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Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
Arab Spring, 10 years later
A virtual panel at the Middle East Center looked at the legacy and long-term impact of the 2011 uprisings and how the region has been redefined by them.
What to expect from the Democrats’ new Senate majority
Fels Director Matthew Levendusky gives his insights on the impact of Democratic control of the Senate, the importance of majority rule, realistic expectations, and how the heads of the federal trifecta will get along.
A conversation about cross-cultural communication
In the latest episode of Penn Today’s “Understand This ...” podcast series, Penn experts discuss the importance of cross-cultural communication in today’s world.
Why independent cultures think alike when it comes to categories
In discovering how groups categorize unfamiliar shapes, research out of Annenberg’s Network Dynamics Group finds that intrinsic social experiences are at the root of problem solving, rather than the human brain itself.
The influence and importance of language
Labels for what happened Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol were very different from those used to describe the Black Lives Matter movement or the 2020 election results. How much weight do individual words actually have? It depends on the context.
The state of U.S. democracy
On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.
Inauguration Day: History, meaning, and significance
David Eisenhower, professor at the Annenberg School and grandson of the former president, offers his observations on the historic occasion
Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought
Research from Wharton’s Matthew Killingsworth shows that contrary to previous influential work, there’s no dollar-value plateau at which money’s importance lessens. One potential reason: Higher earners feel an increased sense of control over life.
Rogers Smith on the heart and soul of America
As a scholar, the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science is perhaps best known for challenging the view that the U.S. is fundamentally, “in its heart and soul,” a liberal democracy.
Engaging in the election
In a collaborative English course taught by Lorene Cary in the fall, students shared their experiences with civic engagement by writing for publication, partnering with nonprofits like Vote That Jawn to share non-partisan information with other young first-time voters.
In the News
After four years with COVID-19, the U.S. is settling into a new approach to respiratory virus season
Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center says that the sense of urgency around vaccination has faded as attention on respiratory viruses wanes.
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U.S. bolstering Philippines amid increasing assertiveness by China
Thomas J. Shattuck of Perry World House says that greater interest in the Philippines by the U.S. and Japan will have a positive impact on Taiwan’s security.
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Report: Latin America’s progress on helping sex abuse victims
Marci Hamilton of the School of Arts & Sciences points to Chile as an international example of a large sex abuse scandal turning into effective activism.
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Gordion: A lost city of legends in central Turkey
Brian Rose of the School of Arts & Sciences and Penn Museum has led excavations at the ancient Turkish city of Gordion since 2007.
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Philadelphia’s Market Street East searches for growth and renewal — with or without a new Sixers arena
Akira Drake Rodriguez, Rashida Ng, and Dominic Vitiello of the Weitzman School of Design say there should be a more robust and inclusive conversation about the future of Philadelphia’s Market Street East.
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