America at 250: Innovations that transformed business
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Wharton faculty explore the American business innovations that transformed industries, reshaped markets, and changed the way the world works.
Penn Carey Law’s Interdisciplinary Child Advocacy Clinic brings law and social work students together to tackle issues including education, child welfare, immigration, and mental health.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
An interdisciplinary team of Penn researchers used statistical analysis and focus-group feedback to validate a survey that assesses patient perceptions around the role of dental providers in HPV and COVID-19 vaccination.
From scorching feet to the perfect sandcastle to the silicon in phones, materials scientist Shu Yang explains the surprising physics hiding in a single handful of beach sand.
Lessons from the Schuylkill River on community-engaged research
The impactful, multi-year work of the Schuylkill River & Urban Waters Research Corps provides lessons for the environmental humanities and beyond on conducting research that is responsive to community needs.
Inspired by the cracked, water-trapping skin of elephants, Penn researchers have developed a low-cost cement tile that cools buildings by capturing and slowly evaporating water—turning a structural flaw into a climate solution.
Participants of all ages and backgrounds are invited to this Common Press workshop to print a copy of the Declaration of Independence. The composition will be set in Caslon metal type and ready to print on the studio’s 1889 cast-iron handpress. These hour-long demonstrations are part of America 250 at Penn programming. Groups of up to 20 people are welcome. Reserve a time slot.
Freedom Now Fest returns to West Philadelphia bringing together live music, art, film, food, family activities, local businesses, and community celebration on the same streets where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his Freedom Now Rally speech. Visitors are invited to spend the afternoon exploring Lancaster Avenue, supporting Black-owned businesses, discovering local artists, enjoying food, connecting with neighbors, and experiencing one of Philadelphia’s most significant cultural celebrations. Free and open to the public.
A University-wide initiative to shape Penn’s future
Guided by Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, Penn Forward launched in September 2025 with six working groups of faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars who challenged legacy assumptions and proposed bold, actionable strategies to advance Penn’s mission and strengthen operations.
Penn Forward’s initial nine priority initiatives aim to build trust with those we serve, enable bold discovery, and extend Penn’s geographic reach and impact across a lifetime. Learn more about these initiatives and follow along with Penn Today as Penn continues to drive forward.
Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century
The third installment in the limited series ‘Chapters of Change’ explores how Penn has led community engagement efforts in public education, economic development, and neighborhood prosperity during a time of widespread change in the nation’s cities.
Chapters of Change: Thirty years of life sciences transformation at Penn
In the fourth and final installment of the series, ‘Chapters of Change’ highlights another transformational moment in Penn’s past when the evolution of life sciences research sparked the University to commit to investing in new research facilities and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
How the Quaker Commitment empowered one student to create her path at Penn
Gabrielle Fine, a fourth year in the Wharton School and recipient of financial aid from the Quaker Commitment, will graduate in May with an interdisciplinary skillset and new perspectives from a global adventure and local engagement.
Chapters of Change: The blossom of Penn’s professional schools in the 19th century
‘Chapters of Change’ highlights key moments of change in Penn’s history, adapting to shifts in society. In the 19th century, the University faced industrialization and more by creating some of its first professional schools.
Once you’ve heard ‘luxury voice,’ you can’t unhear it
According to research conducted in 2025 by the Wharton School, staff in customer-facing roles at luxury hotels, retail and dining reduce their rate of speaking by more than 10% from everyday talking speeds.
More Americans are going bankrupt. What does that mean?
An increase in bankruptcy filings is "...telling us that consumers are having a harder time coping with their financial obligations," says Sasha Indarte of the Wharton School.
Peco’s new contract gives all workers pensions — but not the kind you might think
Traditional pensions “typically have benefit formulas that rise sharply late in a career, making them expensive for employers with long-tenured workforces and less valuable for employees who change jobs before retiring,” says Olivia Mitchell of the Wharton School.
