Penn kicks off its 261st Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 15, at 10:15 a.m. at the historic Franklin Field. The ceremony, preceded by student and academic processions through campus, will feature the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, and remarks by Commencement speaker Cory Booker, United States senator for New Jersey.
For this edition of By The Numbers, we look at this year’s celebration.
7
Number of days it takes to fully set up for Commencement.
2,700
Number of students expected to receive undergraduate degrees.
5,000
Number of students expected to receive graduate degrees.
23
Number of recycled water and soda bottles that make up the fabric in each undergraduate gown.
225
Number of Commencement volunteer marshals, consisting of Penn alumni, faculty, and staff.
150
Number of flags that will be in the procession.
13,000+
Number of Commencement programs ordered for the ceremony.
7
Number of honorary degree recipients this year, including graduation speaker Cory Booker, United States senator for New Jersey.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
