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Penn Arts & Sciences
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The School of Arts & Sciences is the heart of Penn. Learn about events, news and get involved in the conversation by following us!
https://www.sas.upenn.edu

Visit our online publication, Omnia Magazine: https://omnia.sas.upenn.edu/
Omnia Year in Review 2025: Virtually every product and breakthrough we take for granted—from life-altering technologies to life-saving medical advancements—started at a university, and with fundamental scientific research. buff.ly/ooP0d7B

Check out more of this year’s top stories: bit.ly/4qlh4QO
The Life Cycle of an Idea
Basic scientific research allows us to study the building blocks of life to better understand mechanisms and processes that could eventually (and ideally) translate into new products and services that not only have the potential to alter how we live but could also save lives.
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December 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable winter break. However you spend this time away, I hope the days ahead bring a sense of renewal, and leave you energized for the year to come. @upenn.edu @sas.upenn.edu
December 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
As the semester drew to a close and students finished up exams, they shared with Omnia their plans for Winter Break. @upenn.edu
Winter Break 2025 Spending Time with Family Eating Good Food and Applying for Jobs Photos
Students share their holiday plans for the time between fall and spring semesters.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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As we close out 2025, I’m proud to share some of the remarkable stories from Penn Arts & Sciences featured in the Omnia Year in Review. @upenn.edu @sas.upenn.edu
2025 Year in Review
As December winds down, we revisit a dozen of our favorite Penn Arts & Sciences stories from the past year.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 23, 2025 at 6:54 PM
In a career-defining paper, Prof. Scott Poethig of Biology, has discovered that a single molecular switch can freeze plants in their juvenile state. @upenn.edu
How one molecule keeps plants youthful | Penn Today
In a career-defining paper, Scott Poethig, a biologist at the School of Arts & Sciences, has discovered that a single molecular switch can freeze plants in their juvenile state.
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December 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
As December winds down, we revisit a dozen of our favorite Penn Arts & Sciences stories from the past year in our 2025 Omnia Year in Review. @upenn.edu
2025 Year in Review
As December winds down, we revisit a dozen of our favorite Penn Arts & Sciences stories from the past year.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Jared Farmer, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History, recently launched a website about Philadelphia’s fossil fuel economy to help students and residents learn about the local past in larger context. @upenn.edu @geohumanist.bsky.social
Exploring Philadelphia’s petrochemical past | Penn Today
Penn historian Jared Farmer recently launched a website about Philadelphia’s fossil fuel economy to help students and residents learn about the local past in larger context.
penntoday.upenn.edu
December 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Assistant Professor of Psychology Nacho Sanguinetti is using an unexpected technique to teach students about the brain: improvisational theater. He discusses in our latest Three Questions featured in Omnia Magazine. @upenn.edu @neuroetho.bsky.social
Three Questions On Improv
Assistant Professor of Psychology Nacho Sanguinetti is using an unexpected technique to teach students about the brain: improvisational theater.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
A special edition of the Penn Arts & Sciences ’Ampersand’ podcast features Dean Mark Trodden in conversation with SAS faculty from different disciplines.
One School, many schools of thought | Penn Today
A special edition of the Penn Arts & Sciences “Ampersand” podcast features Dean Mark Trodden in conversation with SAS faculty from different disciplines.
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December 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Penn’s off-campus supercomputer is named in honor of Frances “Betty” Holberton, CW’39, an early computer science pioneer. Holberton was one of the six original programmers of ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. @upenn.edu
The Woman Behind a Computing Powerhouse
Penn’s off-campus supercomputer is named in honor of Frances “Betty” Holberton, CW’39, an early computer science pioneer.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Fourth-year philosophy major Mia McElhatton, C'25, is examining both mobility and immobility, which are core to understanding the effects of climate change. “Climate-induced mobility can represent a distinct harm,” she says. @upenn.edu
How climate change affects migration | Penn Today
Fourth-year philosophy major Mia McElhatton is investigating the effects of climate change on how people move from place to place.
penntoday.upenn.edu
December 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Inspired by trailblazing women, former NBC10 broadcast journalist Rosemary Connors, C’05, took a leap, moving out of journalism and into a successful scaffolding company she founded. @upenn.edu
Formidable Framework
Inspired by trailblazing women, former NBC10 broadcast journalist Rosemary Connors, C’05, took a leap, moving out of journalism and into a successful scaffolding company she founded.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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As a child, Abigail Smith, C’28, created a cardboard “vet hospital” to care for the ailments of her stuffed animals. Now a biology major Penn, Abby is continuing her path towards veterinary science. @upenn.edu @sas.upenn.edu
Penn Arts Sciences Pathways Abigail Smith C 28 Video
Biology coursework and a summer internship at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center have deepened Smith’s passion for veterinary medicine.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Nicholas Escobar, C'18, talks about his journey as a music composer which began at age 12 and continued while an English major at Penn. "The core of what I do as a music composer is storytelling," says Escobar. Read more in Penn Arts & Sciences at Work. @upenn.edu
Nicholas Escobar, C’18
The core of what I do as a music composer is storytelling. Being an English major at Penn was a vital decision in my career because through my liberal arts education, I expanded my knowledge and becam...
web.sas.upenn.edu
December 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Doris Wagner’s Hands on Plants class encourages students to consider tough questions—and get their hands dirty at farms and gardens around Philadelphia.
Budding Questions
Doris Wagner’s Hands on Plants class encourages students to consider tough questions—and get their hands dirty at farms and gardens around Philadelphia.
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December 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Norah Rami, C’26, who is studying English and political science, with a minor in history, will receive funding for up to three years of graduate study in the UK. She joins School of Social Policy & Practice graduate student Adelaide Lyall in the honor. buff.ly/mqo5dxL
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The group Professor Girlfriend—which includes Anna Weesner, Dr. Robert Weiss Professor of Music—just released “My Mother In Love: The Summer Sessions.” Weesner unpacks the album’s genre-bending approach and its backstory, working through the pandemic, the trio’s moniker, and more.
A Love Letter To Pop Music
The musical trio Professor Girlfriend, which includes Anna Weesner, Dr. Robert Weiss Professor of Music, bends genre and challenges boundaries with a new album, “My Mother In Love: The Summer…
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December 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
In our latest Pathways, Abigail Smith, C’28, talks about how her biology coursework and a summer internship at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center have deepened her passion for veterinary medicine. https://bit.ly/4psWJZz @upenn.edu
Penn Arts Sciences Pathways Abigail Smith C 28 Video
Biology coursework and a summer internship at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center have deepened Smith’s passion for veterinary medicine.
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
With their academic expertise, Penn faculty members are informing exhibitions around the world, including right here in Philadelphia.
Cultural Curation
With their academic expertise, Penn faculty members are informing exhibitions around the world, including right here in Philadelphia.
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December 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Gareth Nellis has been named the new director of @casipenn.bsky.social (CASI), effective July 1, 2026, and Associate Professor of Political Science. As CASI Director, he will also hold the Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary India. https://bit.ly/4oTOiFO @upenn.edu
December 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A new book from David Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor of English, investigates the history, theory, and psychology of reparations across the Transpacific. @upenn.edu

Read more from the Fall/Winter issue of Omnia Magazine: https://bit.ly/4oq45LW
Who is Considered Human Who Deserves Repair
A new book from David Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor of English, investigates the history, theory, and psychology of reparations across the Transpacific.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
We asked, you answered. Penn Arts & Scienes alums share what they'd wish they would have known on their first day at Penn in the latest issue of Omnia Magazine. @upenn.edu
Quaker Quotes What do you wish you d known on your first day at Penn
We asked, you answered. Alums share their memories, thoughts, and ideas with Omnia.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
In our latest Omnia 101, Enrique Mendoza, William P. Carey Professor in Economics, unpacks what tariffs are and their potential short- and long-term effects. @upenn.edu
Omnia 101 The Rise of Tariffs
Enrique Mendoza, William P. Carey Professor in Economics, unpacks what they are and their potential short- and long-term effects.
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
December 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Computer scientist Konrad Kording and economist Ioana Marinescu have developed an interactive model that incorporates assumptions from both their fields to predict how AI will affect wages, jobs, and the overall economy. @upenn.edu @pennengineering.bsky.social
How might AI shape the future of work? | Penn Today
Computer scientist Konrad Kording and economist Ioana Marinescu have developed an interactive model that incorporates assumptions from both their fields to predict how AI will affect wages, jobs, and ...
penntoday.upenn.edu
December 5, 2025 at 7:19 PM
How might AI shape the future of work? Computer scientist Konrad Kording and economist Ioana Marinescu have developed an interactive model that incorporates assumptions from both their fields to predict how AI will affect wages, jobs, and the overall economy. @upenn.edu
How might AI shape the future of work? | Penn Today
Artificial intelligence (AI), once regarded as science fiction, is now a part of everyday life, with people turning to ChatGPT and other AI assistants for help with everything from drafting emails to…
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December 4, 2025 at 10:45 PM