Concrete on Paper examines concrete's past and present as a construction material. The exhibit showcases scientific papers on hydraulic materials and specialized imitation stone products in the late 18th century, along with popular do-it-yourself house building manuals of the mid-19th century.
On the first and second levels of the Penn Museum Library, visitors can view a collection of photographs by Penn students that reflect key themes from their fieldwork experiences in the past year. Contributing student photographers are from Penn's departments of Anthropology, Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World, Classics/Ancient History, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and History of Art. Free with Penn ID.
Penn Libraries and the Penn Museum present materials held in their collections that reflect upon the creators, modes, and influences of the Ainu, Indigenous peoples connected to the northern islands of Japan and parts of Russia. This exhibit is co-curated by Stephen A. Lang, Eri Mizukane, Rebecca Mendelson, and Deborah Stewart.
A new exhibition curated by students in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences will explore the deep human history associated with the color blue. Into the Blue will span 4,000 years—displaying 20 objects from across the Penn Museum’s collections, including select artifacts from the Middle East, China, Africa, ancient Egypt, and Central America. The exhibition will examine three themes: Obtaining Blue, Making Blue, and Synthesizing Blue. On view through spring 2026. Included with Museum admission.
The Center for Information Networks and Democracy will convene its second annual workshop featuring a robust lineup of scholars to discuss how AI is transforming the information environment, including how we can analyze (and anticipate) the consequences of that transformation. A Penn ID is required to attend.
Presented by Penn’s Makuu: The Black Cultural Center, this event will allow community members to connect on conversations around cultural heritage, exciting research opportunities, shared experiences, and more. Sign-ups to be released.
This panel will explore the barriers to productive dialogue and examine the roles that Penn faculty and students have to play in cultivating classrooms that support critical thinking, curiosity, and civil discourse. Lunch will be provided. Register to attend.
This annual spring celebration showcases the cultural diversity of the Penn community. Students from various cultural backgrounds perform songs and dances that represent their cultures, exchange gratitude and appreciation, and dismantle myths about the history of holidays.
Through a film screening of “The Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment” and subsequent discussion, participants will examine the origins and nature of the Eighth Amendment. The event will focus on the concept of “evolving standards of decency” in the U.S., especially pertaining to the death penalty for juvenile offenders.
Marcy Norton, an associate professor of History at Penn, explores how ongoing encounters between Indigenous and settler communities have transformed the modern world. During this talk, Norton will challenge the idea that treating animals as livestock is a natural and normal way to interact with other creatures. Attendees will be invited to question the notion that animal domestication and husbandry are necessary for cultural progress.
Daniel Porterfield, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute and former president of Franklin Marshall College from 2011-18, will join Brigitte Weinsteiger, H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries, to discuss the role of higher education in cultivating lifelong learners.
Yann LeCun, chief AI scientist at Meta and recipient of the ACM Turing Award, the “Nobel Prize of Computing,” will join the School of Engineering and Applied Science for a fireside chat exploring the future of artificial intelligence. Register to attend.
Attendees will experience “Black Odyssey,” an a cappella journey celebrating the resilience and culture of the Black community through soulful melodies and rich harmonies.
Graduate students Max Johnson and Eliana Fishbeyn take the stage in this edition of Music in the Stacks, a collaborative series between the Albrecht Music Library and the Department of Music bringing musicians into Penn library spaces for performances throughout the year. Registration is required for those without a PennCard.
During the week of Earth Day, Penn Sustainability presents an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage in cross-disciplinary events designed to foster environmental stewardship and positive change. This year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet.
This virtual event led by Community for Rigor, a new center at Penn, will provide insight about what confirmation bias is and how to identify it in the research process. Attendees will acquire the skills to help mitigate confirmation bias in their work.
This skillshare event, held annually at Bartram’s Garden in West Philadelphia, is designed for Philadelphia-based gardeners and local food growers. Activities include working together on the land, sharing a lunchtime meal, and two workshop blocks for beginner and seasoned gardeners focused on building self- and community reliance.
In honor of Earth Day, attendees will recycle and upcycle with the Leon Levy Dental Medicine Library. Participants can bring old t-shirts and learn how to transform them into no-sew reusable grocery bags.
Participants will take a tour of Kaskey Park, the oldest green space on campus. Tour guides will teach about the BioPond’s history and the diverse collection of plants that surround it, offering a behind-the-scenes look into how the park is managed. Educational topics will include climate change, invasive species, and balancing the needs of plants, wildlife, and visitors to make a space that is healthy and inviting for all.
Hosted by the Houston Hall Student Union during Earth Week, the annual Spring Porch Party will include activities like home bamboo planting, an “Eight Dimensions of Wellness Fair,” and games like corn hole, giant Jenga, and bouncy basketball. Free snow cones, plant-based lattes, and spring-themed refreshments will be provided.
Jewish and Muslim leaders have worked together for years advocating for issues of common concern, including combatting the rise in bias and hate crimes across the country. CEOs Stanley Bergman and Farooq Kathwari will share their experiences in leading these efforts and discuss the role of business leaders in effectively addressing bias and hate.
Emma Copley Eisenberg, the Philadelphia-based author of the novel “Housemates,” a national bestseller and named best book of the year by The Boston Globe, People, NBC, Them.Us, Autostraddle, and Kirkus Reviews, will visit for a reading and conversation with the Penn community.
Vivienne Sze, a professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at MIT, will discuss the design of efficient computing systems with reduced energy consumption while maintaining output and performance. The talk will highlight principles and tools that can facilitate an effective, energy-conscious design process.
This webinar, hosted by the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health, will highlight initiatives to improve children’s health in a changing climate. Programs include pilot projects, teacher and healthcare provider training, and community engagement projects in Philadelphia focused on extreme heat and flooding.
The Center for Media at Risk Visiting Scholar Moya Bailey will discuss making her first solo-directed documentary, “Misogynoir in Medicine.” The conversation will focus on the shifts that occur when collaborating with a team of creators and interviewees who shape the project through their active participation.
Bethany McGlyn, a doctoral candidate and Jefferson Scholars Foundation Fellow at the University of Virginia, will discuss the study of craft labor, material culture, and social reform in the early national period of Philadelphia between 1783-1840.
Attendees will learn more about the sustainable collections housed in Penn’s Materials Library, including buttons made from discarded milk, bricks made from paper, and packaging made from mushrooms. Visitors can also browse the circulating book collection about sustainable design, art, and architecture.
This expert panel will focus on the challenges that lie ahead for maintaining health amid climate change, how the medical community is preparing, and best practices for managing the risks. Free and open to the Penn community, with healthcare workers strongly encouraged to attend.
Focusing on classical mythology, participants will uncover how these stories have shaped lives, reflected values, and inspired extraordinary feats of exploration and imagination. Attendees will learn how myths once rooted in specific places and contexts continue to resonate with modernity.
During this reception, the Vice Provost for Education and the Center for Teaching & Learning will celebrate the 2025 recipients of the Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Students. The event is free and open to the Penn Community. Register in advance.
Executive Chef Lucio Palazzo, in collaboration with Penn Park Farm and Penn Sustainability, will showcase cooking with seasonal ingredients and explore Penn’s campus food system. Participants will learn how to factor climate issues into food choices and discover how delicious cooking with local and seasonal ingredients can be.
Penn hosts this year’s Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States—held annually since April 1895.
Lubaina Rangwala, program head of urban development and resilience with the Sustainable Cities and Transport team at the World Resources Institute, India, will discuss opportunities and challenges for climate action planning in Indian cities, with emphasis on a case study of Mumbai (not pictured).
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Biology Department staff will provide an overview of wildlife at Kaskey Park during the Spring BioBlitz. Participants can help spot and identify wildlife, take photos, upload information to the iNaturalist app, and learn from experts about frogs, insects, birds, and other animals.
A panel of faculty researchers from across the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) will discuss how advancements in AI are transforming their work and unlocking new frontiers in their fields. This event aims to explore how AI is shaping research across SAS, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and a broader understanding of AI’s impact on scientific progress.
This talk will focus on the power of collaborative filmmaking, paneled by current and former residents from the Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya. The event will feature public conversation with FilmAid graduates Okello Maurice, Noel Bol Deng, and Nyaboul Biel, a series of short film screenings, and a reception.
This symposium brings together scholars of digital culture to consider global perspectives on the changing nature of leisure, humor, and play in the digital age. Speakers will examine the blurring boundaries between leisure and work through notions like “fan labor,” the broadening of “digital play” outside of its typical framing in early childhood development, the ramifications of viral memes and online humor for political and social landscapes worldwide, among other themes. Register to attend.
The 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum will focus on the outlook for urban leadership in the 21st century. The forum will include remarks from the 2025 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize winners, who will be recognized for their leadership in guiding cities around the globe toward a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future. Among the special guests will be 2015 awardee Michael Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia.
Food is central to daily life and eating can sometimes prompt feelings of stress, shame, and frustration. Aligned with National Nutrition Month, this session will discuss common feelings about food and ways to navigate feelings of stress.
Hosted by the Kislak Center, Penn alumna Susan Molofsky Todres offers a rare glimpse into a wide array of memorabilia stored in the University Archives. Collections include Penn-centric material from the 19th and 20th centuries. RSVP to attend.
Participants will receive step-by-step instructions for origami designs, ranging from “simple” to “complex,” and will fold origami with sheets of bioplastics made at the Fisher Fine Arts Materials Library. The event will include a demonstration of making DIY bioplastics.
GreenFest is a long-running Penn tradition for student organizations to share their visions and projects related to environmental sustainability. A tabling festival at Penn Commons, the event highlights environmentally friendly activities and organizations on campus and elsewhere in the city.
Attendees will connect with Penn alumni working across diverse fields in sustainability, from renewable energy and environmental policy to corporate responsibility and sustainable design. This is an opportunity to gain insights into green career fields, learn about innovative sustainability efforts, and expand your professional network.
As part of the America 250 at Penn and Music in the Pavilion series, esteemed musicians Julianne Baird, Sarah Fleiss, and Joyce Lindorff will perform songs and instrumental selections from the music room of Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis Lewis, George Washington’s step-granddaughter.
This beginner-friendly excursion at Penn Park, hosted by the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative, will enable new and seasoned birders alike to (hopefully) spot some exciting migratory birds as spring migration begins. Bring your own binoculars.
From hidden structures and sculptures to peculiar walkways, trees, and vistas, participants will learn about garden features off the beaten path or hidden in plain view. Free with general admission. Visitors will meet at the Welcome Center.
Faculty panelists will explore the shifting relationship between universities and the government, the consequences for research funding and academic freedom, and the broader political and cultural forces driving these changes. This event will consider what it means to uphold our values as a university and how faculty, staff, and students can respond to this evolving landscape.
The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation will announce the recipients of its 2025 annual grant awards and celebrate students and faculty awarded earlier in the academic year. Penn Vice Provost for the Arts Timothy Rommen will share welcoming remarks.
Zine makers and DIY-print enthusiasts are invited to join the annual Zine Fest at Kelly Writers House, co-organized by students in Weitzman School Lecturer Kayla Romberger’s Pixel to Print course.
Attendees will learn about the historical significance of Philadelphia’s coffeehouses as hubs of political activity and debate in the decade leading up to the Declaration of Independence. This event is part of Penn's America 250 programming.