alcohol and an elevated risk of cancer has grown since last fall, with more than half of Americans now saying that regularly consuming alcohol increases your chances of later developing cancer, according to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. The survey was fielded following the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on alcohol and cancer risk in January, calling for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers.

A tool that can lead to healthier lives

A tool that can lead to healthier lives

School of Social Policy & Practice’s Jennifer Prah has written a comprehensive framework that takes a worldwide approach to attaining global health goals.

From the School of Social Policy & Practice

1 min. read

‘I Will Vote’: Using future-oriented frames to motivate voters
A person affixes an I VOTED sticker to their t-shirt.

Image: kali9 via Getty Images

‘I Will Vote’: Using future-oriented frames to motivate voters

A new paper from Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center examines whether “I Voted” stickers influence people’s voting intentions, and whether different language choices in this approach to voter outreach might make a bigger impact on civic engagement.

From the Annenberg Public Policy Center

2 min. read

Christina Roberto on food labeling and system-level changes for public health
Christina Roberto.

Christina Roberto is a Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics affiliate and the Mitchell J. Blutt and Margo Krody Blutt Presidential Associate Professor of Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine.

(Image: Courtesy of CHIBE)

Christina Roberto on food labeling and system-level changes for public health

The Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics affiliate studies labeling systems to improve the choices people make with food, and argues that if health care professionals are serious about preventing nutrition-related chronic diseases, then system-level changes are necessary.

From the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics

2 min. read

Weitzman student and alum designate Penn’s oldest property to Philadelphia Historic Register

Weitzman student and alum designate Penn’s oldest property to Philadelphia Historic Register

The building that houses Penn’s Greenfield Intercultural Center has been listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, thanks to a nomination authored by Ke-An Chiang, a graduate student at Penn’s Weitzman School. Built circa 1845, the Reed-Hubley Residence, a 3-story villa at 3708-12 Chestnut Street, is believed to be the oldest building owned by Penn, outside of Hospital properties, which served several families as a suburban villa before being acquired by the University in 1982.

From the Archives: Photograph of Penn’s first female law graduate
43 people sitting and standing on the steps of College Hall

University of Pennsylvania Law School Class of 1883 group portrait on the steps of College Hall in 1883. Caroline Burnham Kilgore, the first female graduate of Penn Law is top row, center. The photo is a gift of Peter Conn of Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences.

(Image: Broadbent and Taylor, courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center)

From the Archives: Photograph of Penn’s first female law graduate

A photo in the University Archives pictures 43 members of the Penn Law School graduating class of 1883 on the steps of College Hall. Among them is Caroline Burnham Kilgore, the first woman to enter the law school, to receive a law degree, and to be admitted to the Pennsylvania bar.

3 min. read