News

danielgomes

Physics & Astronomy's Daniel Gomes, Winner: Audience Choice 2024 Penn Grad Talks

On February 23, some of Penn Arts & Sciences’ top graduate students shared their insights with a packed house (and online audience) at the 2024 Penn Grad Talks. The day-long program featured students from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the School’s professional masters’ programs, who each gave TED Talk-style presentations on their research, vying to win prizes of $500.

charlie cummings

Second year PHD Candidate, Charlie Cummings has been named 2023-2024 Dean’s Scholar

Each spring, at the Dean's Forum, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences recognizes nine College students for their outstanding academic achievements. Students are nominated by faculty from among those with a grade point average of 3.8 or higher.

Read more about Dean's Scholars. 

martin claassen

Dr. Martin Claassen awarded 2024 Sloan Research Fellow

Congratulations to Dr. Martin Claassen on being awarded the Sloan Research Fellows of 2024. 126 early-career scholars represent the most promising scientific researchers working today. Their achievements and potential place them among the next generation of scientific leaders in the U.S. and Canada.

Read Full List of Awardees

modelsofexcellence

Pillars of Excellence Award 2024

 

PILLARS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD 2024

Music can be characterized by network-like connections between notes.

Measuring the Information Delivered by Music

A network-theory model, tested on the work of Johann Sebastian Bach, offers tools for quantifying the amount of information delivered to a listener by a musical piece. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a framework, based on network theory, for carrying out these quantitative assessments.
Read Full Article 

satellite-rendering

Once a spy satellite, now a telescope with an eye on the cosmos

Researchers from Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences are part of a collaboration to develop Hubble’s wide-eyed cousin, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Read Full Article

CUWiP2024

Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (APS CUWiP)

The Physics department hosted the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (APS CUWiP) on January 19-21, 2024. For three days, around 180 students came together from 5 US states. They were welcomed by ~70 speakers and volunteers at the David Rittenhouse Laboratory. The program offered 4 plenary talks, 17 workshops and panel discussions, ~70 undergraduate research posters, and a career fair with booths from ~20 universities and companies.

Mechanics of knitting

Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences and Geneviève Dion of Drexel University share how combining traditional origami techniques with modern textile science can lead to practical applications in various industries.

Dark Energy Survey uncovers clues to universe’s complexity

In 1998, astronomers discovered that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, thanks to a mysterious force called dark energy that makes up about 70% of the universe. The discovery came as a surprise as it countered the prevailing notion that the universe’s expansion should be slowing down because of gravity.